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  • Afghanistan

  • A Cultural and Political History
  • By: Thomas Barfield
  • Narrated by: Robin Bloodworth
  • Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (10 ratings)

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Afghanistan

By: Thomas Barfield
Narrated by: Robin Bloodworth
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Publisher's Summary

Afghanistan traces the historic struggles and the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the 16th century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces listeners to the bewildering diversity of tribal and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, explaining what unites them as Afghans despite the regional, cultural, and political differences that divide them. He shows how governing these peoples was relatively easy when power was concentrated in a small dynastic elite, but how this delicate political order broke down in the 19th and 20th centuries when Afghanistan's rulers mobilized rural militias to expel first the British and later the Soviets.

Armed insurgency proved remarkably successful against the foreign occupiers, but it also undermined the Afghan government's authority and rendered the country ever more difficult to govern as time passed. Barfield vividly describes how Afghanistan's armed factions plunged the country into a civil war, giving rise to clerical rule by the Taliban and Afghanistan's isolation from the world. He examines why the American invasion in the wake of September 11 toppled the Taliban so quickly, and how this easy victory lulled the United States into falsely believing that a viable state could be built just as easily.

Afghanistan is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand how a land conquered and ruled by foreign dynasties for more than a thousand years became the "graveyard of empires" for the British and Soviets, and what the United States must do to avoid a similar fate.

©2010 Princeton University Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"In this riveting study, Barfield does a splendid job of informing us why Afghanistan is the way it has always been." ( Daily Star)
"This book is an authoritative and well-written summary of what we might call the majority view. There is a streak in this book, however, of more radical thinking. . . . It leads him near the end of the book to some startling predictions for Afghanistan's possible futures." ( Gerard Russell Foreign Policy)
"Thomas Barfield's new book offers a remedy for Americans' pervasive ignorance of Afghanistan. . . . Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History is an invaluable book. Mr. Barfield does not give the United States a way out of Afghanistan, but he does provide the context necessary for good policymaking." (Doug Bandow, Washington Times)

What listeners say about Afghanistan

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A good read

The wealth of information in this book filled the vacuum of knowledge in my head about the history of Afghanistan. However the structure of the material could be slightly better organised for non-academic or non-expert in this region. For example there are many connections between the past history and the recent past history throughout the book that is confusing. I think the foundation to make sense of such connections should’ve been stronger.

The link to the accompanying PDF didn’t open for me.

The audio performance is okay but there are frequent noticeable change of voice/narrator throughout the book. I though “only available in audible” means something like quality.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful, in-depth view of the nation’s struggle with living.

I recommend this book to those looking to gain a solid understanding of the nation of Afghanistan and it’s functionality, what made it what it is today and the mythos surrounding it.

It’s no secret that Afghanistan has been topical in recent decades and those interested in gaining an in-depth understanding into the nation’s current state will not be disappointed by this presentation.

Only gripes with this audio is that Robin’s Accent changes suddenly in certain parts, which is notable but doesn’t distract from the overall presentation.

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