"[1] Stanley Meisler, in a Los Angeles Times article, also stated that the book had a neutral tone even though Pahlavi's government had previously persecuted Milani.

[1] Pari stated that Pahlavi appears "distrustful and paranoid", based on failed assassination attempts and other actions against him, and that the author's research validates this portrait.

[2] Joshua Muravchik, a research fellow of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies stated in a Wall Street Journal article that the book was "even-handed and fair-minded" and that it is "a finely wrought, enlightening biography".

[3] David C. Acheson of the Washington Times stated that The Shah had "impressive" scholarship even though the book may find an amount of detail that would be "formidably dense".

[2] Caryl stated that due to the high level of controversy and polarization surrounding the Shah in Iranian communities across the world, "Milani’s impartiality is vital".