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Afghanistan

READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

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We feature a handpicked selection of travel guides, maps, literature, books on art, nature and culture, all designed to help you get more out of your travels to Afghanistan. Order an essential package, and we'll ship any additional items for free.

Essential Reading

Item EXCAS17. Buy these 6 items as a set for $163 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
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The Afghans, Peoples of Asia

The Afghans, Peoples of Asia

by Willem Vogelsang

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • HARD COVER
  • 384 PAGES

A wide-ranging history of the people and culture of Afghanistan. (CAS70, $94.95)

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

by Eric Newby

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 255 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Newby wrote a string of memorable books about his adventures, often on a bicycle, but sometimes by foot or train, usually with his wife. This classic is a superb example of the misguided lark: a comically ill-prepared jaunt in the Naristan mountains of northeastern Afghanistan. "People like it," he explained, "when things go wrong." (CAS32, $14.99)

The Great Game

The Great Game

by Peter Hopkirk

  • HISTORY
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 565 PAGES
  • FAVORITE
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

Hopkirk's spellbinding account of the great struggle for European supremacy in Central Asia takes us over the high mountain passes and through the scorching deserts and caravan towns of the Silk Road, capturing the glamour, intrigue, treachery and adventure of the time. (CAS09, $18.00)

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia

by Ahmed Rashid

  • HISTORY
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 319 PAGES

This revised edition of Rashid's prescient account of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Central Asia in the 1990s includes a new chapter covering the period from 2000-2009. (CAS49, $17.95)

Afghanistan's Endless War: State Failure, Regional Politics and the Rise of the Taliban

Afghanistan's Endless War: State Failure, Regional Politics and the Rise of the Taliban

by Larry Goodson

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 264 PAGES

A scholarly analysis of Afghanistan's devastating recent history. (CAS73, $22.50)

Afghanistan Map

Afghanistan Map

by Nelles

  • 2009
  • MAP

A map of the Afghanistan at a scale of 1:1.5 million with good topographic relief. (CAS71, $13.95)

 
The Ancient Silk Road, An Illustrated Map

The Ancient Silk Road, An Illustrated Map


by Odyssey Maps

  • 2011
  • MAP

Three large annotated color maps, dozens of photographs and expert commentary illustrate sites across the Silk Road from China across Central Asia, the Middle East and Asia Minor. (ASA58, $14.95)

Afghanistan, A Companion and Guide

Afghanistan, A Companion and Guide


by Bijan Omrani

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 786 PAGES

Elizabeth Chatwin provides introduction to the second edition of this visually stunning, insightful overview of the history and culture of Afghanistan, noteworthy for its wit, depth and excerpts from the literature of exploration. (CAS116, $37.95)

Dari, A Language Map


by Kristine K. Kershul

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2010
  • PLASTIC CARD

This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (CAS186, $8.95)

Lonely Planet Afghanistan

Lonely Planet Afghanistan


by Paul Clammer

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 244 PAGES

A thoughtful, practical guide to the culture, history and traveling safe in Afghanistan. (CAS153, $25.99)

Lonely Planet Central Asia Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Central Asia Phrasebook


by Justin Jon Rudelson

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 239 PAGES

A handy pocket phrasebook, which focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler on the Silk Road. (CAS38, $8.99)

A History of Inner Asia

A History of Inner Asia


by Svat Soucek

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

A dense, informative survey of the changing fortunes of people in the region, with chapters on Arab conquest and Chinese expansion, Mongols, Samanids, Timurids, Uzbeks, and other kingdoms and people in the region, including the 17th-19th century development of the trading cities. With 13 maps and dynastic charts. (CAS51, $39.99)

A Young Muslim's Guide to the Modern World

A Young Muslim's Guide to the Modern World


by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

  • RELIGION
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 270 PAGES

One of the great Islamic scholars explains the message of Islam and the challenges of the modern world in this clear, concise guide. (ISL14, $19.95)

