Rudy
10-15-2005, 12:45
I searched to see if any of these were mentioned previously. Beg pardon if I end up repeating anything already posted...
The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order - Samuel P. Huntington: an excellent book analyzing the change from the Cold War's ideologically-defined loyalties to civilizationally-defined loyalties. A great follow-up to Bernard Lewis. Remarkably written pre-9/11 but predicts the current, dominant world conflict and its defining event. Not limited to the Western/Islam conflict.
I is for Infidel - Kathy Gannon: actually just started this. Essentially covers Afghanistan from 1986 to (roughly) present, the rise and fall of the Taliban and an ongoing discussion of the pasts of some of the higher echelons of present Afghan politics. Just finished this; "recent" applies, though "excellent" does not. I didn't think it was particularly well-written. I also thought that given the author's extended albeit briefly interrupted stay in Afghanistan over the course of 18 years, she would have had more to say. Particularly applicable to this forum, she was at least mildly (and at times more) critical of SF throughout their campaign, both in toppling the Taliban and the continuing operations, making no mention of their non-DA efforts.
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini: amazing book written by a first-time author. An historicially accurate novel that traces a boy's life over the backdrop of Afghanistan's tumultuous recent history, roughly late 1960's through the present. It's been a while since a book moved me as this one did. Highly recommended, both for the value of the story and for the historical perspective.
Has anybody else read these?
The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order - Samuel P. Huntington: an excellent book analyzing the change from the Cold War's ideologically-defined loyalties to civilizationally-defined loyalties. A great follow-up to Bernard Lewis. Remarkably written pre-9/11 but predicts the current, dominant world conflict and its defining event. Not limited to the Western/Islam conflict.
I is for Infidel - Kathy Gannon: actually just started this. Essentially covers Afghanistan from 1986 to (roughly) present, the rise and fall of the Taliban and an ongoing discussion of the pasts of some of the higher echelons of present Afghan politics. Just finished this; "recent" applies, though "excellent" does not. I didn't think it was particularly well-written. I also thought that given the author's extended albeit briefly interrupted stay in Afghanistan over the course of 18 years, she would have had more to say. Particularly applicable to this forum, she was at least mildly (and at times more) critical of SF throughout their campaign, both in toppling the Taliban and the continuing operations, making no mention of their non-DA efforts.
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini: amazing book written by a first-time author. An historicially accurate novel that traces a boy's life over the backdrop of Afghanistan's tumultuous recent history, roughly late 1960's through the present. It's been a while since a book moved me as this one did. Highly recommended, both for the value of the story and for the historical perspective.
Has anybody else read these?