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Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban Audiobook
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(3.06) - 173 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An American reporter's chilling account of being kidnapped and imprisoned by the Taliban, in the no-man's-land between Afghanistan and Pakistan Jere Van Dyk was on the wrong side of the border. He and three Afghan guides had crossed into the tribal areas of Pakistan, where no Westerner had ventured for years, hoping to reach the home of a local chieftain by nightfall. But then a dozen armed men in black turbans appeared over the crest of a hill. Captive is Van Dyk's searing account of his forty-five days in a Taliban prison, and it is gripping and terrifying in the tradition of the best prison literature. The main action takes place in a single room, cut off from the outside world, where Van Dyk feels he can trust nobody—not his jailers, not his guides (who he fears may have betrayed him), and certainly not the charismatic Taliban leader whose fleeting appearances carry the hope of redemption as well as the prospect of immediate, violent death. Van Dyk went to the tribal areas to investigate the challenges facing America there. His story is of a deeper, more personal challenge, an unforgettable tale of human endurance.
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"The best part about reading this book is not only the insight of the author but all the peripheral media and interviews available post-read. I am once again humbled by the humanity and humility of a journalist as a living example of how off our politicians and military can be. Imagine if those people actually listened to people like this - people who really understand what's going on."
— Michael (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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Those liking history and who have followed the war in Afghanistan will find this story a worthwhile footnote to the larger picture.
— Library Journal
Captive Listener Reviews
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" Just went to Jere's book tour presentation in Vancouver, WA at the Red Cross building. It was captivating as is the book. "
— Wendy, 2/4/2014 -
" Opzich geen slecht boek, maar iets te vaag, dat vage wordt later uitgelegd, omdat Jere niet echt weet waarom hij nou is ontvoerd en wat nou de exacte toedracht is van het hele gebeuren. Na 40 dagen wordt hij dan ook samen met zijn medegevangenen vrijgelaten. Je voelt door heel het boek zijn angst en de dreiging. Het boek bestaat uit dagboek fragmenten. Beetje teleurgesteld, had er wat meer van verwacht. "
— Khim, 2/2/2014 -
" This was a very quick read, even for me. It was very interesting to read a true account of being held prisoner by the taliban. Even more interesting were the complexities of the situation and the seeming hipocrocy of everyone involved. Provides a revealing look into the world of the terrorists. "
— Steve, 1/19/2014 -
" I enjoy this book as it gave me a different perspective on Afghanistan and the Taliban. It was a little repetitive but did a good job of describing what it's like to be a prisoner of the Taliban. What an experience, he is very lucky to be alive! "
— Channin, 1/2/2014 -
" This would've made a great 4 part article in a magazine. the first 45 and last 35 pages were gripping. "
— Partha, 12/30/2013 -
" Meh. I was not too thrilled with this one. Good thing I bought it at the dollar store, so at least it wasn't a huge waste of money. I felt like the writing was disjointed and didn't flow well, which made it a very difficult read at times. "
— Linsey, 12/8/2013 -
" this was a great book. I learned alot about how things are over there and the different cultures. "
— Cindy, 12/2/2013 -
" Quick read overall. He writes the whole book like a journalist though; very short, choppy sentences it felt to me. Great picture into the other side of the war, the other culture that we know so little of. "
— Matt, 11/6/2013 -
" Good book, but a bit repetitive in the middle chapters. The ending was more of a fizzle than it should have been. Having met Jere, I feel like he is still living through the real final chapter of this book currently. "
— Patrick, 10/31/2013 -
" Came with great reviews but I struggled through it. Alittle slow moving but I learned alot about the Taliban. "
— Stephanie, 8/27/2012 -
" I found Mr. Van Dyk's writing style to be choppy and annoying. The structure of the book was also difficult for me to wade through as the details often seemed unnecessary or repetitive. There were also many questions that were left unanswered and unaddressed. Two stars is generous, in my opinion. "
— Traci, 7/28/2012 -
" Not much action like I had hoped, but incredible he survived. "
— Courtney, 7/22/2012 -
" I did find some f the aspects of the book fascinating but really could never get into it. "
— Kurt, 6/18/2012 -
" This is a gripping story of an adventure gone bad. It gives some insight into the thinking of a person who has a driving desire to understand a people and a culture. It also tells of one person's struggle to understand why he is held captive. "
— Myron, 6/15/2012 -
" A former UofO track athlete and Olympian, who became a journalist and then found himself held hostage by the Taliban post 9/11. Very compelling. For a week after finishing it (right around the time of Bin Laden's death), I could not mentally leave Afghanistan and Pakistan. "
— Sigrid, 3/3/2012 -
" This was a great book - a fascinating read! "
— Jen, 2/27/2012 -
" Good read, but sometimes a bit vague because Jere didn't know exactly why he was kidnapped by the Taliban. You can feel in the whole book his fear and the tension. "
— Khim, 3/30/2011 -
" Came with great reviews but I struggled through it. Alittle slow moving but I learned alot about the Taliban. "
— Stephanie, 3/5/2011 -
" This was a great book - a fascinating read! "
— Jen, 1/12/2011 -
" This would've made a great 4 part article in a magazine. the first 45 and last 35 pages were gripping. "
— Partha, 11/30/2010 -
" VanDyk may have a a split personality. Literally contradicting himself one sentence apart, VanDyk offers a frustrating read.<br/>I do believe that this was a terrifying ordeal, but I also believe the publisher returned the original manuscript with a note attached saying "pad this out." "
— Andy, 11/23/2010 -
" Quick read overall. He writes the whole book like a journalist though; very short, choppy sentences it felt to me. Great picture into the other side of the war, the other culture that we know so little of. "
— Matt, 11/11/2010 -
" Good book, but a bit repetitive in the middle chapters. The ending was more of a fizzle than it should have been. Having met Jere, I feel like he is still living through the real final chapter of this book currently. "
— Patrick, 11/8/2010 -
" Just went to Jere's book tour presentation in Vancouver, WA at the Red Cross building. It was captivating as is the book. "
— Wendy, 7/17/2010 -
" True story of an American reported kidnapped by the Taliban... it's a page turner, filled with terror and intrigue. "
— Joe, 7/8/2010
About Jere Van Dyk
Jere Van Dyk is the author of In Afghanistan: An American Odyssey, an account of his travels with the mujahideen in the 1980s, during their struggle against the Soviet Union. Since then, he has covered stories all over the world, mainly for the New York Times, CBS News, and National Geographic, which have required him to visit places where few Western reporters had ventured before. He lives in New York City.