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On Wings of Eagles
On Wings of Eagles is the thrilling novel based on the incredible real-life rescue of two Americans by a Green Beret colonel and a group of corporate executives from revolutionary Iran, from number one bestseller Ken Follett.A Terrifying PrisonAs Iran descends into revolution, two Americans get caught up in the upheaval. They are captured and held in a heavily guarded fortress. Their situation is desperate, with the US government refusing to get them out. But all hope is not lost . . .A Daring RescueThis is the fictionalised real-life story of a Green Beret colonel, who came out of retirement to lead a secret raid; the computer executives, shaped into a crack commando team; and the Texas industrialist, Ross Perot, who would not abandon two Americans in an Iranian jail.A Dangerous EscapeBreaking the prisoners out is only the beginning of the mission. In order to get to the safety of the Turkish border, they must make a treacherous overland journey whilst avoiding an enemy that is closing in . . .
500 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 1983
2832 people are currently reading
7872 people want to read
About the author
Ken Follett
598 books59.3k followersKen Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 773 reviews
July 29, 2012
This book is personal for me since I worked for Ross Perot's firm, EDS, in San Francisco during that time. I remember seeing the letters from co-workers in Iran posted on the computer room's bulletin board. I watched on TV the news about the escape of EDS people from Iran. How many bosses would help get employees out of danger like he did? This fantastic book will explain why Ross Perot became a hero to me.
June 5, 2022
4 ☆
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Electronic Data Systems ("EDS"), Ross Perot did after two of his executives were arrested and jailed in Tehran, Iran on December 28, 1978. Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord were innocent of breaking local laws. Many eventually realized that they were being held as commercial hostages as no charges had been filed against them and yet their bail had been set at unprecedented amounts of $12+ million. From EDS' perspective, the Iranian government under Reza Shah was in arrears of $4 million to the Texas-based firm.
It would be a gross understatement to say that Iran was experiencing turmoil in 1978. For nearly a year, civic protests blocked the streets and power strikes meant cold buildings. By September 1978, the The US Ambassador Sullivan in Iran had quietly observed that the US-backed Shah was "doomed." EDS personnel were asking daily whether and when to pull the plug. By December 9th, EDS had evacuated 130+ employee families from Tehran, leaving behind only a skeletal crew, who would have likely been prevented from departing anyway. High-level government officials who had been appointed by the Shah were being arrested for corruption. Magistrate H. Dadgar turned his attentions to EDS managers Paul and Bill on a related inquiry and then to their shock imprisoned them.
Despite multiple efforts to leverage federal US government contacts, nothing succeeded in freeing the two EDS executives. In their desperation, the EDS folks resorted to illicit strategies and "Operation Hotfoot" (aka Help Our Two Friends Out of Tehran) was born and spearheaded by a retired Green Beret Colonel.
Ken Follett had written a few espionage thrillers before commencing with On Wings of Eagles. This was a real account of the efforts to free Paul and Bill and to smuggle them home to the safety of the US. Although true, I wouldn't say that this was unbiased as the retelling was very favorably cast towards Perot and his people. At times when Follett focused upon Perot, it felt like a campaign biography (and this was published nearly a decade before Perot ran for POTUS and lost).
Clearly, this nonfiction book wasn't penned by an investigative journalist with a duty to objectivity. With that caveat in mind and once I had time to devote to it, On Wings of Eagles became exciting reading especially by the story's midpoint. I enjoyed learning a bit more about Iran as Paul and Bill's adventure was set against a dramatic backdrop of a country before and after a revolution. The danger to the EDS folks had been real and immediate. Khomeini, the exiled cleric, had returned to Iran on February 1, 1979, and proclaimed to his excited followers -
On Wings of Eagles read like a thriller. Its vintage was apparent in the gender attitudes among the Americans. Although events transpired forty-plus years ago, I believe that the tale still offers food for thought to businesses considering expansion into emerging markets.
How many American corporate chiefs in the twentieth century had asked seven employees to perpetrate a jailbreak?
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Electronic Data Systems ("EDS"), Ross Perot did after two of his executives were arrested and jailed in Tehran, Iran on December 28, 1978. Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord were innocent of breaking local laws. Many eventually realized that they were being held as commercial hostages as no charges had been filed against them and yet their bail had been set at unprecedented amounts of $12+ million. From EDS' perspective, the Iranian government under Reza Shah was in arrears of $4 million to the Texas-based firm.
But the big mistake has been doing business in Iran in the first place. With hindsight [Perot] could see that. At the time ... oil-rich, stable, Western-oriented Iran presented excellent opportunities. He had not perceived the strains beneath the surface, he knew nothing about the Ayatollah Khomeini, and he had not foreseen that one day there would be a President naive enough to try to impose American beliefs and standards on a Middle Eastern country.
It would be a gross understatement to say that Iran was experiencing turmoil in 1978. For nearly a year, civic protests blocked the streets and power strikes meant cold buildings. By September 1978, the The US Ambassador Sullivan in Iran had quietly observed that the US-backed Shah was "doomed." EDS personnel were asking daily whether and when to pull the plug. By December 9th, EDS had evacuated 130+ employee families from Tehran, leaving behind only a skeletal crew, who would have likely been prevented from departing anyway. High-level government officials who had been appointed by the Shah were being arrested for corruption. Magistrate H. Dadgar turned his attentions to EDS managers Paul and Bill on a related inquiry and then to their shock imprisoned them.
Despite multiple efforts to leverage federal US government contacts, nothing succeeded in freeing the two EDS executives. In their desperation, the EDS folks resorted to illicit strategies and "Operation Hotfoot" (aka Help Our Two Friends Out of Tehran) was born and spearheaded by a retired Green Beret Colonel.