Genghis Khan, His Life and Legacy


by Paul Ratchnevsky | Thomas Nivison Haining

  • HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

This scholarly biography of the 12th-century conqueror, ably translated from the German, offers great insight into life on the steppes of Central Asia and expansion of the Mongol empire. With illustrations, maps, chronology and dynastic tables and a new introduction. (MGL24, $34.95)

In Afghanistan, 200 Years of British, Russian and American Occupation

In Afghanistan, 200 Years of British, Russian and American Occupation


by David Loyn

  • HISTORY
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 288 PAGES

A history of Afghanistan's role as an imperial battleground over the last two centuries, during which it was invaded by British, Russian and American armies. Loyn, with 30 years experience as a BBC foreign correspondant, has had a front-row seat for much of Afghanistan's recent past. (CAS172, $28.00)

Islam, A Short History

Islam, A Short History


by Karen Armstrong

  • RELIGION
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 230 PAGES

Armstrong brings authority and experience to this vivid, clear-headed survey of the history and impact of Islam from the birth of Muhammad to present-day challenges. (ISL15, $15.95)

Islam, The Straight Path

Islam, The Straight Path


by John L. Esposito

  • RELIGION
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

A well-written survey of the faith, practice and beliefs of Islam. It's a balanced tone intended for an undergraduate audience, yet it also functions as an excellent overview for the general reader. (MDE22, $47.95)

Jihad, The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia

Jihad, The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia


by Ahmed Rashid

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 281 PAGES

A history and political analysis of the five Central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Rashid sees these volatile, resource-rich nations as keys to understanding the future of the region. (CAS84, $16.00)

Overthrow, America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Overthrow, America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq


by Stephen Kinzer

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

In this compelling review of American adventures overseas, Kinzer crisply outlines the events, politics and personalities of 14 cases in which America has brought down foreign governments over the last 110 years. (USA148, $17.00)

Price of Honor, Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World

Price of Honor, Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World


by Jan Goodwin

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 363 PAGES

A heart-breaking account based on interviews with women from all walks of life in 10 countries in the Middle East, Arabia and Central Asia. (ISL19, $17.00)

Sacred Rage, The Wrath of Militant Islam


by Robin Wright

  • RELIGION
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 330 PAGES

Wright looks at the movement's roots, motives and goals in this authoritative and dramatic account of Islamic extremism. dated edition of this authoritative and dramatic account. Updated with new chapters on Afghanistan and the the broader Islamic movement. (ISL84, $20.99)

Soldiers of God: With Islamic Warriors in Afghanistan and Pakistan


by Robert D. Kaplan

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

A firsthand report from the region, originally published in 1990 and with a new final chapter on how the Taliban came to power. (CAS81, $16.00)

The Empire of the Steppes, A History of Central Asia

The Empire of the Steppes, A History of Central Asia


by Rene Grousset

  • HISTORY
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 687 PAGES

The classic history of the region, originally published in 1939 and translated from the French. (CAS43, $32.50)

The Man Who Would Be King, The First American in Afghanistan

The Man Who Would Be King, The First American in Afghanistan


by Ben Macintyre

  • HISTORY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

The extraordinary tale of Josiah Harlan, a 19th-century American soldier and spy in Afghanistan, based on his remarkable long-lost diary. (CAS110, $17.00)

The Punishment of Virtue, Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban

The Punishment of Virtue, Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban


by Sarah Chayes

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 386 PAGES

Remaining in Kandahar after her stint as an NPR reporter during the invasion, Chayes offers a beautifully written, poignant account of a community in the grip of violence and corrpuption. (CAS161, $16.00)

Unholy Wars: Afghanistan, America and International Terrorism


by John Cooley

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 268 PAGES

An eye-opening, unsettling account of U.S. involvement with the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. (CAS76, $28.95)

