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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
An Iranian Muslim and an American Christian Bond Over Decades of Adventure in the Memoir, An American in the Mountains of Iran
An American in the Mountains of Iran is a story that’s 40 years in the making. The newly released memoir recounts the travels that bonded two men of vastly different backgrounds as brothers.
April 29, 2013 – Richmond, TX, and Barendrecht, Netherlands – A love of adventure and big-game hunting brings together two men – one an Iranian Muslim and the other an American Christian – in the mountains of Iran. The next four decades would bond them for life. It’s a story 40 years in the making in the new memoir, An American in the Mountains of Iran, published by Taylor Family Enterprises LLC and available now.
A common adventurous spirit brings together Iranian Masoud Akhbari and American Blaine Taylor as they trek through the mountainous wilderness of Iran. The journey eventually joins the two men and their families in an unbreakable bond of brothers. The adventures of the two men through Europe, Mongolia and the United States bridge the divides of culture and religion to attain a degree of brotherhood seldom found even within the same culture.
An American in the Mountains of Iran shines a light on the goodness of the Iranian Bakhtyari tribes-people, and provides enlightening descriptions of many of the culture and behaviors unique to the tribe, which are at turns endearing and puzzling. A political history of the tribe, including their involvement in forging the present-day Iranian constitution, informs the book and serves as a backdrop to the unlikely bond Akhbari and Taylor would later forge.
An American in the Mountains of Iran can be ordered by retailers or wholesalers for the maximum trade discount price set by the author in quantities of sixteen or more direct from the publishers website at www.taylorfamilyenterprises.com/bookstore. The hard copy, full color book is available worldwide on book retailer websites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble and is being aggressively promoted with a focus on the memoir category.
ISBN: 978-0-9890829-0-7 Format: 6 x 9 hardcover full color Retail $29.95
Genre: Memoir
About the Authors: Masoud Akhbari, an Iranian, and his American friend Blaine W. Taylor bonded over 40 years of adventures. For more information about authors Masoud Akhbari and Blaine W. Taylor or their book, contact Akhbari at Wilgenwede 43, 2993 TB, Barendrecht, the Netherlands, or email masoud@taylorfamilyenterprisesllc.com or contact Taylor at 4221 Pecan Bend Drive, Richmond, TX 77406, or email blaine@taylorfamilyenterprisesllc.com.
Front Cover
An American in the Mountains of Iran
Dust Cover Text
Cover Photograph: (left to right) Blaine, Masoud, and Mahmeed sit on their mules outside the ancient ruined fortress seen in the background.
The cover Photograph was taken in 1974 deep in the wilderness area of central Iran, known as the Zagros Mountains. This area is the heart of the Bakhtyari nomads summer camping places.
We have been asked why we waited to publish this book until nearly forty years after the adventures. The answer is that the press of work and family responsibilities have delayed its publication. An earlier picturebook and text were put together in 1986, although only two copies were published. That picturebook served as the device to prompt the memories for this work.
You will read about many of the Persian and Bakhtyari sayings and idioms in this book, and the appropriate saying is:
Harvaqt Mahi as ab begiri tazeh ast; meaning “any time you catch a fish from water, it is fresh”
This is a true story of an American who was assigned by his employer to work for the Oil Company in Southwest Iran.
During his stay there he comes in contact with Masoud Akhbari who also worked in the Oil industry. Blaine and Masoud soon found each other unmistakably as two brothers even though they were both from two different religions and cultures. This did not affect the tie between the two of them even when Blaine had to leave Iran and start working in different parts of the world. Regular contacts between the two of them have been maintained until the present date.
They travelled several times together in the heart of the Nomad Bakhtyari Tribes on the high Zagros Mountains where they had found many friends among the nomads who were anxious to invite them to their nomadic black tents, in the top of the high Zagros Mountains where no American had ever set foot. These nomads were so anxious to participate in welcoming the travelers that they took turns inviting them to virtually every meal possible
The Bakhtyari people are among the largest known groups of identifiable tribes in the eastern world. They have had a known presence since the time of Alexander nearly 2500 years past.
