I decided to read ARGO for my 10th book in my quest for 50 books in 2013 as much to see what the fuss was about related to the movie as to learn about the rescue that I remember from my childhood. I even had a cassette recording of the news that I made myself the days the majority of the hostages were released. That cassette may actually be sitting in a storage unit.
Anyway, the story of the six houseguests that had been rescued so many days prior to those held at the embassy was a mystery to me, as it was to so many others. I have a new admiration for the CIA and Canada, particularly how an inherent mutual trust occurred, which led to the mission’s success.
One of the salient points from the book is to create a strategy that best fits the situation, instead of taking the safest, most predictable route. Another key point: paying attention to every detail associated with the strategy, including areas where there can be a Plan B and where a Plan B simply doesn’t exist. These are lessons we can apply in nearly every aspect of our lives, even if actual lives are not at stake.
Of note, I was not aware until reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book that the screenplay had been written prior to the book. I’m looking forward to seeing it on film, knowing that there will be liberties taken from the actual account.
While to book was well written, there were times where the prose felt forced, as though the CIA stepped in to the story and insisted that some aspect of the story be told in a certain way. Because of the quality of the story, this can be overlooked, and the book makes for a decent read.
Finding Greatness 