Customer Reviews

Den of Lions

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Terry Anderson's Den of Lions is a den of insights into the radical bi-polar terrorist mentality in which he was trapped for over seven years. His descriptions of the bombings, shootings and random daily violence that permeated around the non-citizens and the citizens of Lebanon, make this a classic Middle East hostage survivor's story. Anderson's poems of his cruel incarceration are filled with searing depth that transport you to the various scummy basement cells which he shared with other Westerners. Den of Lions and Hostage by David Jacobson go hand in hand and are important contributions in the collection of Middle East books that help those of us citizens who were not there or too young to remember, the horror that Beirut was during the eighties and early ninties. Very highly recommended!

I am a Westerner who has lived in Lebanon for many years and yet I gleaned new knowledge of the Middle East from reading "Den of Lions". Terry Anderson is a wonderful writer, and the addition of his fiancee's thoughts and feelings adds depth of insight into the agony of hostage-taking. There are interesting looks into the interaction between hostages and into the daily frustrations of the waste, and yet somehow the not-waste, of almost seven years away from freedom of choice. This is a book that has stayed on my mind.

I do not want this to sound insensitive, but the one thing I kept thinking as I was reading this book is why was he there? The U.S. government was telling U.S. citizens to leave, the Lebanese government did not care, his employer wanted him to leave, and there were increasing hostage incidents. The book his the story of his capture and the seven years he spent as a captive of this militant group. He does a good job in describing the locations he was in, the people that were his captors, and the other persons that he was with. I thought the most interesting parts of the book detailed his conversations with some of his captors and their views on the situation.

The book is a very interesting view of what happened to the author. The details are rich and he does a good job of painting the scenes for us. He also did a good job of explaining the depression of being a captive and what it is like to loss seven years of your life, although I do not think any author could truly express the emotional pain that he must have gone through. If you are interested in this part of the world or this story, this is a great book. It is also interesting given the current climate in the Middle East to read about what was happening 20 years ago.

Mr. Anderson's book is a lesson on how to maintain sainity in the most horrible situations you could every be in; kidnapped and the lose of personal freedom.

This book is not a pleasant read. It is very important though in that it allows the reader, who is probably very comfortable while reading, to feel the sense of dispair that Mr. Anderson went through.

The political reasons as well as the climate in the Middle East in the 1980's is very interesting and this account allows us to see it from a totally different perspective.

Plus it has a happy ending, I highly recommend it.

Anderson's book is inspirational. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more of what goes on in the mind of a hostage. It will make you much more appreciative of what you have. It also reads quickly.

Books don't usually move me much emotionally let alone bring tears to my eyes. This was a first for me. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

This book is a must read for those interesed in learning more about the political and religious turmoil that grips the Middle East. Terry Anderson takes the time to describe the region in all its misery. Anderson remains factual and true throughout the book, rather than providing sensationalism. His account of hostage life is very gripping and depressing. He makes one feel good to be alive and free.

Journalist Terry Anderson (born 1947) describes his long ordeal as a hostage of Shite Muslims in Lebanon from 1985-1991. Anderson was kidnapped off the street one day in March 1985, and was destined to spend much of the next six years chained, blind-folded, and sitting on a mattress in a locked room guarded by captors that ranged from hate-filled to occasionally sympathetic. Along the way Anderson describes his increased (Catholic) faith, his regrets for past disgressions, and trying to cope with boredom and extreme emotional distress. Imagine his reaction as he heard fellow captive William Buckley being killed in the next room. At least Anderson was not alone through his long ordeal; he was often imprisoned in the same room with Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, Terry Waite, Tom Sutherland, Ben Weir, and a couple other hostages. We also hear from his fiance Madeleine, who waited, prayed, and raised their daughter Sulome alone - who finally met her daddy when she was six. Then there are tidbits of news and events (Iran-Contra Scandal, The Gulf War, Fall of Soviet Communism) the captives learned of through magazines, radio, and TV - when they were allowed access to these.

This is a very moving story of life as a prisoner, ranking with such top-level books as THE FIXER, NIGHT, PRISONER WITHOUT A NAME CELL WITHOUT A NUMBER, etc. Readers might also enjoy Father Jenco's BOUND TO FORGIVE and Terry Waite's TAKEN ON TRUST. At this writing, Anderson is semi-retired with his wife in Ohio, and has been variously involved as journalist, candidate for state legislature, blues bar operator, and college teacher. This is a powerful, readable, moving story.

When I purchased this book it was for the purpose of providing support documentation information I needed for a report. I have read portions of the book and found it very fascinating. The author provides a perspective about solitary confinement that most can only imagine. The fact that he was able to get through the capture and torture of those years and not suffer severe fallout is nothing short of a miracle.

Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years by Terry Anderson is one of my favorite books. The book grabbed my attention and kept it. I read the book in one day. Learning of Terry Anderson's ordeal through his eyes and in his words was amazing. Having been only 4 when he was taken hostage, I did not really know much about him until he was released from Lebanon in 1991, when I was 10. I grew up watching the news with my parents and I can remember seeing his return on television.
When I decided to study journalism in college, I chose the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. When I heard that Terry Anderson was going to be joining the faculty at Scripps, I was truly excited. I read his memoirs and then had the opportunity to hear him speak about his ordeal. Having him as a professor at Scripps was a wonderful experience for all journalism students. I have the great privilege of saying that I met one of my role models and I am grateful for that.
Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years is one of the best books I have ever read. It is touching and wonderfully written. It tells Terry Anderson's story in a way that only he could.