Ken Follett had written a few espionage thrillers before commencing with On Wings of Eagles. This was a real account of the efforts to free Paul and Bill and to smuggle them home to the safety of the US. Although true, I wouldn't say that this was unbiased as the retelling was very favorably cast towards Perot and his people. At times when Follett focused upon Perot, it felt like a campaign biography (and this was published nearly a decade before Perot ran for POTUS and lost).
Clearly, this nonfiction book wasn't penned by an investigative journalist with a duty to objectivity. With that caveat in mind and once I had time to devote to it, On Wings of Eagles became exciting reading especially by the story's midpoint. I enjoyed learning a bit more about Iran as Paul and Bill's adventure was set against a dramatic backdrop of a country before and after a revolution. The danger to the EDS folks had been real and immediate. Khomeini, the exiled cleric, had returned to Iran on February 1, 1979, and proclaimed to his excited followers -
"I beg God to cut off the hands of all evil foreigners and all their helpers."
On Wings of Eagles read like a thriller. Its vintage was apparent in the gender attitudes among the Americans. Although events transpired forty-plus years ago, I believe that the tale still offers food for thought to businesses considering expansion into emerging markets.
January 30, 2016
Follett steps away from his fiction thrillers to tell the real life story of two EDS employees working in Iran who were arrested and held in an Iranian jail without being charged with anything in 1979 prior to the Iranian hostage situation. I knew nothing about this till reading the book.
I also gained a new found respect for Ross Perot, who was the owner of EDS and later became a presidential canidate. The only thing I knew about Ross Perot was that he was a short guy with big ears. I found out he is a man of honor who cares for his employees enough to put his own life in danger. He organizes other employees, many of them who had a military background, and sends them to Iran to get his employees out of jail and back to the US. He also talks Bull Simons, a retired Army Colonel into training and leading these volunteers.
Follett does a good job of setting out what took place and keeps the large cast of characters familiar to the reader. It was interesting to see all the diplomatic actions that were attempted and the failings of our government to protect its citizens.
Well worth reading to learn more about Iran which continues to be a hot bed even today.
I also gained a new found respect for Ross Perot, who was the owner of EDS and later became a presidential canidate. The only thing I knew about Ross Perot was that he was a short guy with big ears. I found out he is a man of honor who cares for his employees enough to put his own life in danger. He organizes other employees, many of them who had a military background, and sends them to Iran to get his employees out of jail and back to the US. He also talks Bull Simons, a retired Army Colonel into training and leading these volunteers.
Follett does a good job of setting out what took place and keeps the large cast of characters familiar to the reader. It was interesting to see all the diplomatic actions that were attempted and the failings of our government to protect its citizens.
Well worth reading to learn more about Iran which continues to be a hot bed even today.
April 30, 2022
Just saw a friend's review and remembered that I read this over thirty years ago. I don't remember much about it, but I remember liking it.
January 14, 2013
This book is amazing. Really, you couldn't make this stuff up even if you wanted. I must thank one of my faculty members for "making" me read On Wings of Eagles. Ken Follett is one my favorite (well, maybe my favorite) authors, and I hadn't even known that this book existed until December 2012.
On Wings of Eagles is the 100% true story of the rescue operation that Ross Perot organizes after two of his EDS employees working in the Iran branch are jailed. This story takes place in 1978-79, not long before the bigger, more well-known Iran hostage situation. (The only liberties that Follett takes is that he changed the name of several characters to help protect their identities, and that the conversations may not be 100% accurate as it's hard for people to recall their exact words/conversations. However, all conversations in the book were shown to those involved, so the integrity is there.)
I have to say that I would LOVE to get to chat with Ross Perot. I must admit that I really didn't (and still don't) know much about him, but I've learned that he is a man of integrity, and will go to any length to keep his people safe. It was so nice to see such a rich man going to such great lengths to protect his men and do what needed to be done to get them home and safe.
On Wings of Eagles is the 100% true story of the rescue operation that Ross Perot organizes after two of his EDS employees working in the Iran branch are jailed. This story takes place in 1978-79, not long before the bigger, more well-known Iran hostage situation. (The only liberties that Follett takes is that he changed the name of several characters to help protect their identities, and that the conversations may not be 100% accurate as it's hard for people to recall their exact words/conversations. However, all conversations in the book were shown to those involved, so the integrity is there.)
I have to say that I would LOVE to get to chat with Ross Perot. I must admit that I really didn't (and still don't) know much about him, but I've learned that he is a man of integrity, and will go to any length to keep his people safe. It was so nice to see such a rich man going to such great lengths to protect his men and do what needed to be done to get them home and safe.
February 11, 2023
Nu poți da suficient unei cărți care descrie fapte reale. În 1979,Iranul își forțează Șahul să abdice, iar țara devine un haos. În mijlocul acelui haos un procuror iranian "condamnă" la închisoare, fără nicio justificare, doi directori ai corporației EDS. Indignat de comportamentul iranienilor și de neputința guvernului SUA, Ross Perot, președintele EDS, pune la cale răpirea din închisoare a celor doi și trecerea ilegală a acestora în Turcia cu ajutorul directorilor companiei și a unui fost colonel din armata SUA. Când te gândești că totul s-a întâmplat în realitate nu poți să nu te gândești că uneori curajul chiar e vecin cu nebunia.
April 11, 2021
En 2011: Si bien se nota el buen hacer escribiendo del Follet -te obliga a leer el libro una vez lo empiezas-, es de lo más soso que he leído de este caballero.
Merged review:
En el 2011: Si bien se nota el buen hacer escribiendo del Follet -te obliga a leer el libro una vez lo empiezas-, es de lo más soso que he leído de este caballero.
