Pieces of the Game: The Human Drama of Americans Held Hostage in Iran

This book is a lavishly written and easy to read first person account of the siege of American embassy in Iran written by one tough as nails army colonel. It is unfortunate, that given today's events this book is now out of print. It's important to understand as time has gone on many of the hostage takers have become important figures in Iranian education and government. Aspects of the book I really enjoyed were the first hand perspective of the remarkable people in our embassy, the history of the region and the reason behind the Iranian revolution. In the past I worked for one the hostages taken by the Iranians and I questioned some of what he had to say. Interestingly, enough Col. Scott's book provided the answers the questions that have puzzled me for years. One of the most striking aspects about the book is the fact that so many of the "intellectual elite" who took over a nation have used an educational system to pigeon hole a nation's people into a system of "group think" that allows them to be manipulated. In this way the book should be on the shelve of anyone interested in the future of the near east and how it affects us as a nation. One thing is certain. We can be proud to know that our country produces men like Col. Scott. His self reliance, devotion to faith, attention to detail, and his ability to never give in or give out to his interrogators are a credit to him and his service.

This book was mentioned in the last few pages of "Guests of the Ayatollah" by Bowden - which is another fantastic read. Colonel Charles Scott was one of the hostages unjustly captured and imprisoned in November 1979. He does a superb job taking the reader through the entire crisis, including the preamble, the takeover, the internment and the build-up to the release. The book is exceptionally well-written and has the easy flow of a fictional novel. One of Colonel Scott's strengths is his ability to retell the events with such clarity and detail, that you feel it is happenning in real time - and that you are somehow part of the ordeal. One of the most fascinating subplots of the book, is his relationships with his captors. Colonel Scott's undying resolve both frustrates and impresses those that imprison him. However, he is able to analyze and evaluate the Iranians and is even able to forge a few (dare I say) friendships - especially with Akbar, an educated and reasonable Iranian who slowly grows frustrated with the hostage situtation and is compelled to engage the Colenel in both personal and political discussions. It is unfortunate the the Iranian hostage crisis is passed over in a few paragraphs in our schools. This book should be added to any high school reading list, and certainly should be part of any curriculum related to US History and our relationships with our friends in the Middle East. I hope that the success of "Guests of the Ayatollah" will give more readers the opportunity to read this great book as well.

Col. Scott's book is, quite simply, one of the very best personal narratives I have ever read. He traces the entire hostage ordeal from its political roots in Iran, including the deposition of the Shan and its effect on everyday Iranians, to its overwhelming conclusion, over a year later. Col. Scott takes great pains to ensure that the reader fully understands what is happening at every point, and the depth and clarity of the actual writing is breathtaking. Of interest to many readers will be the time Col. Scott takes to fully develop (in the mind of the reader) his relationship with his "benevolent terrorist", Akbar. He also gives a significant portion of the book to Akbar's history, and I really felt, at the end of the book, as if I had been right there in the midst of things, listening, feeling, and watching the story unfold. A fantastic read by an extraordinarily talented man.