Play Audiobook Sample
The Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.08) - 333 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
A National Public Radio reporter covering the last stand of the Taliban in their home base of Kandahar in Afghanistan's southern borderland, Sarah Chayes became deeply immersed in the unfolding drama of the attempt to rebuild a broken nation at the crossroads of the world's destiny. Her NPR tour up in early 2002, she left reporting to help turn the country's fortunes, accepting a job running a nonprofit founded by President Hamid Karzai's brother. With remarkable access to leading players in the postwar government, Chayes witnessed a tragic story unfold-the perverse turn of events whereby the U.S. government and armed forces allowed and abetted the return to power of corrupt militia commanders to the country, as well as the reinfiltration of bands of Taliban forces supported by U.S. ally Pakistan. In this gripping and dramatic account of her four years on the ground, working with Afghanis in the battle to restore their country to order and establish democracy, Chayes opens Americans' eyes to the sobering realities of this vital front in the war on terror.
She forged unparalleled relationships with the Karzai family, tribal leaders, U.S. military and diplomatic brass, and such leading figures in the Kandahar government as the imposing and highly effective chief of police-an incorruptible supporter of the Karzai regime whose brutal assassination in June 2005 serves as the opening of the book. Chayes lived in an Afghan home, gaining rich insights into the country's culture and politics and researching the history of Afghanistan's legendary resistance to foreign interference. She takes us into meetings with Hamid Karzai and the corrupt Kandahar governor, Gul Agha Shirzai, into the homes of tribal elders and onto the U.S. military base. Unveiling the complexities and traumas of Afghanistan's postwar struggles, she reveals how the tribal strongmen who have regained power-after years of being displaced by the Taliban-have visited a renewed plague of corruption and violence on the Afghan people, under the complicit eyes of U.S. forces and officials.
The story Chayes tells is a powerful, disturbing revelation of misguided U.S. policy and of the deeply entrenched traditions of tribal warlordism that have ruled Afghanistan through the centuries.
Download and start listening now!
"I learned a lot about the current/recent security and political situation in Afghanistan. The author is pretty well-connected with local government officials in Kandahar and members of the Karzai family. Even if you don't take what she says at 100% face value (she comes across as both naive and biased), you get a close-up look at some of the players in Afghani politics it will help inform your reading of unfolding events there. It's definitely just one, very limited perspective, but you can read between the lines a bit and then go on to further reading."
— Martha (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Sarah Chayes has produced a passionate, involving, important work of journalism.”
— Steve Coll, Pulitzer–Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars -
The Punishment of Virtue...comes to life in an audio powered by the vivid reading of Renee Raudman, an award-winning reader. Very highly recommended.
— Midwest Book Review -
“Absorbing reading—necessary, even.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“The most gripping, sensitive, funny, perceptive…beautifully written book you will ever read on Afghanistan, US policy, and nation building.”
— Ahmed Rashid
The Punishment of Virtue Listener Reviews
-
" Excellent overview of Afghanistan's history and the emergence of the post-Taliban government. A must read for anyone interested in Afghanistan. "
— Nikolai, 2/18/2014 -
" This book is, similar to "Sewing Circles of Herat," is a book by a white female reporter about her experiences in Afghanistan, but what a difference! Where Christina Lamb gives her superficial impressions, here Sarah Chayes goes deep into historical analysis and the subtleties of the political and military players after the US invasion and comes out the other side with this extremely satisfying, dense and nuanced book. "
— Whitney, 2/18/2014 -
" She has slightly out of date information for those looking for a recent story, but she gets the complexity level right. Also a lot of the allegations of gross incompetence are pretty accurate. Pay careful attention to what she says about Pakistan. "
— Kevin, 2/15/2014 -
" Fascinating read, but contains a lot more historical background than expected--which made it harder to plough through. Clearly leaves reader feeling that America has really messed up in Afghanistan and it cannot be corrected. "
— Meredith, 2/13/2014 -
" Great read. This, for me, was The Ugly American Kandahar style. "
— Julian, 1/24/2014 -