Merged review:
En el 2011: Si bien se nota el buen hacer escribiendo del Follet -te obliga a leer el libro una vez lo empiezas-, es de lo más soso que he leído de este caballero.
January 5, 2014
Apparently even the greatest authors have a price. On Wings of Eagles is based on real events: 2 American businessmen are put in jail with non formalized bribery accusations in the middle of the Iran Khomeini's Iran revolution, and they managed to escape back home. The story is told as told to the author by the main characters, one of which, Perot, pretty much commissioned the book. As a result the book reads like a puff job, where Perot and his executives are hailed as heroes for actions that are quite troubling. Faced with the incarceration of two of his executives, Perot decides to bypass the US government, and instead forms his own militia rescue party (using retired US army soldiers) and send them in Iran, to risk their life, ready to kill innocent civilians, endangering the US-Iranian relations (and the lives of the thousands of American in Iran at the time) in the middle of an extremely delicate situation (i.e. a full blown revolution), to save his two executives. The executives, at the end, are saved by the action of "Rashid", a smart Iranian employee, and by a lot of luck. I love Ken Follett work because it helps me to better understand history. This book does not shed any light on the Iranian revolution (but for a quick paragraph or two in the whole book). It focuses entirely on the event as seen from Perot, and it is clear that the only thing that matter to him was to save his two executives, at any coast, completely disregarding the well-being of the Iranian civilians and the other American in Iran. The story is adroitly written, but I found it very disturbing. I strongly recommend the following review, that I believe really touch all the important strengths and weaknesses of the book: http://www.danielpipes.org/7958/on-wi... .
March 3, 2020
In 1983 best-selling novelist Ken Follett set aside his usual spy fictions in favor of this non-fictional account of the rescue of two American businessmen who had been unfairly jailed in late 1978 without process of law in revolutionary Iran. The two men were employees of Dallas's EDS corporation, and company head Ross Perot wasn't having any of it. This is the story of how the two men got out of jail and were smuggled into Turkey before their return to the USA, and it's quite an interesting one, although it was more a matter of making the most of a rapidly changing chaotic situation than a strong-arm rescue like Entebbe.
Probably the greatest weakness in this otherwise highly readable account is its length -- over 400 pages. While the principal players are numerous, and divided into "Clean" and "Dirty" teams, I wish author Follett had not reintroduced their personalities and quirks at almost every opportunity.
Probably the greatest weakness in this otherwise highly readable account is its length -- over 400 pages. While the principal players are numerous, and divided into "Clean" and "Dirty" teams, I wish author Follett had not reintroduced their personalities and quirks at almost every opportunity.
May 10, 2018
Una bellissima storia vera, raccontata in maniera semplice e diretta. Ancora una volta bravo Follett.
Read
November 29, 2012This is an awesome book. Three reasons: 1) Follett is an excellent story teller, 2)It's an "espionage/thriller," sort of, 3) it is TRUE!
You all know Ross Perot. Well he owns EDS (Electronic Digital Systems). In 1979 he had a bunch of his guys in Iran putting together a Social Security system for them AND a Medicare system for them. At one point...the Iranians stopped paying. After about 6 months they were owing around 4 billion $$. About this time the revolution broke out and there was some political stuff I didn't understand; however, the matter came down to this - two of his top exec's were put into prison - right at Christmas time. Not a good place to be in prison at any time of the year. ---- Perot immediately took action - going through gov't channels trying to get his men back home. Nothing was working - even Henry Kissinger couldn't help him. At one point Perot looks at Skully and says: what are we going to do. Skully says - break them out!. Skully assembled a group of 6 EDS guys who knew Tehran and had been in Special Ops. Wow! What a thriller.
You all know Ross Perot. Well he owns EDS (Electronic Digital Systems). In 1979 he had a bunch of his guys in Iran putting together a Social Security system for them AND a Medicare system for them. At one point...the Iranians stopped paying. After about 6 months they were owing around 4 billion $$. About this time the revolution broke out and there was some political stuff I didn't understand; however, the matter came down to this - two of his top exec's were put into prison - right at Christmas time. Not a good place to be in prison at any time of the year. ---- Perot immediately took action - going through gov't channels trying to get his men back home. Nothing was working - even Henry Kissinger couldn't help him. At one point Perot looks at Skully and says: what are we going to do. Skully says - break them out!. Skully assembled a group of 6 EDS guys who knew Tehran and had been in Special Ops. Wow! What a thriller.
June 22, 2011
On the Wings of Eagles is a true story about how Ross Perot created a Rainbow 5 type rescue team and recovered his stranded and incarcerated executives. Electronic Data Systems, a company built by the multi-billionaire Ross Perot was working in Iran during their 1979 revolution which saw the removal of the Shah. A team of EDS executives volunteered to go into Iran and rescue colleagues that were being held captive. This team was led by Colonel Arthur D. (Bull) Simons. The story shows, once again, that the truth can be stranger than fiction. The book isn’t like other Ken Follett works and shows that he is the master of fact as well as fiction. I recommend this book to both fiction and fact lovers.
April 25, 2022
4.5 stars
Non-Fiction>US history 1970s
This was a great book! I am a huuuuge fan of Follett and I had put every one of his books on my TBR. This year, I went to look at my TBR here on GR and decided I'm going to read the longest-sitting non fic and fiction. I assumed this was fiction because that's what Follett writes. I found out it was non-fiction but still a novel-style story not a text book or academic work. I was apprehensive since it was unexpected. I was encouraged by fellow members of the Non Fiction Book Club to read it and we set up a Buddy Read for April 2022.
If you enjoy spy thrillers, war stories, revolutions, international politics, are/were a fan of Ross Perot, have enjoyed learning about The Iranian Hostage Situation under Carter, or have read Follett before and think it sounds fantastic to read something 100% true and see what he can do--- this book is for all of you!
