Helpful Score: 7
Top marks in the sub-sub-genre of books about walking long distances. In the space of a footnote, Stewart captures the inherent weakness (despite his sympathies) with international development and highlights one way in which such efforts can learn from the colonialist experience. It's an incisive and smart book.
Now, I'd lock my kid up if he suggested walking across Afghanistan (and India and Iraq), but this book explores the beauty of the region and its historic artefacts in a wholly compelling way; notes the distinctions between tribal and regional populations; penetrates the myth of superior Muslim hospitality; oh, and it's a terrific story about a man and his dog.
Now, I'd lock my kid up if he suggested walking across Afghanistan (and India and Iraq), but this book explores the beauty of the region and its historic artefacts in a wholly compelling way; notes the distinctions between tribal and regional populations; penetrates the myth of superior Muslim hospitality; oh, and it's a terrific story about a man and his dog.
Helpful Score: 5
In a personable and unassuming style, the author talks about the people and The Places in Between he got to know as he walked across Afghanistan from Herat to Kabul in 2002, very shortly after the fall of the Taliban, following the central route across the mountains in winter taken by Afghanistan's first Mughal emperor. The human detail nicely complements the war stories that are all many of us knew about the area and makes the place names real.
Helpful Score: 2
A fascinating account of a young Scotsman's courageous adventure in walking across Afghanistan a mere ten days after the Taliban had departed. This was the last segment of his larger project of walking across most of the Middle East. It is well written and full of interesting description and observation of a truly alien part of the world. I passed my copy on to someone else to read as soon I had finished it.
Helpful Score: 2
A spell binding account of Afghanistan after 9-11 but before the US invasion. This is the true tale of one Scotsman's WALK across the entire country,from Herat to Kabul, during winter, sleeping where ever he was welcome. 90% of Afghans live in tribal villages, and this book is a real eye opener.
Helpful Score: 1
I really liked this book. It beautifully describes Afghanistan and helped me understand their culture.