Six Days in August

The Story of Stockholm Syndrome

By: David King

Narrated by: Jefferson Mays

The definitive account of the bizarre hostage drama that gave rise to the term "Stockholm syndrome."

On the morning of August 23, 1973, a man wearing a wig, makeup, and a pair of sunglasses walked into the main branch of Sveriges Kreditbank, a prominent bank in central Stockholm. He ripped out a submachine gun, fired it into the ceiling, and shouted, "The party starts!" This was the beginning of a six-day hostage crisis - and media circus - that would mesmerize the world, drawing into its grip everyone from Sweden's most notorious outlaw to the prime minister himself.

As policemen and reporters encircled the bank, the crime-in-progress turned into a high-stakes thriller broadcast on live television. Inside the building, meanwhile, complicated emotional relationships developed between captors and captives that would launch a remarkable new concept into the realm of psychology, hostage negotiation, and popular culture.

Based on a wealth of previously unpublished sources, including rare film footage and unprecedented access to the main participants, Six Days in August captures the surreal events in their entirety, on an almost minute-by-minute basis. It is a rich human drama that blurs the lines between loyalty and betrayal, obedience and defiance, fear and attraction - and a groundbreaking work of nonfiction that forces us to consider "Stockholm syndrome" in an entirely new light.

©2020 David King (P)2020 Recorded Books

Provides valuable context

Good, detailed account, in its entirety, of the incident which gave rise the to term Stockholm Syndrome. It's always been too easy to place the explanation merely on the malleability of naive, young women. While there may be opportunities to influence that group, it becomes clear that a fuller story lies elsewhere. Between sensationalist press and incompetent police, not to mention a pervasive bourgeois mentality of societies, it becomes easier to see how the syndrome is more rational than may seem at first glance.

Excellent?!

One of the best books on Stockholm Syndrome!
l have ever read. Packed full of information.

Detailed and interesting

A fascinating account of the events that took place. It’s very in-depth. It’s an insane story, that I believe more should know about.