Ross Perot runs a Dallas company EDS--they work to computerize health records and other boring but necessary stuff like that. They are branching out internationally and have an office in Iran...in 1978. A revolution is coming but they provide a service and have a contract and want to use this model to expand elsewhere in the world so should they really all leave? This is the story of a whole US company coming together under a great leader to rescue 2 American hostages in revolutionary Iran. Follett does a great job conveying the stories of the large cast of characters involved.
Perot goes straight into action mode over Christmas break and gets personally involved, putting himself in harm's way numerous times to aid the effort to help his employees. I found myself wondering, 'Would my company do this for me?' uh, no!
There was a mini series made in the 80s (I think?) and I plan to watch it.
There are some dissenting views here on GR reviews and I realize that Follett worked closely with Perot to get this written but I don't think it's fabricated or that Perot's dedication was overstated or biased. I was kind of skeptical at first, but looking at the lengths he personally went to in the story, I believe he is really a wonderfully dedicated and loyal man.
One of my favorite men was Rashid and I looked further into what he's doing today (there is an Epilogue but a few decades have passed since publication). I won't spoil it here, but look him up if you read this and also were curious, start with the name Reza Saleh. Don't do it til you're done. I still consider him my favorite of the bunch. Simons was probably second for me but will be top of most people's list I'm sure.
"Ross Perot would say: 'Some people can't organize a two-car funeral.' That applied to the US Embassy staff."
"Taylor had told him that Iran was like an animal with its head cut off: the head--the ministers and officials--were still trying to give orders, but the body--the Iranian people--were off doing their own thing."
"Rashid had never imagined the revolution would be like this: just a disorganized crowd with guns they hardly knew how to use, wandering around on a Sunday morning, firing at walls, encountering halfhearted resistance from invisible troops."
"Be careful about picking a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel and paper by the ton."
"...success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan."
This was a hard choice between 4 and 5 stars but I had to go with 4 and stated earlier the bump to '4.5' which only really counts if you read my review. I'm really trying to be very picky about 5 stars this year. I want to choose only books that I would universally recommend (even to non-readers) and that keep me thinking for a long time after I put it down and/or offer some new insight for at least its topic if not life in general. This was a fantastic story but it probably won't appeal to anyone who doesn't read the blurb and get at least somewhat interested and it isn't going to be my first rec for a friend to pick up a book.
Non-Fiction>US history 1970s
This was a great book! I am a huuuuge fan of Follett and I had put every one of his books on my TBR. This year, I went to look at my TBR here on GR and decided I'm going to read the longest-sitting non fic and fiction. I assumed this was fiction because that's what Follett writes. I found out it was non-fiction but still a novel-style story not a text book or academic work. I was apprehensive since it was unexpected. I was encouraged by fellow members of the Non Fiction Book Club to read it and we set up a Buddy Read for April 2022.
If you enjoy spy thrillers, war stories, revolutions, international politics, are/were a fan of Ross Perot, have enjoyed learning about The Iranian Hostage Situation under Carter, or have read Follett before and think it sounds fantastic to read something 100% true and see what he can do--- this book is for all of you!
Ross Perot runs a Dallas company EDS--they work to computerize health records and other boring but necessary stuff like that. They are branching out internationally and have an office in Iran...in 1978. A revolution is coming but they provide a service and have a contract and want to use this model to expand elsewhere in the world so should they really all leave? This is the story of a whole US company coming together under a great leader to rescue 2 American hostages in revolutionary Iran. Follett does a great job conveying the stories of the large cast of characters involved.
Perot goes straight into action mode over Christmas break and gets personally involved, putting himself in harm's way numerous times to aid the effort to help his employees. I found myself wondering, 'Would my company do this for me?' uh, no!
There was a mini series made in the 80s (I think?) and I plan to watch it.
There are some dissenting views here on GR reviews and I realize that Follett worked closely with Perot to get this written but I don't think it's fabricated or that Perot's dedication was overstated or biased. I was kind of skeptical at first, but looking at the lengths he personally went to in the story, I believe he is really a wonderfully dedicated and loyal man.
One of my favorite men was Rashid and I looked further into what he's doing today (there is an Epilogue but a few decades have passed since publication). I won't spoil it here, but look him up if you read this and also were curious, start with the name Reza Saleh. Don't do it til you're done. I still consider him my favorite of the bunch. Simons was probably second for me but will be top of most people's list I'm sure.
"Ross Perot would say: 'Some people can't organize a two-car funeral.' That applied to the US Embassy staff."
"Taylor had told him that Iran was like an animal with its head cut off: the head--the ministers and officials--were still trying to give orders, but the body--the Iranian people--were off doing their own thing."
"Rashid had never imagined the revolution would be like this: just a disorganized crowd with guns they hardly knew how to use, wandering around on a Sunday morning, firing at walls, encountering halfhearted resistance from invisible troops."
"Be careful about picking a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel and paper by the ton."
"...success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan."
This was a hard choice between 4 and 5 stars but I had to go with 4 and stated earlier the bump to '4.5' which only really counts if you read my review. I'm really trying to be very picky about 5 stars this year. I want to choose only books that I would universally recommend (even to non-readers) and that keep me thinking for a long time after I put it down and/or offer some new insight for at least its topic if not life in general. This was a fantastic story but it probably won't appeal to anyone who doesn't read the blurb and get at least somewhat interested and it isn't going to be my first rec for a friend to pick up a book.
March 9, 2025
Las alas del águila está basada en hechos reales acaecidos en el turbulento Irán de 1979, en plena Revolución Islámica. La historia sigue el desesperado intento de un empresario estadounidense (Ross Perot) por rescatar a dos de sus empleados arrestados en Teherán; retenidos más como rehenes comerciales, ya que no se habían presentado cargos contra ellos y, sin embargo, se les había fijado una fianza de una cantidad sin precedentes. En su desesperación, recurrió a estrategias ilícitas y nació la "Operación Hotfoot", encabezada por un coronel retirado de los Boinas Verdes.
