So.
Which Path to Persia?
I wanna go through the book's list of paths in short, and take a look at it through the lens of the other book I just wrote about above, the US Foreign Policy in Perspective.

The book was published by Brookings Institute, supposedly the US's most cited think tank, so this might be the closest to get to a publication that was made along the debates politicians and bureaucrats, and a publication that is read by politicians and bureaucrats - especially by those in the State, Treasury and Defense departments of the US government, the three departments that conducts US's foreign relations. And the President.

The book reviews of the policy options to the problem Iran embodies. But what is the problem with Iran?
A. Iran tries to acquire nuclear weapons, but at least a nuclear program.
B. Iran supports various violent extremist/terrorist groups (eg. Hamas, Hezbollah, Talibans update: Houthis)
C. Seeks to disrupt Arab-Israeli relations and Palestinian peace process
D. Destabilizes the Middle East
Well one could point out Israel is doing great job in disrupting her relations with the Arabs and preventing peace with Palestinians, and that the greatest threat to the stability of the Middle East is the US herself, but this is about US's point of view.

Quick rundown of the options ("contents" essentially):
I. Diplomatic options
1. persuasion
2. engagement