Afghanistan Reading List

Marvin Blank · 03-22-2009, 23:35

I'm looking for a few recommended books on Afghanistan before I deploy from anyone with time over there.....Helmand Province, specifically (in case anyone has any Ethnic group-specific titles). I loved the Latin American reading list thread, but that wont be my focus till at least 2011, so I thought I'd start this one.

Thanks to all, and stay safe.

JSMosby · 03-23-2009, 04:44

The Great Game is a must !

The Places in Between is another.

11Ber · 03-23-2009, 09:39

I would recommend Ghost Wars, The Hunt for Bin Laden , The Bear Went over the Mountain and The Other Side of the Mountain. The first 2 I am sure have been covered in depth and deal mostly with a post 9/11 Afghanistan. The latter two are excellent. The Bear Went Over the Mountain is written by Soviet Commanders and is full of their stories of Afghan experience. And The Other Side of the Mountain is written by Muhj commanders. Perfectly lays out there tactics...which I am sure they are using now.
Just my 2 cents

Dozer523 · 03-23-2009, 11:13

Add Charlie Wilson's War (Skip the movie) and The Kite Runner (see the movie)

dividebyzero · 03-23-2009, 12:45

Ahmed Rashid, "Descent into Chaos" & "Taliban"
Greg Mortensen "Three Cups of Tea" (more Pakistan, but still relevant)

zauber1 · 03-23-2009, 19:07

The Horsemen by Joseph Kessel *see movie also*

Flashman in the Great Game by George MacDonald Fraser (read the endnotes!)

Dozer523 · 03-24-2009, 21:42

I think it is important to get a good sense of the people too. So I recommend a society studymixed with a historical survey.

Places In Between by Rory Stewart. This English guy walked from Herat to Kabul in 2003. Relied on local traditions and customs to see him through a long, dangerous, winter trek. Not trerribly pro the current strategy and can support his positions based on his personal experience. (He isn't anti either but definately feels policy is lacking SA.)

Retreat From Kabul I found it a slog but the story kept me. In the 1800's the British set up a govt in Kabul (obviously Pro Brit). Colonialism, resentment, and a riot. 1842, 18,000 British soldiers govt officials, business people, families tried to escape down the Jalabad Road. One was allowed to survive because it would have been a waste if there was noone to tell the story. The Afghans are hard, tough people. They have a history of taking a lot and they can dish it out. And, if you ever get a chance to drive that road (which has been moderized -- at least one spot has to be a marvel of engineering) you are in for a treat. Watch out for the house size falling rocks.

The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan This one I'm just starting but, hey, I spent money. About Josiah Harlan and the basis for the Kipling story. See that movie. A serious rapport building demo.

Land of the High Flags: Afghanistan When the Going was Good. Rosanne Klass. An American woman traveled and taught in the pre Soviet days. Not ancient history, but perhaps a look at the way the Afghan society could be again. Also a woman perspective and a little more then half of em are so . .