Follett es especialista en crear muy buenas ambientaciones y aquí nos sumerge en el caos y la tensión de una ciudad al borde del abismo. La historia es un verdadero relato del ingenio y la determinación de un hombre por cumplir su promesa, pero también una reflexión sobre la fragilidad de las relaciones internacionales y el precio de la libertad.
Lo que más resalta en la novela son sus personajes, dónde nos muestra sus miedos, esperanzas y dilemas morales. La precisión histórica y el ritmo ágil hacen de la lectura una experiencia inmersiva. Si los hechos son como se relatan, es de destacar la tenacidad de Perot a pesar de todas las adversidades que se encontró, así como la valentía que mostraron los rehenes.
Sin embargo, solo nos muestra una perspectiva americana, ya que la caracterización de los personajes iraníes es algo superficial.
Sobre el final… A pesar de ser conocido, la tensión constante me mantuvo pegada a las páginas, hasta sentir una sensación de verdadero alivio.
“...nunca había comprendido el significado de la libertad hasta que la había perdido”.
“...si pasas la vida preocupándote por todas las cosas malas que pueden pasar, pronto te convencerás de que es mejor no hacer nada”.
“El éxito tiene mil padres, pero el fracaso es huérfano”.
Follett es especialista en crear muy buenas ambientaciones y aquí nos sumerge en el caos y la tensión de una ciudad al borde del abismo. La historia es un verdadero relato del ingenio y la determinación de un hombre por cumplir su promesa, pero también una reflexión sobre la fragilidad de las relaciones internacionales y el precio de la libertad.
Lo que más resalta en la novela son sus personajes, dónde nos muestra sus miedos, esperanzas y dilemas morales. La precisión histórica y el ritmo ágil hacen de la lectura una experiencia inmersiva. Si los hechos son como se relatan, es de destacar la tenacidad de Perot a pesar de todas las adversidades que se encontró, así como la valentía que mostraron los rehenes.
Sin embargo, solo nos muestra una perspectiva americana, ya que la caracterización de los personajes iraníes es algo superficial.
Sobre el final… A pesar de ser conocido, la tensión constante me mantuvo pegada a las páginas, hasta sentir una sensación de verdadero alivio.
“...nunca había comprendido el significado de la libertad hasta que la había perdido”.
“...si pasas la vida preocupándote por todas las cosas malas que pueden pasar, pronto te convencerás de que es mejor no hacer nada”.
“El éxito tiene mil padres, pero el fracaso es huérfano”.
June 29, 2021
Audible.com 15 hours 17 min. Narrated by various readers
As a huge fan of Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series and his various other books of fiction, I was fascinated with this non-fiction recreation of the successful plans of Ross Perot to free two of his EDS employees from jail in Tehran, Iran in 1979. I knew of Ross Perot's unsuccessful runs for presidential election, but I don't remember ever hearing of the great love and respect Perot had for our military especially those from the Vietnam Nam period and POW's and MIA. I can't imagine any other founder and chairman of the board of such lage company as EDS going to such lengths to carry through his conviction of responsibility for the safety of employees caught in the middle of a revolution. I'm grateful for the time that Follett (a Welshman) put into gathering first-person accounts of this particular turbulent time in America's history to give credit to an unsung hero. "As Americans it's what is right about America." Some may say the story is too long, but each detail is like one piece in a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Without the details, the the full-picture can't be seen. 4.5 ☆
As a huge fan of Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series and his various other books of fiction, I was fascinated with this non-fiction recreation of the successful plans of Ross Perot to free two of his EDS employees from jail in Tehran, Iran in 1979. I knew of Ross Perot's unsuccessful runs for presidential election, but I don't remember ever hearing of the great love and respect Perot had for our military especially those from the Vietnam Nam period and POW's and MIA. I can't imagine any other founder and chairman of the board of such lage company as EDS going to such lengths to carry through his conviction of responsibility for the safety of employees caught in the middle of a revolution. I'm grateful for the time that Follett (a Welshman) put into gathering first-person accounts of this particular turbulent time in America's history to give credit to an unsung hero. "As Americans it's what is right about America." Some may say the story is too long, but each detail is like one piece in a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Without the details, the the full-picture can't be seen. 4.5 ☆
January 1, 2022
3.5⭐
O livro é bom mas achei-o extremamente confuso, perdi-me no meio de tantas personagens e factos históricos. Para mim funcionaria melhor em filme.
O livro é bom mas achei-o extremamente confuso, perdi-me no meio de tantas personagens e factos históricos. Para mim funcionaria melhor em filme.
December 18, 2025
Tartuin tähän teokseen, koska aihe kulki likeltä oman elämän historiaa - oma isäni aikanaan evakuoitiin juuri 1978 Teheranista vallankumouslevottomuuksien keskeltä. Voi olla, että se osaltaan vaikutti arviooni - neljä tähteä on ehkä vähän yläkanttiin, mutta kyllä tämä myös piti otteessaan loppuun asti. Hengästyttäviä käänteitä toinen toisensa perään. Pidin myös siitä, millaisella yksityiskohtien tasolla tapahtumista ja tilanteen etenemisestä kerrottiin, mm. ryhmän suunnittelutyön ja tilanteiden lähestymistavan kuvauksessa - koin sen hetkittäin jopa opettavaisena. Ken Follett on kyllä ollut ihan oikea kirjailija kertomaan tällaisen uskomattoman tositarinan.
February 20, 2023
Fascinating story!!!!
