Helpful Score: 3
There were two major American rescue efforts to free the hostages in Iran in the late 70's-early 80's. One failed- and made grim headlines. The other succeeded against all odds, and inspired Ken Follett to write this true story in his unique style, better than any fictional novel you'll ever read! No Hollywood script writer could match this adventure. Includes 16 pages of photos. A+++++
Helpful Score: 2
In this extraordinary work of nonfiction, Ken Follett re-creates an adventure that equals the suspense of his famous novels - a daring, real-life mission carried out by authentic American heroes.
On Wings of Eagles is the story of a Green Beret colonol, a decorated soldier of the World War II and Vietnam, who came out of retirement to lead a secret raid against staggeringly perilous odds...a group of computer executives who were hastily shaped into a crack commando team...a Texas industrialist who woud not abandon two men when all hope seemed lost.
On Wings of Eagles is the story of a Green Beret colonol, a decorated soldier of the World War II and Vietnam, who came out of retirement to lead a secret raid against staggeringly perilous odds...a group of computer executives who were hastily shaped into a crack commando team...a Texas industrialist who woud not abandon two men when all hope seemed lost.
Helpful Score: 1
Most people know Ross Perot as the little guy with big ears who wanted to be President. A Texan of short stature with alot of money. He's all that - and a hell of alot more. Any person who takes the time to read this book will learn what a great and honorable person he is. His loyalty to his EDS employees goes far beyond what any person could have possibly expected. When members of his corporate entity (EDS) are arrested in Iran at the beginning of the Iranian revolution, his first reaction is to ensure that their families in the States are taken care of. His second step is to bring all the pressure he can muster to the State Department to free his men. When he meets roadblocks there -- he hires the best Special Ops guy around and puts together a small group of his employees. Together, along with a wad of cash for bribes, they go into Iran where they break their men out of jail and eventually are able to sneak out of the country. Here is a man who put himself and his money on the line in order to protect his employees. The mechanics of the how are left to the reader. After reading this book, I am quite sure you will have found new respect for the little man from Texas.
Helpful Score: 1
This book keeps you interested from first page to last page. A great read!
"Ken Follett tells the true story of the Middle East hostage crisis that began in 1978 and of the unconventional means one American used to save his countrymen." When two of his employees were held hostage in a heavily guarded prison fortress in Iran, one man took matters into his own hands: businessman H. Ross Perot. His team consisted of a group of volunteers from the executive ranks of his corporation, handpicked and trained by a retired Green Beret officer. To free the imprisoned Americans, they would face incalculable odds on a mission that only true heroes would have dared.
I grew up during this era, but had no inclination of what was occuring around me at the time. Decided to read this book and did it open my eyes! i enjoyed reading the historical descriptions as well as what power government entities can have over situations and people.
Great read!
Great read!
This is a great and true story of how the little Texan, Ross Perot is faced with the dilemma of two of his employees being put in an Iranian prison just before the successful revolution against the Shah's government. The tension and suspense is constant right to the end. There is a lesson to be learned here in executive decision making, more important now than ever!
Best book we've listened to in quite a while. I had not heard about this incident when it was happening. I love Ken Follett and this was another example of his excellent writing skills. The way the story was depicted, made it very exciting. I would definitely recommend this book.
Roz
Roz
Loyalty to a company and taking care of employees is personified in this book about how Ross Perot overcomes unbelievable odds to get his employees out of Iran when the Shah of Iran is overthrown and some Perot's workers are thrown into prison. Perot does what Jimmy Carter failed to do when Carter tried to free the US Embassy staff in Iran. It is a detailed real life thriller I really enjoyed.
Good read with a lot of great historical background on the overthrow of the Shah in Iran in 1979.
When two of his American employees were held hostage in Iran, H. Ross Perot and a select group of his employees took matters into their own hands. Only Ross Perot could make this happen. His team consisted of a group of volunteers from the executive ranks of his corporation, trained by a retired Green Beret officer. To free the imprisoned Americans, they would face incalculable odds on a mission that only true heroes would have dared. . . .
This is a fast-paced adventure story that kept the pages turning until the very end. Only Follett could write this book and do it justice. Hard to believe that it is a true story but I do remember when it happened in 1978. This book is not to be missed. It is a marvelous rare read!
This is a fast-paced adventure story that kept the pages turning until the very end. Only Follett could write this book and do it justice. Hard to believe that it is a true story but I do remember when it happened in 1978. This book is not to be missed. It is a marvelous rare read!
Ken does it again, a action-packed story of a group of volunteers, with a mission to penetrate a heavily guarded prison fortress in Iran. You must read.
Story of how Ross Perot and his team rescues a group of American imprisioned in Iran. Very moving story.
THE EAGLES, A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE RANKS OF A GREAT AMERICAN CORPATION, HAND-PICKED AND TRAINED BY A RETIRED GREEN BERET OFFICER.
keeps your attention
#1 International Bestseller
"A superb edge-of-the-seat true story." - USA Today
The inspiring true story of one man's patriotic spirit-and his heroic mission to save his countrymen.
"A superb edge-of-the-seat true story." - USA Today
The inspiring true story of one man's patriotic spirit-and his heroic mission to save his countrymen.
If you love Ken Follett's fiction books, you are not going to believe this book. Is is a true story with chararcters that you may still remember, written in the fast paced, heart stopping, Follett's way. Great Read!
(from back cover)
THE TEAM
The Eagles, a group of volunteers from the executive ranks of a great American corporation, hand-picked and trained by a retired Green Beret officer.
The MISSION
To penetrate a heavily guarded prison fortress in Iran and free the Americans imprisoned there.
THE ODDS
If you had to calculate the, you didn't go.
The story on these pages would have been incredibly exciting had it been fiction. but it is more than that-it is fact. It's a story that only Ken Follett, today's master of action and suspense, could do justice to.
THE TEAM
The Eagles, a group of volunteers from the executive ranks of a great American corporation, hand-picked and trained by a retired Green Beret officer.
The MISSION
To penetrate a heavily guarded prison fortress in Iran and free the Americans imprisoned there.
THE ODDS
If you had to calculate the, you didn't go.
The story on these pages would have been incredibly exciting had it been fiction. but it is more than that-it is fact. It's a story that only Ken Follett, today's master of action and suspense, could do justice to.
Thrilling account of how Ross Perot got his people of EDS extracted from Iran when rescues of other groups failed
"A true story. Volunteers from executive ranks of an Amer corp, and trained by a Green Beret officer." Great adventure...Great story...
The story on these pages would have been incredibly exciting had it been fiction. But it is more than that.................It is fact. It's a story that only Ken Follett, today's master of action and suspense, could do justice to.
Number-one bestselling author Ken Follett tells the inspiring, true story of the Middle East hostage crisis that began in 1979, and of the unconventional means Ross Perot used to save his countrymen.
