Nournews: Among all the accounts of the life of Martyr Admiral Ali Shamkhani, perhaps no feature reveals the true dimensions of his personality as clearly as his deep connection with books, reading, and research. Many knew him as a strategic commander, an experienced politician, and a security manager, but those who were close to him described a man for whom books were an inseparable part of his daily life. While many recognized Shamkhani through his security, military, and political responsibilities, his close associates repeatedly said that behind his serious and strategic face lay a curious, thoughtful, and deeply book-loving spirit.

From his youth until the final moments of his life, he regarded reading not as entertainment, but as a necessity for personal development, decision-making, and a deeper understanding of global developments. For him, books were a tool of soft power—an instrument for a deeper understanding of humans, society, politics, and security.

On the occasion of the start of the virtual book exhibition, recalling such personalities becomes even more important—figures who showed that a love of reading is not limited to universities and libraries, but can also remain alive even in the most complex security and military responsibilities.

Shamkhani was among those managers who did not merely read books; he lived with texts. It is reported that while reading, he carefully marked important sections, wrote marginal notes, and recorded key points so he could return to them later. This method of reading shows that he did not view books as mere pastime, but as a form of intellectual investment.

One of the last books Martyr Ali Shamkhani referred to in his well-known interview with Javad Moghaddasi was “Kill You First” by Ronen Bergman—a book about the hidden history of organized Israeli assassinations and Mossad covert operations.

In part of that interview, Javad Moghaddasi asked him why, in his view, Israel had targeted him for assassination at the beginning of the twelve-day war. Shamkhani responded by referring to the content of this very book, emphasizing that he had spent years as a soldier working to build Iran’s power, and that Israel, seeing Iran’s power as a threat, targets those who play an effective role in Iran’s power-building process.

This answer was not merely a political analysis; it showed that Shamkhani, through continuous and careful study, sought to understand the enemy’s behavior and logic through credible documents and narratives. He believed that understanding the enemy is part of national strength, and without deep study and analysis, one cannot succeed in the complex arena of intelligence and strategic warfare. Political, security, historical, and intelligence books were always part of his reading list, and he would highlight key sections with colored markers and take notes.

Today, our society more than ever needs to promote a culture of reading. A generation that reads analyzes better, is less easily deceived, and thinks more deeply. Books preserve the historical memory of nations and enhance critical thinking.

The virtual book fair is also a valuable opportunity for society to return to reading culture—a chance for families, young people, and students to bring books back into their daily lives. If figures like Martyr Ali Shamkhani are honored today, one of the main reasons is precisely this deep connection with knowledge, reading, and thought.

A culture of reading is not merely an individual habit; it is a civilizational issue. A society that reads is more resilient against information warfare, psychological operations, and distortion of truth. Perhaps this is why the enemies of a nation first try to reduce public awareness and distance people from reading.

This event was not a simple reading choice. A man who had spent years in the heart of regional security developments was, in his final days, reading a book that revealed the hidden layers of Israel’s assassination machinery—almost as if he sought to understand the enemy not through speeches, but through its own documents, narratives, and confessions.

“Kill You First” was not just a political or security book for Shamkhani; it was a document for understanding the logic of Israel’s security structure. He understood well that in today’s complex battles, knowing the enemy’s mindset is more important than knowing its equipment.

This deep approach to reading is what distinguishes commanders like Shamkhani from many purely political figures. He was analytical; he read and understood. Even in his busiest days in office, books were never removed from his life.

In modern history, few books have exposed the mechanisms of Israel’s security apparatus as much as “Kill You First.” Written not by an anti-Israeli voice, but by an Israeli journalist who spent years within the mainstream media of the regime, the book is based on thousands of documents and hundreds of interviews, reconstructing the hidden history of organized assassinations.

Ronen Bergman, the author, by penetrating the hidden layers of Mossad, Shin Bet, and Israel’s security structure, presents a picture fundamentally different from the official propaganda of the regime. He shows how assassination, elimination of opponents, and covert operations are not exceptions but the backbone of Israel’s security policy.

In the later sections of “Kill You First,” the narrative moves closer to the present, where targeted assassinations extend from the streets of Beirut and Damascus to the heart of Tehran. Bergman describes assassinations of resistance commanders, Iranian nuclear scientists, and complex intelligence and cyber operations.

He speaks of methods that resemble spy films: exploding mobile phones, car bombings, armed drones, multi-layer intelligence operations, and sophisticated tools for physical elimination of targets.

Perhaps this is why this book attracted Martyr Ali Shamkhani—a figure who had spent years at the center of the region’s most important security and strategic developments and always sought a precise, deep, and documented understanding of the enemy.

He remained committed to books until the final days of his life and considered reading part of his intellectual and national responsibility. He often instructed his staff and close colleagues to purchase the latest books. This intellectual spirit made him a distinctive figure—an administrator who believed decision-making without study, research, and deep understanding was impossible.

Ultimately, this high-ranking and distinguished commander was martyred on February 28  in an attack designed by the terrorist governments of the United States and Israel; but his name will remain not only in the political and security sphere but also in the cultural and intellectual memory of society as a manager devoted to knowledge, thought, and books.