This proud people formed an uprising against the tyranny of the Monarch Mohammed Ali Shah in 1909, and also provided much of the backbone of the Persian Constitution which came later that year. With the background knowledge about the individualistic and clannish nature of this people, it is a surprise when a western American traveler, accompanied by his best friend, meets with such a warm friendly welcome.
Travel through the pages of this book with our modern adventurers as they cross the Mighty Zagros Mountains, and mingle with these nomadic people of the desert mountains. Enjoy the hunting, camping, and socializing right along, from the comfort of your easy chair.
Title Page
An American
in
the Mountains of Iran
| The story of two people from different cultures and religions, who became |
brothers in a relationship which has lasted over four decades.
By: Masoud Akhbari
and
Blaine W. Taylor
©2013 Masoud Akhbari and Blaine W. Taylor
First edition 2013
Printed in China
ISBN 978-0-9890829-0-7
Library of Congress Control Number 2001012345
Published by: Taylor Family Enterprises, LLC., Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.
Scanning, uploading, and/or distribution of this book via the internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law.
Book Reviews
An impression of the book “An American in the Mountains of Iran”
Close friends, Masoud Akhbari from Iran and the Farsi speaking American Blaine Taylor, wrote a book that is a must read for everybody looking for the genuine Persian soul over the centuries.
The beauty of their common writing lies in the detailed descriptions of hunting activities and meals together with the Bakhtyari , genuine mountain and desert nomads, at the end of the twentieth century. It brings one back in another world not found in the cities. We have no idea how these people presently cope with hardship in an unforgiving nature. Incredible that the two authors experienced this so recently.
The book gives also a good picture of meetings with customs, police and army officials in presentday Iran. Might change possible prejudices.
Jan J.M. Muldrink
General Manager for several business units AKZO NOBEL.
Managing Director AKZO Research Lboratories Arnhem.
Chairman of Royal Dutch Chemical Association Board 1994-1996
Chairman of DCO(Sustainable Chemistry Developement) 1995-2005
(DCO an association of industry and government to develope sustainability in enegy and raw material).
Director in enterprises for manufacturing process equipment.
An American in the Mountains of Iran
An incredible, touching story – straight from the heart – of adventure, friendship and brotherhood across cultures.
It makes you want to travel the beautiful Zagros Mountains of Iran, too, and meet the proud and independent people living there. Preferably with a guide like Mahmeed.
In this well-written tale the authors, Masoud Akhbari and Blaine Taylor, shed light on a bit of recent history and give us hope for a more peaceful tomorrow, based on respect, friendship and understanding.
Freek Eland
Editor-in-chief Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 2000-2004
Senior lecturer Intercultural Communication, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
Excerpts
As I look at this picture of my best friend riding so peacefully down a lovely river, I wish that I could turn the clock back to better, more peaceful time.
This little girl stole my heart. Her job was to carry water around to everyone in camp. Because I always had something sweet when she came to deliver water to our tent, we always had cool water waiting for us. If you look carefully you can see the water bag on her back, which is made from a sheepskin. She is standing in front of the watering trough where we put the electric light.
Since we were visibly disappointed, we just walked away, and went looking around the village. We found three women making a carpet. The three women were a mother and her two daughters. One daughter was married, and the other was too young to have been arranged for.
The father of the two daughters had been killed by a bear the year before, and these three were making a carpet to take down to the city in the winter to try to make enough money to live on.
The Young girl who was still unmarried is sitting in the center of this picture. Her mother immediately began to bargain with us to marry her to one of us. As I was the youngest, and a foreigner, she immediately caught up on the idea that I should marry and provide for her daughter. I politely explained to her that I was already married, and had four children, but when she said that I was in Iran, and could have four wives, her daughter being a summer wife, I said that the “Winter Wife” would not be happy, and I offered instead to buy the carpet, unfinished, and that they could deliver it when finished. I paid about $60 US for the carpet, that being a high price, but enough to get me out of the situation, and we left.
Imagine my surprise when Masoud called me the next spring, at my office, and said I should bring Judith and come to his office. The lady, true to our bargain, had brought the carpet to us finished. (I think she wanted to see the “winter wife” and know what was so special about her, that I didn’t want another.
We paid her for her trouble and travels, and took the carpet, to a special place in our home, where it still sits under the pictures of the family, and the half-finished carpet.
Back Cover
