Rating: 
Summary: An oasis of love and respect in these difficult times
Review: Terrence Ward's story of his family's return to Iran is two delightful tales in one. It is both a very personal account of one family's return to the country that hosted them for 12 important years of their life as well as an enlightening discussion of Iran, it's history, customs, culture and people. In these times of tension and fear, it is heartwarming to view the world from the perspective of people with no agenda other than love and respect for one another.
Rating: 
Summary: touching and insightful
Review: Terry Ward has written a beautiful human story and travel journal. I laughed, I cried, I lived through these travellers-- even after I had finished the book!My favorite part is when Terry receives a present-- a hand woven carpet-- from a woman who had a crush on him 30 years ago as a girl and who he barely remembers. And the note behind says in broken English, "... from your bicycl girl-friend, Isfahan 1998." But it's not the "touchy feely stuff" that makes this book good. It is also very insightful. Ward discusses the class dimension of the Iranian Revolution in a way that some of the best "current affairs" writers have failed. What emerges as conclusion is that all the diplomatic negativity of our politicians don't matter much anyway. What matters is beauty, love, friendship, art, poetry, literature, ... culture. From the vantage point of a 3,000 year old country it doesn't really matter if our countries are officially friendly or not -- today's "friends" are tomorrow's enemies and vice versa. I wish he had included the following from Mowlana in the last chapter-- it just fits so well. Out beyond ideas of
Right doing and wrong doing,
There is a field.
I'll meet you there.
Rating:
Summary: Learn so much about Iran in two days
Review: The understanding of Iranian people and culture by Mr. Ward is thorough and fascinating. I learned much about Iran from this book and I am an Iranian. His explorations on topics such as the poet Hafez or the religious figure Imam Ali as well as the roots of the Iranian revolution are well researched, valid and thoughtful. The audience for this book should include not only the people interested in Iran or the Middle East, but also the policymakers and think tanks of American foreign policy in the area. A definite FIVE STAR.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Journey
Review: The Ward Family's almost quixotic journey back to Iran to find their former housekeeper is the background to what, in many respects, is a primer on Iranian history. For me, the actual search for Hassan was a subtext to the more interesting historical and religious insights offered by the author into Islam, Iranian history and culture. At times, the book is a bit unbalanced, and anti-Western in sentiment. But, I recommend it to anyone who (like me) knows very little about Iran and its history and culture.
Rating:
Summary: excellent book to describe little bid of IRAN after Revelout
Review: this book has been written so well by somebody who himeself lived in IRAN before the reveloution and was familliare with IRANIAN calture and way of living.I strongley recommend this book to the people who like to travel to IRAN or like to know what the people in IRAN think about American people.the writer did excellent job on his first book.
Rating:
Summary: fruits of love
Review: This is a fantastic book!!--a lyrical, poignant & timely odyssey of two families navigating the reach between Persia, Islamic Iran and the U.S. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: This is an Amazing book. I read it four times. I have learned a lots of things about my culture that I didn't know before. You learn all about history, culture and current events in Iran at the same time. we are going to read this book in Persian Club of my high school, which I preside. you will enjoy reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: The path less traveled a plea for undrestanding
Review: Ward paints an impassioned and sensitive portrait of a misunderstood nation. Iran's rich history and the complexity of the present sacred state is described with scholarly depth and lyrical humor. The Ward's odyssey is a journey you must not miss.
Rating:
Summary: An Wonderfully Engaging Read!
Review: You don't need to read this review to know that Ward's book comes highly recommended by a variety of readers -- Muslim, Christian, and Jew alike. While this book has been described as part memoir, part travelogue, and part history book -- saying that is like trying to explain what makes Coca-Cola so tasty to people everywhere when any attempt to do so fails in comparison to actually popping the can open and taking a drink. So too it is with Terence Ward's book (and one could argue it would be infinitely more healthy). At its core, Ward's book is about Discovery and Love and without overtly stating this, it makes a rather convincing case that to truly succeed in the latter, you must endeavor in the former -- be it Discovery and Love of self, of another human being, or an entire culture. In "Searching For Hassan," Ward chronicles a journey that covers all of these discoveries and he does so marvelously. While it's also true that parts of the book are often steeped in sentiment and the color of childhood memory, Ward purposefully acknowledges as much early on and reconciles that nostalgic past with the present. Not only can't you blame him for conveying his boyhood memories in his beautifully lyrical, poetic fashion -- you're surprised and intrigued at the discovery of what awaits him and his family. And you. And you. That's what's so marvelous and sweet about this book. The reader ends up tasting as much of the same knowledge and joy Ward and his family do as one possibly can without having been there with them. As Americans we're so insolated, so sheltered -- most of us, including those in power, be it on Wall Street or in Washington -- can't see past our front door and often view us and the admittedly wonderful country we live in as the center of the universe. To be fair, you can't blame Americans for this. It's an easy trap to fall into when you're born into the most powerful, most successful, most imitated and finally most envied and/or despised nation on earth. But to do so not only isn't smart politically or economically, culturally we miss out. We lose. They know more about us then we do about them. And this is so sad. And Ward illustrates this by leaving politics where it belongs (in the toilet). He shows you a culture and a history that is truly as much ours as it is Iran's, or Persia, as it was known by its ancient name. Congratulations to Terence Ward for writing such a uniquely soulful, insightful, and ultimately entertaining book. And congratulations to you if you choose to read it.
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