" Great way to understand Afghanistan, though as she has attested to, it only focuses on a southern/Kandaharian outlook of the country, which can give a pretty biased interpretation. "
— Evan, 1/23/2014 -
" former NPR reporter moves to Afghanistan and reports on life in one village and her attempts to improve that life. Good read. She claims the Pakistani government is playing the US government, feeding them some Taliban members every now and again to stay in their favor, while their corrupt government makes life miserable for Afghanistan folk. "
— Ruth, 1/22/2014 -
" This book gives amazing insight into our involvement in Afghanistan and why we will probably never make much progress there. "
— Judith, 1/19/2014 -
" Excellent but so tragic. A really well-done and insightful portrait of war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11. "
— Ted, 12/30/2013 -
" Wow. One of the most revealing books I've read this year. I feel like I grasp American pitfalls so much better now. "
— Ariel, 12/24/2013 -
" I could not put this book down. It gave me an entirely different perspective on the war in Afghanistan. "
— Nicole, 12/10/2013 -
" i really enjoyed sarahs viewpoint on afghanistan culture and wars and how they connect "
— Kathleen, 12/3/2013 -
" This book was truely an educational journey in what Afganistan is like right now. The author is now one of my heros. She is amazing and paints a wonderful picture of the country and people of Afganistan. "
— Kim, 11/30/2013 -
" Overview of the culture of AF, emphasis on the mistakes made in U.S. Military and Diplomatic Policy and lessons learned from those mistakes. Told from the personal viewpoint of Sarah Chayes, a former NPR reporter who now runs a non profit soap making business out of Kandahar./ "
— Nate, 6/26/2013 -
" This book was hit and miss for me (some sections were engaging, some I ended up skimming just to get through). However, her ideas and concerns about U.S. policy in Afghanistan are excellent. So, the ideas I like, but the book itself was a struggle. "
— Tanya, 5/24/2013 -
" This should be mandatory reading for politicians and NATO military command. Excellent background to recent history in Afghanistan--and how not to win hearts and minds. "
— Shelley, 5/13/2013 -
" An amazing account of both the history of Afghanistan and its current problems, largely as a result of American mismanagement. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand the current conflict. "
— Caitlin, 3/24/2013 -
" This is a really good account of a Westerner living in Kandahar (in the south of Afghanistan) for most of the time between 2002-2005 getting to know the locals, working with them, trying to improve things and finding continually so many efforts thwarted (hence the title). "
— Michael, 3/1/2012 -
" A great introduction to development challenges and Afghanistan to some extent. I really appreciate Chayes honesty about her inspirations, emotions, and struggles during her 4 years in Afghanistan. "
— Rachel, 12/3/2011 -
" A great introduction to development challenges and Afghanistan to some extent. I really appreciate Chayes honesty about her inspirations, emotions, and struggles during her 4 years in Afghanistan. "
— Rachel, 2/20/2011 -
" really great, informative, readable. i love well written non-fiction. unintentional learning... "
— Kate, 11/20/2010 -
" Highly recommend reading this to gain an understanding of what has happened in Afghanistan from a non-political/military perspective from someone who took the time to engage on the ground with local people. I'm only sorry the book only covers until mid 2005. "
— Lauren, 9/15/2010 -
" Great read. This, for me, was <u>The Ugly American</u> Kandahar style. "
— Julian, 9/7/2010 -
" If you read "Three Cups of Tea" and felt let down by the writing style, this book will be so refreshing to you I think. Chayes' style is direct and precise, and perfectly descriptive. And I feel like I understand so much more about Afghanistan and Pakistan after reading this book. "
— Adrianne, 8/1/2010 -
" This should be mandatory reading for politicians and NATO military command. Excellent background to recent history in Afghanistan--and how not to win hearts and minds. "
— Shelley, 10/29/2009
About Sarah Chayes
Sarah Chayes is the author of Thieves of State, winner of the 2016 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, among other books. She is a former senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program. From 1997 to 2002, she served as an overseas correspondent for NPR, reporting from Paris and the Balkans, as well as covering conflicts in Algeria. Her work as a correspondent for NPR during the Kosovo crisis earned her, together with other members of the NPR team, the 1999 Foreign Press Club and Sigma Delta Chi awards.
About Renée Raudman
Renée Raudman is an actor and Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. She has performed on film, television, radio, and on stage and can also be heard in several video games and hundreds of television and radio voice-overs.