Islamic Art and Architecture

Islamic Art and Architecture


by Robert Hillenbrand

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

Covering one thousand years and the geographic scope of Islam, this book is a wide-ranging guide to the arts of Islam, including architecture, calligraphy, ceramics and textiles. (CAS17, $21.95)

Islamic Arts

Islamic Arts


by Jonathan Bloom | Sheila Blair

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 445 PAGES

A comprehensive survey of 1,000 years of Islamic architecture, design and decoration. Illustrated throughout with color photographs, maps and site plans. (ISL01, $27.95)

Traditional Textiles of Central Asia

Traditional Textiles of Central Asia


by Janet Harvey

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 160 PAGES

Harvey surveys the embroidery, silks, velvets, felts and other rich textile traditions of the Silk Road in this spectacularly illustrated guide. (CAS19, $24.95)

A Journey through Afghanistan


by David Chaffetz

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 258 PAGES

A warmly told account of travels in northwestern Afghanistan before the invasion of the Soviets, (CAS87, $22.50)

Among the Mountains, Travels through Asia

Among the Mountains, Travels through Asia


by Wilfred Thesiger

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 174 PAGES

A classic account of intrepid British explorer Wilfred Thesiger's travels through the mountain ranges of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Karakorams, the Hindu Kush, and Ladakh. (ASA28, $17.99)

An Unexpected Light, Travels in Afghanistan

An Unexpected Light, Travels in Afghanistan


by Jason Elliot

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 512 PAGES

A vividly reported account of travels in Afghanistan. (CAS74, $18.00)

Come Back to Afghanistan, A California Teenager's Story

Come Back to Afghanistan, A California Teenager's Story


by Said Hyder Akbar

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

A refreshingly candid, unsentimental portrait of post-Taliban Afghanistan. This book grows out of the teenage author's totally engrossing radio pieces for This American Life, in which he accompanies his expatriate Afghan father from California to Afghanistan. His father sold his clothingstore in California to take a position in Afghanistan as Hamid Karzai's spokesperson. (CAS119, $16.95)

Halfway House to Heaven, Unravelling the Mystery of the Majestic River Oxus


by Bill Colegrave

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 179 PAGES

Colgrave weaves together the history of exploration in Afghanistan with the tale of his own precarious journey to find the source of the Oxus River, long-sought by adventurers like Curzon and Younghusband. (CAS198, $32.00)

In Xanadu, A Quest

In Xanadu, A Quest


by William Dalrymple

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 319 PAGES

An intrepid traveler and entertaining writer, Dalrymple offers an anecdotal history of the people and places he encounters en route on this epic journey in the footsteps of Marco Polo across Central Asia to China. (CAS50, $18.95)

Khubilai Khan, His Life and Times

Khubilai Khan, His Life and Times


by Morris Rossabi

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 348 PAGES

This fascinating, scholarly portrait of the culture and politics of 13th-century Asia examines Khubilai Khan's rise to power, the submission of Korea and the attempted invasion of Japan. (CAS10, $24.95)

Land of the High Flags: Afghanistan, When the Going Was Good

Land of the High Flags: Afghanistan, When the Going Was Good


by Rosanne Klass

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 344 PAGES

A unusually vivid memoir of lost Afghanistan and its people, originally published in 1964. (CAS151, $19.95)

Storyteller's Daughter


by Saira Shah

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2003
  • AUDIO CD
  • 5 PAGES

The British-born journalist and documentarian (CNN's "Beneath the Veil") chronicles her moving journey to her homeland, Afghanistan, and provides a fascinating exploration of the country whose past and present have been defined by war. On 5 CDs. (CAS150, $27.50)

The Bookseller of Kabul


by Asne Seierstad

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 320 PAGES

An intimate portrait of life in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. (CAS104, $19.95)

The Light Garden of the Angel King, Journeys in Afghanistan

The Light Garden of the Angel King, Journeys in Afghanistan


by Peter Levi

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 231 PAGES

An engaging account of travels in Afghanistan in the company of Bruce Chatwin. (CAS72, $18.95)

