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Silenced Whispers Exemplifies
Power of Personal Transformation
in an Ever-Evolving World
BOSTON — The professional trajectory of author and MIT
advisor Afarin Bellisario reads like a study in contrasts.
At the young age of 14, she embarked on a career in
journalism in her native Tehran, contributing to major
magazines and covering a variety of topics, including
women’s issues. She pivoted toward a career in engineering
and later moved to the United States, where she earned a
Ph.D. from MIT and led a rewarding career in high-tech. Her
longing to express herself through the written word never
waned, and most recently, she built a story around a
protagonist every bit as unconventional as herself in her
new book, Silenced Whispers.
In it, Bellisario draws from her own upbringing in an Azeri
family in Tehran and true stories shared by elders,
including her Russian great-grandfather, to transport
readers to Iran at the dawn of the 20th century,
vividly immersing them in the life of Gohar, an Iranian
woman battling for freedom — her own and her country’s.
Gohar’s journey unfolds from her early years in a small
desert town to her central role in the complex dynamics of
Iran's quest for modernization while resisting foreign
influence.
Bellisario said the book is inspired by the women who have
fought and continue to fight for Iranian democracy.
“Iranian women are very strong and very courageous and have
been fighting for their rights for many, many years,”
Bellisario explained. “Nothing has been given to the Iranian
women.”
Silenced
Whispers explores
profound themes, including love, transformation and the
relentless struggle for personal agency amid a rapidly
changing world.
At its core, Bellisario says, the book exemplifies the
incredible power of personal transformation, highlighting
the challenges and rewards it brings in a world marked by
flux and evolution.
“While a work of fiction, Silenced Whispers depicts
historical events, including the Russian takeover of
Northern Iran and the march of women to the Majles in
protest,” Bellisario added. “It is a history of a unique
land, told through a love story. It is a fresh perspective,
that of a young woman from under her veil who dares to be
different.”
About the Author
Afarin Bellisario bridges East and West, technology and the
human condition, past and present. Born and raised in Tehran
in a family with its feet in the past and its head in the
future, she earned her Ph.D. (and an MBA) from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and led a successful career in
high-tech and international business in the U.S. But writing
had always been her passion. Having written professionally
in pre-revolutionary Iran, she has published op-eds in major
papers, including The Boston Globe and an essay, Movies
with my Aunt, as part of the anthology Love &
Pomegranates.
Today, she mentors startups, teaches, and writes about the
clash between tradition and modernity and how the past can
shed light on our future. A music lover, she is a Cambridge
Chamber Ensemble board member and writes for their
newsletter while continuing to travel to new and familiar
destinations globally.
For more information, please visit www.afarin.net.
Read her regular features on Medium (https://medium.com/the-counterview),
or follow her on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Barnes & Noble link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silenced-whispers-afarin-o-bellisario/1145051424
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Whispers-Afarin-Bellisario-ebook/dp/B0CVFZH6M9
Silenced Whispers
Release Date: April 29, 2024
ISBN-13: 979-8990004412 (B&N)
Available from BN.com, Amazon.com and Bookshop.org
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