<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Timely, informative, interesting memoir
Review: "Takeover" is a timely book even today, a primary source memoir rather more revealing than many histories. Several reviewers did not read the book or read from such virulently antagonistic positions that they learned nothing from a rich resource.
The 444 days counted down by the nightly news leave images from one side and support a narrow and emotional tale about terrorists, fanatics, and threat. Far from reality or balance. The retelling of the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran, the student's goals and activities, Khomeni's response, Press coverage and attitudes exemplifies something Americans have yet to come to terms with. The regular exposure of efforts at sabotage and CIA intervention were censored out of accounts we saw.(There is little or no account of the much older role of the US in Iran's finances and politics even before the First World War or even of the overthrow of Nationalist Mossadeq by CIA sabotage -- all of which provide a depth of experience and understanding of US motives and actions deeper than even today's typical understanding of Iran by Americans.) At a time when our extremists see nothing by an enemy in Iran we are likely to make similar miscalculations.
The biggest Power seems to have mostly sheltered, xenophobic, ill informed citizens because of both the media and our natural predisposition and distance. (As of 2004 we have new censorship that does not allow some books from specific 'enemy' countries to be published in the US - further corrupting our thinking and understanding.) "Takeover" is an easy and provocative read valuable for the personal story it tells and the much broader reflections about US policy, the CIA, the Media, and the near total "disconnect" from world realities from which we still suffer. It tells its story well and makes no pretense of being a broad and balanced history while injecting much that has been left out by American accounts.
Rating: 
Summary: Shedding light on a dark page of contemporary history
Review: As an Iranian who has lived in US and is familiar with Americam mentality on Iran I found this book fairly objective yet quite idealogical and to some extent successful in presenting for the first time the students and the Iranian view point. Probably one major reason why hostilities remain between the two countries is due to the failure of the US administration to grasp and diegest the aspirations of the majority of Iranians. The hostage taking event remains in the minds of American policy makers and due to consistant biased media reporting, American people as a major reason for frustration and agony.
This book serves fairly well in providing an insight into why it happened, the historical and political context, the psyche of its major players and the fascinating trend of events of this ordeal.
As the author points out this is an attempt to establish a dialogue between Iran and US by shedding light on one the dark pages of our common history .
This audacious account of the 444 day event which still effects international diplomacy today is surely worth reading at least once.
Rating:
Summary: One voice, subjective like 99.9% of everything we read
Review: Here we have the memoirs of a lady and a historical account of a controversial era in world politics. Which is easier: to remember or to forget ? Who can forget the clear support of the US for the Shah and his autocratic dictatorship? Who can forget the pressures against Iran during all these years of the Islamic Republic only due to its independant and anti imperialist approach? Who can forget the support given by the US and most western states to Saddam Hussein to wage war against Iran? Who provided him with the political support and chemical weapons in the first place? Why was this reality denied repeatedly then but acknowledged now ? Why did the students take action against the US? Why dont Iranians , Iraqis, Palestinians, Pakistanis and many nations , why dont they trust the American administration? Why are Americans so uninformed about the foreign policy of their government and why dont they take responsiblity for the fate of their tax money? What does the reform process in Iran mean ? Does it include a shift in political relations with the world and the US? Is there any hope in dialogue among equals ?
The book has attempted to respond to these questions and many more and interestingly very relevant to this new war on Iraq and the policies of the US. If there is any hope to improvement of relations between Iran and the US it lies in mutual understanding and clarification of lies and fallacies propagated in the name of truth and democracy.
There is much more to the history of imperialism than what is said here.She could have elaborated more on the troubles and problems facing the Republic during the subsequent years and the reassessments made today on relations with the US. The contemporary history of that part of the world is very relevant to the future of multilateralism and freedom in the world. Its relevant to our future wherever we live.
Rating: 
Summary: Do you really want to support a terrorist?
Review: I find it breathtaking that this book can claim to be an explanation of political events "behind the scenes." This woman is part of the Iranian government that oppresses its own people and denies rights to anyone who thinks or acts differently from the ruling mullahs. Why doesn't the author talk about the repression and chaos that the revolution brought to Iran? Why doesn't she discuss the thousands of political prisoners that are STILL being tortured there? Some will claim its always best to "understand" the minds of sick, murderous people....Just like books written by Charles Manson, this book attempts to profit off a horrible act and spin history to blame the victims. SHAMEFUL! A reader in Washington, DC
Rating:
Summary: A view from the other side
Review: I think it's important for readers to separate their own political beliefs when reading a book such as this one, because regardless of how you view the hostage takeover, this book presents what one side thought it was doing, a side we have not attempted to listen to and we can learn from. Ms. Ebtekar takes us inside the embassy compound in a fascinating account of the early days of this culminating moment in the revolution, and it's a view we as Americans need to at least check out. My own complaints with the book was that it seemed to lose some of the narrative thread as the description of the crisis wore on, and I would have also liked a bit more reflection on the part of the author given her current position in the Iranian government. Nevertheless, an important read for Americans and Iranians alike.
Rating:
Summary: One voice, subjective like 99.9% of everything we read
Review: It's a story that needs to be told. Of course it's not 100% objective, but what is? To those who gave the book a low rank, they did not assess the content, rather are angry and heated because of human rights voilations and certain atrocious policies in the Islamic Republic. It's an account of the hostage crisis, the FIRST account, and should be taken at face value. While one might give a very low rating to the Islamic Republic's human rights record, Mrs. Ebtekar's book should be ranked on a different criteria. I give it five for it's value and importance in the academic realm.
<< 1 >>
| 
