Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban Audiobook, by Jere Van Dyk Play Audiobook Sample

Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban Audiobook

Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban Audiobook, by Jere Van Dyk Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Jere Van Dyk Publisher: Macmillan Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: June 2010 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781427210449

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

92

Longest Chapter Length:

07:45 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

01:35 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

06:00 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

2

Other Audiobooks Written by Jere Van Dyk: > View All...

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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

  • 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

Overall Performance: 3.36 out of 53.36 out of 53.36 out of 53.36 out of 53.36 out of 5 (3.36)
5 Stars: 5
4 Stars: 4
3 Stars: 12
2 Stars: 3
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " this was a great book. I learned alot about how things are over there and the different cultures. "

    — Cindy, 12/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Came with great reviews but I struggled through it. Alittle slow moving but I learned alot about the Taliban. "

    — Stephanie, 8/27/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Not much action like I had hoped, but incredible he survived. "

    — Courtney, 7/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I did find some f the aspects of the book fascinating but really could never get into it. "

    — Kurt, 6/18/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a great book - a fascinating read! "

    — Jen, 2/27/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Came with great reviews but I struggled through it. Alittle slow moving but I learned alot about the Taliban. "

    — Stephanie, 3/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a great book - a fascinating read! "

    — Jen, 1/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " VanDyk may have a a split personality. Literally contradicting himself one sentence apart, VanDyk offers a frustrating read.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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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.