Taken Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and America's First Encounter with Radical Islam (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America) (Hardcover)

~ David Farber (Author) "To burn or not to burn, that was the question..." (more)
Key Phrases: embassy takeover, student militants, hostage crisis, United States, White House, President Carter (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For 444 days in 1979–1981, Americans watched, with a mix of frustration and helplessness, the unfolding of the Iran hostage crisis and the withering of the Carter presidency. While Farber, a professor at Temple University, presents a detailed picture of the coming of the Iranian revolution, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the United States' inability to see and deal effectively with either, at the heart of his tale is America. Farber satisfyingly contextualizes the moment, vividly redrawing stagflation, the energy crisis and national malaise. Neither the Shah nor his American supporters saw how powerful Islamic forces had become, viewing the threat as "Soviet Red and not Islamic Green"; Carter failed first to grasp the nature of the threat and later to act effectively. Khomeini comes off as a shrewd strategist, using the hostages to both consolidate his growing power and unite his nation. While the commentary on contemporary politics is rather speculative, Farber gives a needed history lesson on the depth of political anger in the Islamic world and on the United States' incapacity to communicate its message.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

" a timely and revealing history of America's first engagement with terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism". -- Planet Utica

"... presents an historical overview of the roots of the crisis and implications for American society". -- Karl Helicher, ForeWord Magazine

"Farber gives a needed history lesson on the depth of political anger in the Islamic world". -- Publisher's Weekly

"Twenty-five years later there is renewed interest in the 444-day Iran hostage crisis." -- Daniel K. Blewett, Library Journal

Farber satisfyingly contextualizes the moment, vividly redrawing stagflation, the energy crisis and national malaise. -- Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691119163
• ISBN-13: 978-0691119168
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #710,599 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a mere account of historical events, January 23, 2005

By	M. Nilsen (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an outstandingly researched work and I applaud Farber's thoroughness. I just finished writing my final research paper for my historical methods class on the Iran hostage crisis and this text was an indispensable resource.

It is so much more than just an account of the hostage crisis. Farber really delves beneath the surface of the events and decisions related to the crisis. He paints a picture for the reader of the sentiments prevalent among the citizenries of both the United States and Iran. He goes further by describing the reasons behind those sentiments. This puts the decisions made by the Carter administration, the actions taken by the Iranians, and the reactions to both of these by the American public in a context and framework essential to understanding the hostage crisis and its related issues. Highly Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview but Look Elsewhere for More Depth, May 24, 2008

By	Lauren Russell (York, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Taken Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and America's First Encounter with Radical Islam (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed the book. It's an area of history that I've seen skimmed over in class after class. For me, this was an excellent jumping off point for looking into the Iran Hostage Crisis. The research is good, and the author incorporates good primary source documentation. Yet, this book still remains a general overview of what happened, focusing more on the U.S. side of things rather than what actually happened in Iran. It's a balanced history; I was just hoping it went a little more in depth.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical account, November 10, 2004

By	A. Dandrea "dcpanther" (Takoma Park, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Farber does a very good job with this book. I was anxious to read it for its historical significance with the 25th anniversary of the hostage crisis. I was in grade school during those 444 days. I wasn't old enough to understand why our citizens were being held. I was old enough to remember other things: the yellow ribbons, Walter Cronkite counting the days each night, Mickey Mouse bumper stickers giving Iran the finger.

The book is very strong with the background of Iranian/US relations. Most Americans probably don't realize the important role people like Eisenhower (and the CIA) played in deposing Iranian despot Mossadegh and installing Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (the Shah) into power.

Farber does a nice job of explaining how it is the policy decisions of the US government that were the root causes of the hostage crisis. The main decisions being installing the Shah and subsequently providing refuge for an ailing Shah in mid-1979. An interesting parallel can be drawn today with the current war on terror. Al Qaeda doesn't hate America so much for what we stand for as for the policy decisions we make.

Farber also does a nice job of describing the troubled days of the Carter administration. Carter had to deal with almost insurmountable problems during his term. Stagflation, high unemployment, the gas crunch and finally (his ultimate downfall) the crisis in Iran.

The book reads very quickly for a so-called historical white-paper. I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in knowing a bit more about the history of Iran and the hostage crisis as well as those interested in the war on terror and some of its early beginnings.