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What's a good book about the history of Afghanistan?
I'm looking for a good, comprehensive, general history of Afghanistan. I'd prefer something relatively new--but something within the last 40 years or so that's very good trumps that! A good read is always welcome, but, again, I want to learn about Afghanistan comprehensively, and that criteria trumps a good read. Length doesn't scare me, although I probably want to avoid multi-volume, unless there's a very good reason to get it. Answers, please, from those who really know what they are talking about. Thanks so much.
ADD ON: I think Crash Test Monkey misundertood part of my question, and I want to clarify this in case others do also. I'm looking for book on a centuries-old history of Afghanistan, not just the past 40 years. But, I'd prefer the book to be published within the past 40 years or so.
2 Answers
- ?Lv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Try 'Caravans' by James A. Michener. The book is based on fact as researched by the author. It is entertaining and very easy reading.
I recently took a trip through Central Asia while following that part of the Silk Road and it brought back an understanding of the area. I have also traveled the area before the present conflict started, along the Hindu Kush, Karakorums, Indus Valley to China, back and down the Khyber Pass.
You could also get a 'Lonely Planet' guide book on Afghanistan and or Central Asia. Usually they have a chapter history on any country they feature.
Source(s): Lames A. Michener and my own globetrotting through the area - 1 decade ago
If you want to learn about Afghanistan comprehensively, the last 40 years will tell you virtually nothing about the history and culture of the region.
Go right back to the ancient near east to 3 or 4,000BC where civilisation began in Mesopotamia, now Iraq and spread across the levant, the european continent and north Africa. It is a fascinating period of history (I did my doctorate on Mesopotamia and the development of agricultural systems)