October 7, 2017
Being from Dallas and raised during Ross Perot's run for the presidency, I was surprised I didn't know about his behind the scenes rescue mission of two EDS employees during the Iranian revolution. I enjoy Ken Follett, and hearing him speak recently about his friendship with Perot, made me run out and get this book. Written like a thriller, you cheer for the Texan who works his governmental connections, uses his personal money and ultimately puts a motley crew of men with true grit together to get these guys out. Along the way you are shown the day-to-day under pinnings of the US government, the wives who are left behind and how everyday Iranians are affected by doing business in a sometimes lawless land.
June 13, 2012
a terrible story told very well
September 25, 2018
This real account of Ross Perot's successful attempt at liberating two of his employees, arrested during the last days of the regime in Iran and the first days of Iranian revolution, is an incredible (and real) adventure which was turned into a movie in the 1980s, with Burt Lancaster playing "Bull" Simmons and an array of other great actors playing the parts of the real EDS employees who accepted to stay or go back to Iran to try and rescue their colleagues.
This is not the story of the later hostages in the US Embassy in Iran - which took place months after this case ended with a spectacular escape of the two americans from prison and their flight through revolution filled roads into Turkey, Germany, London and Dallas!
Definitely worth reading, a different Ken Follet, and a breathtaking adventure. Wish I could find and see the Lancaster movie!
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 25 September 2018.
This is not the story of the later hostages in the US Embassy in Iran - which took place months after this case ended with a spectacular escape of the two americans from prison and their flight through revolution filled roads into Turkey, Germany, London and Dallas!
Definitely worth reading, a different Ken Follet, and a breathtaking adventure. Wish I could find and see the Lancaster movie!
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 25 September 2018.
May 5, 2022
In December 1978, two Americans working for Ross Perot in Iran were jailed and their passports confiscated. Although they were accused of bribery, no charges were actually brought and no evidence existed. When the U.S. embassy, the State Dept., Kissinger and various elected officials did not have the men out of jail in 48 hours, Perot organized a team of private citizens to arrange a jail break and spirit them out of the country. This is written as an adventure story, not as a piece of investigative journalism. Perot and the rescue team are portrayed as classic action movie heroes. We learn nothing about any efforts by government figures to negotiate a release and why they may not have worked. Instead, the reader is given the impression that those with official channels were either incompetent or irresponsible while Perot and his crackpot team were loyal, courageous, ingenious and the ideal of American can-do ethic. Follett wrote a great action story. It was easy to keep the characters and story line straight. The narrative moved steadily. But I would have liked a fuller picture, hearing from other players and exploring the ethical and diplomatic issues raised by this event.
October 1, 2018
Sehr spannend und immer wieder faszinierend! Man fiebert sehr mit den Charakteren mit und ist gespannt wie es weitergeht. Blöd ist nur,dass mitten im Buch sich einige Bilder befinden,welchen man den Ausgang der Odyssee schon erfährt. Dennoch blieb die Spannungskurve erhalten!
April 17, 2017
Libro semplicemente pazzesco, ti tiene col fiato sospeso dalla prima all'ultima parola. Merita davvero di essere letto. Di sicuro lo rileggerò volentieri
September 21, 2017
The true story of how Ross Perot organized a secret rescue team to get his captive employees out of Iran when the U.S. government couldn't be bothered. Good tension throughout, almost read like a novel. Some members of our book club felt the book could have been shortened. If it had been, I'm not sure all the facts would have been properly presented.
July 7, 2025
Well-written and enjoyable narrative non-fiction. Another random bit of good timing for this read (Americans stuck in hostile Iran in 1979).
June 27, 2017
Wow. What an incredible story of beating the odds.
This story is based on the real-life events of EDS (an American company contracted to create a social-security type system in Iran) and Ross Perot's quest to help his EDS employees escape the hands of the acting Iranian government.
Though parts of this story drag a bit, it is an interesting cast of characters involved in this plot... it's also interesting to hear this tale of a bit of american history.
This story is based on the real-life events of EDS (an American company contracted to create a social-security type system in Iran) and Ross Perot's quest to help his EDS employees escape the hands of the acting Iranian government.
Though parts of this story drag a bit, it is an interesting cast of characters involved in this plot... it's also interesting to hear this tale of a bit of american history.
June 4, 2019
Ken Follett is one of my favorite authors. I was really mesmerized by the Kingsbridge saga and the Century trilogy that he has authored, not to mention his iconic debut novel The Eye of the Needle. So, I did have a lot of expectations about this work. On Wings of Eagles is a fictionalized account of real-life events that occurred in Teheran at the height of the Islamic revolution that unfolded in that country in 1979. It is not very easy to pull off a full-length novel on real life events. Follett, rather wryly admits in the foreword to this work that he did face a problem as to how to make the narrative as fast paced as he would have liked, because, in real life things do not move that fast. But he does make a concerted effort all the same and is fairly successful at that.
Electronic Data Systems (EDS) is a company that was founded by Ross Perot, who later was a US Presidential hopeful as an independent candidate in 1992 and a Reform Party candidate in 1996. He had a strong showing in both the elections as a third-party candidate, other than Republican/ Democrat, but was unsuccessful at the hustings.
