All Fall Down: America's Tragic Encounter With Iran (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: policy review committee, hostage issue, embassy seizure, United States, President Carter, All Fall Down (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Iran specialist for the U.S. National Security Council during the American hostage crisis, Sick recounts the government's response and presents a dispiriting portrait of bureaucracy as a form of diplomacy. PW noted that Sick writes with "brisk assurance, and his narrative gathers a satisfying momentum."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"One of the best books about government decision-making I've ever read." -- Bob Woodward

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Product Details

• Paperback: 468 pages
• Publisher: IUniverse (November 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595202535
• ISBN-13: 978-0595202539
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #349,885 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic - an essential work, April 1, 2003

By	Robert Platt "montraville" (NY NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The fact that ALL FALL DOWN has been put back into print is a testimony to its continuing relevance 20 years on. This is the best fly-on-the-wall view of an emergent situation I have ever read. It provides not only a chronology, but also personality insights into all the key players, rich cultural and religious backgrounding, and enough military and diplomatic detail to give it a thrilling quality far exceeding anything Tom Clancy could manufacture.

Brian Rubendell's review below is puzzling, because this IS an excellent inside view of the Iranian revolution, a revolution which could not have occurred as it did without the shortsighted bungling of U.S. foreign policy, particularly by Nixon and Kissinger. Carter's inexperience and bad luck, and the Establishment's blinkers, were also critical.

After reading this book 3 times, I am still at wit's end to understand the Middle East, but now at least I know what the critical questions are.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quite Informative and Provides an Insider View, January 8, 2001

By	Drew Smith "dynamicdrew" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Fall Down: America's Tragic Encounter With Iran (Paperback)

I love Gary Sick! The book was quite comedic in spots! The last reviewer was off a bit. His angle is just as important as anyone elses and cover the American side of the revolution.

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book isn't abot Iran, July 22, 2000

By	Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: All Fall Down: America's Tragic Encounter With Iran (Paperback)

I expected that Gary Sick's "All Fall Down" was going to be an exciting account of the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis. Instead, it was a boring account of the Carter administration's reaction to the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis. Sick worked for Carter when the revolution helped turn the president's foreign policy program on its head. The hostage crisis more than any other event, contributed to Carter's defeat in 1980. Unfortunately, none of this makes for terribly interesting reading. The Iranian revolution is one of the most important events in World History of the last quarter century. But you would never know that from reading this book.