Rating: 
Summary: Searching for Hassan
Review: A must for any American who wants to get to know something about contemporary Iran.
A must for every Iranian , Mr. Ward not only feels for Iran what we all feel,but he also puts it in an unbias perspective.
Rating: 
Summary: Divine or Crazy?
Review: A work of love--that is to say, blind love. Ward's genuine affection for Iran clouds his analysis and makes him a [push over] for anything and anyone, especially the official post-Shah rhetoric. He fails to understand the depth of frustration that exists there today and the nostalgia for the Shah's days, a nostalgia that permeates Iran's youth, despite their birth in the Islamic Republic. Ward parrots the myth that Iran needed to oust the Shah to restore the purity of Persian tradition and religion. The pure Iran of today is mired in unemployment, internationally condemned and isolated, a cesspool of drugs and prostitution that survives only because of the inner strength of its people, and despite the government of shame.Ward's eagerness to praise Iran is sometimes unintentionally comical: he readily accepts the claim that the word "divine" is derived from the Persian "divaneh", meaning crazy. It isn't and any dictionary could have helped Ward's hapless etymology. The single biggest defect in the book and its premise is that the Wards do not speak Farsi; the countless Farsi quotes try and hide this fatal weakness but one must wonder how much Ward and his clan understood. Judging from the book's political conclusions, we must assume the worst.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: As an Iraninan living in the US for the past 13 years I found this book quite informative about the history and culture of Iran.I was quite surprised at the author's deep understanding of Iranian traditions and way of life, knowing that he was away from Iran for years before his recent trip.He has done a great job in reviewing the historical background of the contemporary iraninan society while keeping the focus of the book on the main subject(searching for hassan).His opinions are unbiased and his frequent references to great poets like Molavi and Hafez adds an spritual dimension to the book.It is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: wanderlust
Review: Equipped with little more than a garbled village name, a photograph and their indomitable sense of adventure, the Ward family embarks on a quest to find Hassan, the Iranian man they had all grown to love during their expatriate life decades earlier. Swaying across the Islamic Republic in a rented bus, the four now grown sons and their parents discover the new, the enduring and the comic in an enigmatic country swept by some of the most startling events of recent history. Readers prone to wanderlust beware...
Rating: 
Summary: I was this family's tour guide.
Review: I am Avo the tour guide in this book.It is not my real name but Terry checked with me before.Well I had agreat time with them.We laughed a lot,lot of interesting and exciting moments.His dad and mom were very helpful and funny,ricardo later returned to Iran and asked me to tour him and his family and 2 other families.Christopher was artist and fun to be with,Kevin was about to punch me once because I would wake them up every day early.and terry would take a lot of pictures and mingled with Iranian girls(just talking)I probably saved them from major trouble few times(from commitee or police),and other problems(drivers and food poisening and other)and gave them 110% safe and secure tour(the most important thing in my mind at the time)
altough he was not very kind with me in the book,I called him and said I frgive you for not so kind comments,he admitted that the publisher had to change few things to make the book more interesting.it is a good book altogether.I recommend this book to every artist,poet,traveler,history lover and...good luck Terrance
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully blended book
Review: I am big fan of the Iranian culture and I would say that this book has very beautifully blended Iranian culture and family memoirs. Full marks to Mr Ward for having woven this lovely book.Easy to read, informative and emotional.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on Iran
Review: I am really impressed by the manner in which Terence Ward weaved his family's pre-revolution past with their journey in the quest of Hassan, throwing in gems of information about the Iranian history in between. Very well laid out book. Amongst all of the books I read about Iran, this certainly deserves the top podium.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely beautiful!
Review: I didn't know too much about this book when I picked it up, but judging by its cover I thought it would be a quest in search of Hassan. The title, however, is a little misleading, the book is a far richer spiritual journey, breathing life into the past with a depth and richness rarely seen. I'd call the book a "hard" read for the average reader, not because the language is difficult, but because it is such a rich piece of work that you simply can not rush through it. So rich, in fact, that you have to absorb bits at a time and let it sink in. This is a gorgeous recollection by Terence Ward and is about him and his 3 brothers and parents, as they return to Iran during a time when it was not so safe for travelling foreigners, to rediscover a part of their childhood and past. The Wards have not been back to Iran since the 1960's and this adventure takes place around about 1998. The Ward family travels to desinations near and far and the prose that Ward uses to describe the terrain and people, and to also weave their past back into the story is nothing short of breathtaking. He is truly a gifted writer with a special talent for capturing moments and people and experiences, managing to flawlessly translate them into colorful prose. Searching for Hassan comes to fruition towards the end of the book, and is a beautiful story in and of itself. But I highly reccommend this book as a informative source on culture and history. I do agree with the other reviewers that the political outlook is skewed--thsi is not a better future for Iranians. The Shah might have been cruel and greedy, BUT the regime that followed was and is a classic example of "out of the frying pan and into the FIRE." One cannot help but to think that maybe Mr. Ward was influenced to write kindly about the current political regime...but read the other reviews for a deeper analysis of that as one reviewer pegs it completely, explaining all about LA Iranians and their persecution, etc. Other than the soft political views, this is actually a great piece of work---and kudos to Mr. Ward for being such an amazing man and sharing the wonderful story of his journey with his family to Iran, and bringing it all to life so movingly. His knowledge of Persian culture and history by far outrivals most of his peers. Thank you Mr. Ward!
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Summary: A touching journey!
Review: I just finished reading this book and am still wiping the tears from my eyes. "Searching for Hassan" was truly extraordinary. I cried as Hassan spoke with Terry and his brothers about how he will always remember the kindness of others, especially the kindness that Terry's family gave to him.
Iran has always been on my itinerary, as one of the places I've always wanted to visit. I learned much more than I knew before about Iranian culture, and this book left me with a longing and curiosity to see this beautiful country.
Kudos to Terence Ward!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: I just finished reading this book and it is simply brilliant. I picked it up and could not put it down. I truly wept at several passages, especially the reunion with Hassan. Terence Ward has managed something that befuddles most writers; he weaves a memoir, a journey, many history lessons and a spiritual quest, into a singular narrative that reads like a great novel. He is a magnificent writer and I can't believe its his first book.
It so remiminded me of my own youth in India... The deep bonds that one shares with the people of one's adopted country who cared for us as children - how does one explain this to those who've never lived in Asia, how this bond is deeper than blood or water? When Ward writes he had to hear Hassan and Fatimeh call him their son, I understand perfectly the healing that took place, which he expresses so simply - that was the essence of the book and the journey.
Congratulations on a masterpiece! --This text refers to the Hardcover edition
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