In late 70s EDS started operations in Iran, where they were involved in the establishment of a Social Security system for the country. The company had moved into Iran when the country was under the control of the Shah, who was running an autocratic and brutal regime. However, things began to go bad for the company, when there was an uprising against the Shah, which was spearheaded by the cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini. Shah, in a bid to show his credentials as a paragon of virtue, and to negate his losing grip on his country, tried to go after the foreign companies in a bid to crack down on alleged corruption that they were indulging in. There is controversy as to whether EDS was involved in corrupt practices or not in Iran. Ken Follet, in his work tries to portray, EDS and Perot as totally upright and above board in their dealings with the bureaucracy in Iran. However, there are conflicting reports on this aspect, and I happened to read an account suggesting the contrary in a web edition of The Chicago Tribune. However, that’s not the point of contention in this book. What Follett wants to portray is the kind of commitment that Perot as an employer had towards his employees when they were caught in a situation of grave danger in a foreign country that was fast spiraling out of control. Of course, there is a likelihood that the account could be highly exaggerated to show Perot in good light, but the basic fact remains that he was committed to taking care of his employees in their time of need.
In early 1979, two employees of EDS, stationed in Teheran, Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord were arrested by the Iranian authorities. The claim is that there were no charges made against the US employees and that they were arbitrarily kept in prison. A steep bail of about 13 million US dollars was placed for their release, which according to some other accounts was the amount that Iran had paid to EDS for allegedly unsatisfactory services provided by the company. Again, Follett papers over that particular allegation. Perot tried to pull strings through the high and mighty in the US administration to get his employees released. All his efforts came to nought, probably because of the confusion and chaos that prevailed in the country with the Shah’s days on the throne being numbered. It was at this juncture that the Texan came up with a daring plan to rescue his employees from Iran.
Perot sought the help of a retired marine Colonel by the name of Arthur “Bull” Simons. He thereafter, under the leadership of Simons, created a team of volunteer EDS employees (all of them ex-soldiers) to go into troubled Iran and extract the two jailed employees. It was this act of daring and commitment of Perot that Follett has made the central theme of this book.
Under the leadership of Simons, the team had carried out lot of practice for the prison break while they were still in Dallas. All this was done based on the information regarding the layout of the prison and the situation in Iran that they had received from their contacts in Iran. But, once they landed in Teheran, they were confronted by the fact that the actual layout of the prison was totally different as compared to what they were made to believe while they were in the States. Moreover, within a few days of the team landing in Iran, Paul and Bill were transferred to the more secure Gasr prison, where close to 10,000 prisoners were incarcerated. Follett describes in detail the disappointments faced by the team on this account, as well as the lengthy deliberations that were happening on the sidelines with the Iranian judicial authorities, to possibly enable the release of the prisoners.
Finally, in February 1979, there was an uprising in the Gasr prison aided by the revolutionaries, which led to a prison break and both Bill and Paul getting out of the prison in the melee that followed. According to Follett’s account, an Iranian employee of EDS, Rashid, was actively involved in engineering the prison break, but this fact is strongly contested in certain other accounts of the event that I had gone through. Follett, thereafter describes in detail the harrowing overland escape of the rescue team and the freed prisoners from Iran into Turkey. The account of the overland escape predictably reads like the script of an escape movie, with thugs, unreasonable regional rebel leaders and hard physical conditions all thrown in for good measure. A statement attributed to Col Simons, as per another account, however, says that the escape was like a picnic down the road. Maybe that was the perception of a battle-hardened marine coming across!!!
Anyway, it is not for the reader to doubt the truth of the details in the narration. The fact that I appreciated was that Ross Perot, had the gumption to plan such an audacious escape in spite of all the odds faced by the company in a totally destabilized country that Iran was at that point in time. Various accounts state that the book was doctored by EDS and required the nod of Perot before publication. I wouldn’t grudge Perot for that, because I think he earned that right on account of the bold stand that he took in coming to the aid of his employees in their time of need. I gather that a shrewd businessman’s brain was at work here, because the book became a best seller. Moreover, the television rights of the book were also sold and a five-part series was made, which too became a much-watched series on TV.
However, even though the book is extremely enjoyable, I would say that Ken Follett is not at his best here. He does make a sincere effort to build up the narration, what with all the efforts to etch out each and every character with a soul of their own. I guess, being a real-life event, the author did have certain limitations on the degree of freedom that he could afford to take with the portrayal of the protagonists. It is however, a very well researched book, and will definitely be considered as one of the main sources of information about those tumultuous days in the history of Iran, when the country was in the throes of a violent revolution.
Electronic Data Systems (EDS) is a company that was founded by Ross Perot, who later was a US Presidential hopeful as an independent candidate in 1992 and a Reform Party candidate in 1996. He had a strong showing in both the elections as a third-party candidate, other than Republican/ Democrat, but was unsuccessful at the hustings.
In late 70s EDS started operations in Iran, where they were involved in the establishment of a Social Security system for the country. The company had moved into Iran when the country was under the control of the Shah, who was running an autocratic and brutal regime. However, things began to go bad for the company, when there was an uprising against the Shah, which was spearheaded by the cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini. Shah, in a bid to show his credentials as a paragon of virtue, and to negate his losing grip on his country, tried to go after the foreign companies in a bid to crack down on alleged corruption that they were indulging in. There is controversy as to whether EDS was involved in corrupt practices or not in Iran. Ken Follet, in his work tries to portray, EDS and Perot as totally upright and above board in their dealings with the bureaucracy in Iran. However, there are conflicting reports on this aspect, and I happened to read an account suggesting the contrary in a web edition of The Chicago Tribune. However, that’s not the point of contention in this book. What Follett wants to portray is the kind of commitment that Perot as an employer had towards his employees when they were caught in a situation of grave danger in a foreign country that was fast spiraling out of control. Of course, there is a likelihood that the account could be highly exaggerated to show Perot in good light, but the basic fact remains that he was committed to taking care of his employees in their time of need.
