Taliban: Islam, Oil, and the Great New Game in Central Asia Audiobook

" This book is an encyclopedia of information regarding the political history of Afghanistan and more specifically the Taliban. Unfortunately, it tends to read like an encyclopedia, but overall it's an amazing resource for understanding the plight of the Afghan people and the differences between Islam and fundamentalism. "

" Depressing history, but the dude has insight that is hard to come by in a very closed region. His expertise and time as a journalist in the region gives him credibility. "

" Essential reading for anybody following events in Afghanistan. Ahmed Rashid is just the man to make sense of the Taliban for those not from the region. "

" Read this book in Persian back in 1999. An excellent account of the Taliban before it became popular to write books about them. "

" One of the definitive books on the Taliban and their rise to power, by the foremost Pakistan journalist, Ahmed Rashid, It is unfortunate that this book was not read or known about by anyone before 9/11. Heavy reading, not to be read in one sitting, as it is loaded with detail and very specific information about the region of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the 1980-late 1990s. "

" Ahmed Rashid captures the complexity and chaos of Afghanistan. If you want to know more about the development of events within Afghanistan and get a deeper understanding of global terrorism and its facilitators, then this book should be at the top of your reading list. "

" I bought and read this book almost immediately after 9/11. Excellent book and still relevant. Amazingly, it was published and only became available in Thailand shortly before 9/11. It think all the copies in Thailand were exhausted within 72 hours of 9/11. Still a classic. "

" Written pre-9/11. Great history of how the Taliban emerged and the struggle for power in Central Asia. "

" Very very informative, very technical, not an easy read. "

" History of the Taliban in Afghanistan. "

" It is pedantic and is not up to date but still is very insightful about how Taliban came to Power in Afghanistan and why they just did not fit in. "

" A profound book. It provides a good sense of how Taliban came into being, how Washington initially tried to woe it, what role Pakistan played in its creation, and how ethnic strife played a crucial role in bringing Pashtun warriors close to form the Taliban. "

" wow, very informative history of afghanistan government and upheaval. It is thorough enough to be a course book, but accessibly written enough for the common reader with an interest in Afghanistan and the middle East. "

" best book on Taliban movement. The author has included minutest of details about the background, rising, power structure, support base, local dynamics...........etc about the Taliban. all encompassing "

" The most difficult part about this book is that you can't say everything at once. That's what you would need, it seems, to begin to understand the politics of Central Asia. That is to say, you would need dialectics. "

" A classic overview of the Taliban movement. "

" very interesting.. Allowed me to understand the people and their beliefs much more. No wonder their pissed off. "

" Good background of the history of Afghanistan and the Taliban's rise to power. "

" This thorough history and insight into the culture of the Taliban in Afghanistan is a must read for anyone interested in world politics. Captivating. "

" Very thorough introduction to the Taliban, although somewhat dry in many places. Contains two chapters on oil prospecting in Afghanistan that seemed very long and could have easily been cut down to one chapter. "

" This is a quick read and a great look into the origins and rise of the Taliban. It also covers a brief history of modern-day Afghanistan, U.S. involvement since the Soviet invasion during the 1980's, and the mistakes that were made which paved the way for a Taliban takeover. "

" Fascinating. I could not put this book down and would consider it a must read for anyone who has an interest as to the rise of the Taliban and the consequences of the actions of the super powers. "

" Fascinating, more of a history on Afganistan. "

" The best book to understanding how this group came into existence. A detailed journalistic account into the Soviet influence, hidden Saudi connections, US & Pakistani money into the complex rise and rule of the Taliban. "