The Lost Heart of Asia

The Lost Heart of Asia


by Colin Thubron

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 374 PAGES

In this classic account, Thubron recounts his travels to Samarkand, Bukhara and throughout Central Asia in the wake of the breakup of the Soviet Union. A fine writer, intrepid traveler and insightful observer, he's an outstanding guide to the history, people and culture of the region. (CAS07, $15.99)

The Minaret of Djam, An Excursion in Afghanistan

The Minaret of Djam, An Excursion in Afghanistan


by Freya Stark

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 168 PAGES

Daring adventurer Stark, one of the great travel writers of the 20th century, set out from Kabul and journeyed through Kandahar, Herat and the wild Ghor Province to become one of the first travelers to reach the Minaret of Djam, a great medieval city in remote Afghanistan. (CAS190, $16.00)

The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane

The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane


by Beatrice Forbes Manz

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 231 PAGES

A portrait of the great nomadic conqueror who rose to power in 1370 on the ruins of the Mongol Empire and led campaigns from Moscow to Delhi. (CAS11, $29.99)

The Road to Oxiana

The Road to Oxiana


by Robert Byron

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 292 PAGES

This brilliant portrait of the region mixes the eccentric Byron's droll adventures in the 1930s with erudite asides on history and culture. (IRN01, $15.95)

The Way of the World

The Way of the World


by Nicolas Bouvier | Patrick Leigh Fermor

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

Subtitled Two Men in a Car from Geneva to the Khyber Pass, Bouvier's classic account of hard travel in a battered Fiat across Asia with artist friend Thierry Vernet in the 1950s is a cult classic. (TVL137, $16.95)

Where Men Win Glory, The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

Where Men Win Glory, The Odyssey of Pat Tillman


by Jon Krakauer

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 480 PAGES

Krakauer explores the life of another iconoclastic, complex and compelling individual: Pat Tillman, who abandoned his $3.6 million NFL contract to enlist in the army in 2002, only to die two years later in Afghanistan, accidentally killed by his own platoon. (USA433, $15.95)

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns


by Khaled Hosseini

  • LITERATURE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

In this sequel to the bestselling The Kite Runner, Hosseini follows the fate, lives and loves of two young Afghani women struggling against a tyrannical husband during the Soviet occupation and the turbulent years afterwards. (CAS146, $16.00)

Flashman

Flashman


by George MacDonald Fraser

  • LITERATURE
  • 1986
  • PAPER
  • 252 PAGES

Flashman gets himself mixed up in Britain's First Afghan War, notably the humiliating (and in this version, hilarious) retreat from Kabul. (CAS83, $15.00)

The Afghan Campaign, A Novel


by Steven Pressfield

  • LITERATURE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

Pressfield brings history to life in this surprisingly topical novel, told from the point of view of a soldier in Alexander the Great's army. The undefeated western army meets with threats of insurgency as they invade Central Asia. (CAS132, $14.95)

The Far Pavilions


by M. M. Kaye

  • LITERATURE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 960 PAGES

A tale of love, adventure and war set during the British Raj in India, culimating with the Indian Mutiny and the Second Afghan War. (IDA195, $21.99)

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner


by Khaled Hosseini

  • LITERATURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 372 PAGES

In this riveting, memorable first novel Khaled Hosseini follows the fate of his two main characters (one a privileged Pashtun and the other a Hazara servant) though political and personal upheaval in Afghanistan and the United States. (CAS114, $16.00)

The Wasted Vigil

The Wasted Vigil


by Nadeem Aslam

  • LITERATURE
  • 2008
  • HARD COVER
  • 319 PAGES

Calm, richly told written, this beautiful novel shows the reality of war-torn Afghanistan through the interlocking lives of five people in the wake of 9/11. (CAS167, $25.00)

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