ThestoriesinBetterThanWarencompassnarrativesfromadiversesetofIranianimmigrants,manysearchingforabalancebetweenmemoriesoftheirhomelandandtheirnewAmericanculture.TheeverydaylifeofeachcharactersubtlyreflectsviewpointsthataresimultaneouslyIranianandAmerican,ofallagesandcircumstances.Thesestoriesdealwithfamily,friends,relationships,urbanlife,prison,school,andadolescence.Theyalsocontainpowerfulmessagesaboutwhatpeoplewant,need,anddeserveascitizensandhumanbeings.Forinstance,inthestory“BetterThanWar“ayoungIranianboymustovercomethefearofaskinganAmericangirlonadate.Hisfriendtellshimthereisnoshameinpouringyourheartouttosomeoneyoulike.Theboymustrealizethatexpressingemotionandsorrowisworththeembarrassmentbecauseitshowslovedonesthatyouarebetterthanhatred--andespeciallybetterthanwar.AllIranianimmigrants,youngorold,carrywiththemavividpastintheircontemporarylife.Thesehistorieshelpprovideperspective,thankfulness,andvirtuetotheirfamiliesandfriends.Vossoughi’sBetterThanWarisaboutgrowingup,comingofage,andraisingchildreninAmericawhilestillrememberingtheimportanceofretainingIranianpride.
