Searching for Hassan: A Journey to the Heart of Iran

An American family who had lived in Iran many years earlier, returns to look for the family who took care of them when they lived there. It’s a great story and it’s true.

Searching for Hassan is a beautifully written book that should be read by everyone interested in humanity and the ties that bind us all. I wish this book had gotten more press...readers of every age will enjoy this story.

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!

Mr. Ward's story is not only a well written account of a personal journey to reconnect with his past but it also opens our minds to an entirely different culture where even today there are "secret groups" whose intention is integrating the divine into daily life and not being concerned with transient power possessors located either in the east or west because they know the only real power, the only lasting power is the divine. Reading the book sparked in me enthusiasm to return to Iran having spent a month there in March 2001 where I met (real) Sufis with occupations such as carpet dealers, healers, taxi drivers, business men. They met secretly or "under cover" continuing the ancient practices specific to their traditions... Naqshband, Netamahali, Qadiri,etc...

If I could, I'd give this book 6 stars. It's absolutely wonderful!! Although I'm Iranian, this book taught me so much more about my culture- things that I didn't know, I learned, and things that I had a vague idea about, it cleared up. I think this book is a must read for anyone- especially Americans. I wish we had more writers like Terrence Ward to help clear up such a misunderstood culture. He is very compassionate and has a clear and educated understanding of Iranians and our culture.

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...