Customer Reviews
very over whelming 
2007-08-27
okay
this book has a CD at the back and that helps
ALOT with pronouncing
unless you have someone close to you that speaks
farsi you deffinetaly need to hear the way words are said properly.
This books teaches you
english - farsi (written in the arabic characters)
NO INBERTWEEN
so there is no translating of the farsi
its a great way to learn the alphabet
but very very over whelming
My persian friends think its easier to learn this way,
without translating the farsi
Excellent Learning Aid 
2007-08-17
This is one of the best texts available for Persian grammar,and quite inexpensive for the content (now that it is in paperback). All example sentences appear with translations, and perhaps 95% of them also with transliterations. Stress is unmarked except in certain examples, but there is a thorough chapter devoted to the stress rules. This is not a text which is divided into lessons, and it uses a minimal amount of vocabulary in the examples (there are no excercises or readings). However, the topics do procede in a logical fashion, with the script and pronunciation chapters in the beginning, and with syntax and formal/arabic constructions towards the end. There is an index and an excellent internal reference system, but no glossaries (as it is not a lesson-text).
I should also add that Mace takes great pains to explain grammatical concepts with little linguistic (read: normal) terminology. Personally, I had expected the book to use accepted linguistic terms for everything. The only section of the work in which this decision proves problematic, though, is in pronunciation, which is very vague and English-comparative. One would expect a more appropriate treatment from a Routledge Publishing grammar.
Lastly, Mace makes amends for many of the outdated forms in his "lesson" book which he wrote for the TY series, this time pointing out forms that are outdated and ones which are standard literary. Where differences between literary and accepted colloquial occur, mixed examples are given from the start. I have not found the same frequency of errors and typos, either.
In summation:
-clear, large-type examples in script/transliteration/translation
-includes a section on Persian handwritten styles
-several lovely photographs included with captions (also translated)
-irregular verb forms treated in an appendix
-layman's terminology
-very easy (if idiosyncratic) reference system between sections of the grammar
Accessible persian grammar writing with suggestions 
2007-03-05
This is a helpful grammar book that provides simple explanations of essential topics for beginning to low intermediate Persian learners. I highly recommend it as the one grammar book to buy at the start of your Persian language learning journey. For the next edition or for other new Persian language resources, here are my wishes: 1) Put all Persian writing in 14pt(#1 problem-we can't read the small type), 2) Make the reference book a combination work/reference book with space next to the Persian writing examples for us to practice our writing (give us a model to copy from until we become confident on our own) 3) Put some exercises in the book and again plenty of space for us to practice the writing 4) Give us the answers for the exercises with rules or explanations 5) Give us more lists of verbs and conjugation, compound verbs, auxilliary verbs 6) Keep going-please write a higher level book. Don't stop at one, give us another higher level AND another book that provides ADDITIONAL practice at the same lower level. 7) Please make the learning process more modern and interesting for this language. The old school style of teaching and learning Persian alienates many of those who are interested in the culture. Modern ESL materials can offer ideas.
I can't wait for someone who really loves this language to take this challenge to improve the materials available for students (Mace seems like a writer who could do this!) As well there needs to be complimentary books for Persian educators who will be able to better understand their learners and provide a positive learning experience in the classroom and not so reliant on copying, translations and dictation-as important as they are. Thanks.
This should be your first book 2007-02-08
Definitely the best introductory Farsi book I have seen. The easiest to work through, although I believe it is absolutely necessary to be painstaking about finishing each and every one of the numerous exercises provided. It is very nice to have a key provided for each lesson (this is the major downfall of Thackston's book, be nazer-e-man). Some errors, but not sufficient to hinder the learner.
Great grammar book for beginning and intermediate study 2004-12-16
This is the grammar book I wish I had found first. I bought another grammar text as well as word lists and colloquial speaking primers only to face several months of painful struggle. I allow that some early chapters here were easier by virtue of that struggle but life would have been much easier with this clear, well organized volume. It surely will not take the work out of foreign language study and cannot replace conversation tapes, vocabulary, story primers and human conversation; it will however, make all those more comprehensible in the early going. And if you read "How to learn any language" and plan to follow the advise to read five chapters of a grammar book, make it this one.
Great book with grammar in terms we can understand! 2003-07-01
This is a clear and user-friendly guide to Persian grammar, both of the written and spoken languages, especially useful for those in the early stages of studying the Persian language. It serves as a revision and reference book that can be used to support any Persian course book. The script is taught step-by-step. It uses the official reformed spelling, and gives attention to handwriting, educated standard and educated colloquial pronunciation, and the important polite forms. The grammar is explained in lay terms with copious examples, all shown both in Persian script and in Roman transliteration. The grammatical themes are grouped logically, and there are cross-references, appendices and a subject index to facilitate the search for the right form.
Great book with grammar in terms we can understand! 2003-07-01
This is a spectacular beginner to intermediate book to use in conjunction with a course-based text. This book cannot actually teach you persian all on its own, but as a reference it is indespensible. While your course book may lightly delve into grammatical topics, this book travels a little deeper but without assaulting you WITHOUT INCOMPREHENSIBLE GRAMMATICAL TERMS. It gives you a full understanding of any part of Iranian Persian (Farsi) Grammar.
The book is a well organized, modern, and not painful to the eyes to read. In addition, this text contains modern colloquial forms on the side. Also, uniform Latin transcription, definitions, Persian text are included for EVERY persian word referred to!
I definitely recommend this book, especially over Persian Grammar by Ann K.S. Lambton for students not interested in delving deeply into literary Persian. Lambton confuses you with advanced english grammar terms time an again while Mace's book uses a few of these terms and offers generous examples to back it up.
The bottom line: Buy this book if you want to have a good grammatical backing for your course oriented book for beginner to intermediate modern persian students.