In early 1979, two employees of EDS, stationed in Teheran, Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord were arrested by the Iranian authorities. The claim is that there were no charges made against the US employees and that they were arbitrarily kept in prison. A steep bail of about 13 million US dollars was placed for their release, which according to some other accounts was the amount that Iran had paid to EDS for allegedly unsatisfactory services provided by the company. Again, Follett papers over that particular allegation. Perot tried to pull strings through the high and mighty in the US administration to get his employees released. All his efforts came to nought, probably because of the confusion and chaos that prevailed in the country with the Shah’s days on the throne being numbered. It was at this juncture that the Texan came up with a daring plan to rescue his employees from Iran.
Perot sought the help of a retired marine Colonel by the name of Arthur “Bull” Simons. He thereafter, under the leadership of Simons, created a team of volunteer EDS employees (all of them ex-soldiers) to go into troubled Iran and extract the two jailed employees. It was this act of daring and commitment of Perot that Follett has made the central theme of this book.
Under the leadership of Simons, the team had carried out lot of practice for the prison break while they were still in Dallas. All this was done based on the information regarding the layout of the prison and the situation in Iran that they had received from their contacts in Iran. But, once they landed in Teheran, they were confronted by the fact that the actual layout of the prison was totally different as compared to what they were made to believe while they were in the States. Moreover, within a few days of the team landing in Iran, Paul and Bill were transferred to the more secure Gasr prison, where close to 10,000 prisoners were incarcerated. Follett describes in detail the disappointments faced by the team on this account, as well as the lengthy deliberations that were happening on the sidelines with the Iranian judicial authorities, to possibly enable the release of the prisoners.
Finally, in February 1979, there was an uprising in the Gasr prison aided by the revolutionaries, which led to a prison break and both Bill and Paul getting out of the prison in the melee that followed. According to Follett’s account, an Iranian employee of EDS, Rashid, was actively involved in engineering the prison break, but this fact is strongly contested in certain other accounts of the event that I had gone through. Follett, thereafter describes in detail the harrowing overland escape of the rescue team and the freed prisoners from Iran into Turkey. The account of the overland escape predictably reads like the script of an escape movie, with thugs, unreasonable regional rebel leaders and hard physical conditions all thrown in for good measure. A statement attributed to Col Simons, as per another account, however, says that the escape was like a picnic down the road. Maybe that was the perception of a battle-hardened marine coming across!!!
Anyway, it is not for the reader to doubt the truth of the details in the narration. The fact that I appreciated was that Ross Perot, had the gumption to plan such an audacious escape in spite of all the odds faced by the company in a totally destabilized country that Iran was at that point in time. Various accounts state that the book was doctored by EDS and required the nod of Perot before publication. I wouldn’t grudge Perot for that, because I think he earned that right on account of the bold stand that he took in coming to the aid of his employees in their time of need. I gather that a shrewd businessman’s brain was at work here, because the book became a best seller. Moreover, the television rights of the book were also sold and a five-part series was made, which too became a much-watched series on TV.
However, even though the book is extremely enjoyable, I would say that Ken Follett is not at his best here. He does make a sincere effort to build up the narration, what with all the efforts to etch out each and every character with a soul of their own. I guess, being a real-life event, the author did have certain limitations on the degree of freedom that he could afford to take with the portrayal of the protagonists. It is however, a very well researched book, and will definitely be considered as one of the main sources of information about those tumultuous days in the history of Iran, when the country was in the throes of a violent revolution.
February 17, 2011
Remember the Iranian hostage crisis of '79? Well, in 1978--before things arrived at that disastrous point in Iran's revolution against the Shah--several Americans found themselves imprisoned (in actuality, kidnapped and held for ransom) by the Iranian government, only to be abandoned by the American Embassy while the country fell apart around them.
Now remember Ross Perot of the 90s presidential races? Well, the men kidnapped were senior executives of Perot's company EDS. Unwilling to leave his men stranded, and unable to get his own government to intervene, Perot put together a daring and SUCCESSFUL rescue. Based on extensive interviews with all the parties involved, Follett creates a detailed account of the events leading up to and covering the kidnapping, rescue, and homecoming of the EDS employees.
The story takes on a greater significance as you come to realize that it was likely some of those same American Embassy personnel who ended up as the infamous hostages of 1979.
Now for a personal and somewhat embarrassing admission: The cartoon show Animaniacs, which was a huge favorite in my house, did a spoof of Ross Perot in one of their episodes. It was hilarious! And, yeah--it made it hard for me to take Perot's character in the book seriously. :)
Now remember Ross Perot of the 90s presidential races? Well, the men kidnapped were senior executives of Perot's company EDS. Unwilling to leave his men stranded, and unable to get his own government to intervene, Perot put together a daring and SUCCESSFUL rescue. Based on extensive interviews with all the parties involved, Follett creates a detailed account of the events leading up to and covering the kidnapping, rescue, and homecoming of the EDS employees.
The story takes on a greater significance as you come to realize that it was likely some of those same American Embassy personnel who ended up as the infamous hostages of 1979.
Now for a personal and somewhat embarrassing admission: The cartoon show Animaniacs, which was a huge favorite in my house, did a spoof of Ross Perot in one of their episodes. It was hilarious! And, yeah--it made it hard for me to take Perot's character in the book seriously. :)
July 29, 2016
Ken Follett is known for his works of fiction, but this real life story is equally fascinating and interesting. I think it deserves a three and a half star rating. If you enjoyed the movie 'Argo' about rescuing embassy employs from Iran during the end of 1979, this story is similar but different. Ross Perot's company EDS had a contract with the Iran government prior to the 1979 revolution to help set up their social security system. Two executive employees end up getting jailed in Iran in early 1979, Perot tries to get them released through the Iran legal system, through state department contracts to no avail. In the end, the Perot forms his own team of EDS executives and a former military veteran to break them out of prison. Much of the book goes through forming the team, training, and logistics. The later part deals with escaping Iran in the first days and weeks of the Iranian revolution. For such a thick book a surprisingly quick read.
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