CENTRAL & EAST ASIA
Afghanistan   |   READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

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Essential Books These 6 items are available for $167, including
U.S. shipping, a 15% discount (Item no. EXCAS17)		  
The Afghans, Peoples of Asia  •  Willem Vogelsang
CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 384 PAGES
A wide-ranging history of the people and culture of Afghanistan in the excellent series by Blackwell Publishers, "Peoples of Asia." The author, an archaeologist and journalist who has traveled widely in the region, includes chapters on the war with Britain, Soviet occupation and recent history. (CAS70, $99.95)		   The Afghans, Peoples of Asia
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush  •  Eric Newby
TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 255 PAGES • FAVORITE
Newby wrote a string of memorable books of his adventures, often on a bicycle, but sometimes by foot or train, usually with his wife Wanda. This, one of his earliest, is a superb example of the misguided lark, an account of a comically ill-prepared jaunt in the Naristan mountains of northeastern Afghanistan. "People like it," he explained, "when things go wrong." (CAS32, $14.99)		   A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush
The Great Game  •  Peter Hopkirk
HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 565 PAGES • FAVORITE • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE
A spellbinding, vivid, and riveting account of the great European struggle for supremacy in Central Asia. This is a romantic, glamorous tale of intrigue, treachery and adventure that takes us over the high mountain passes and through the scorching deserts and caravan towns of the Silk Road. With meticulous scholarship and on-the-spot research, the author describes the history of this region at the core of geopolitics today. With 39 photographs and fine maps. (CAS09, $18.00)		   The Great Game
Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia  •  Ahmed Rashid
HISTORY •  2010 •  PAPER  • 319 PAGES
An eye-opening political and social history of Afghanistan and its Islamic fundamentalist movement. A correspondent in the region, Rashid gives an account of the Taliban in the context of the politics and history of Central Asia. He draws on interviews with Taliban leaders and firsthand experience in telling this story of empires, power and politics. Rashid has also written "The Resurgence of Central Asia, Islam or Nationalism?" (CAS49, $17.95)		   Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia
Afghanistan's Endless War: State Failure, Regional Politics and the Rise of the Taliban  •  Larry Goodson
HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES
A scholarly analysis of Afghanistan's devastating recent history and its continuing strategic importance at the crossroads of Central, South and Southwest Asia. Goodson examines the ethnic, religious and social divisions in a country wracked by war and economic upheaval. Based in part on field work in the region in the mid-1980s, the author returned to Afghanistan in 1997 to see the country under the rule of the Taliban. With maps and tables. (CAS73, $22.50)		   Afghanistan's Endless War: State Failure, Regional Politics and the Rise of the Taliban
Afghanistan Map  •  Nelles
2009 •  MAP
A double-sided map of Afghanistan at a scale of 1:1.5 million with full color topographic relief. With an inset of Kabul at 1:36,000 Two Sides. 20x31 inches. (CAS71, $13.95)		   Afghanistan Map



Also Recommended

The Ancient Silk Road, An Illustrated Map  •  Odyssey Maps    •  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  •  Bijan Omrani   • GUIDEBOOK  •  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  •  Kristine K. Kershul   • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS  •  This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (CAS186, $8.95)
 		  
Lonely Planet Afghanistan  •  Paul Clammer   • GUIDEBOOK  •  A thoughtful, practical guide to the culture, history and traveling safe in Afghanistan. (CAS153, $25.99)
 		  
Lonely Planet Central Asia Phrasebook  •  Justin Jon Rudelson   • GUIDEBOOK  •  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  •  Svat Soucek   • HISTORY  •  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  •  Seyyed Hossein Nasr   • RELIGION  •  One of the great Islamic scholars explains the message of Islam and the challenges of the modern world in this clear, concise guide. (ISL14, $24.95)
 		  
Genghis Khan, His Life and Legacy  •  Paul Ratchnevsky  •  Thomas Nivison Haining   • HISTORY  •  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, $36.95)
 		  
In Afghanistan, 200 Years of British, Russian and American Occupation  •  David Loyn   • HISTORY  •  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  •  Karen Armstrong   • HISTORY  •  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. The best short introduction to the subject. (ISL15, $15.95)
 		  
Islam, The Straight Path  •  John L. Esposito   • RELIGION  •  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, $49.95)
 		  
Jihad, The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia  •  Ahmed Rashid   • HISTORY  •  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  •  Stephen Kinzer   • HISTORY  •  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, $17.99)
 		  
Price of Honor, Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World  •  Jan Goodwin   • CULTURAL PORTRAIT  •  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  •  Robin Wright   • RELIGION  •  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  •  Robert D. Kaplan   • CULTURAL PORTRAIT  •  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 Buddhas of Bamiyan  •  Llewelyn Morgan   • HISTORY  •  Incorporating the voices of the holy men, adventurers, and hostages throughout history who set eyes on the Bamiyan Buddhas, detsroyed by the Taliban in 2001, Morgan tells the complex history of this contested region. (CAS211, $19.95)
 		  
The Empire of the Steppes, A History of Central Asia  •  Rene Grousset   • HISTORY  •  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  •  Ben Macintyre   • HISTORY  •  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  •  Sarah Chayes   • HISTORY  •  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  •  John Cooley   • HISTORY  •  An eye-opening, unsettling account of U.S. involvement with the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. (CAS76, $28.95)
 		  
Among the Mountains, Travels through Asia  •  Wilfred Thesiger   • EXPLORATION  •  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)
 		  
Islamic Art and Architecture  •  Robert Hillenbrand   • ART & ARCHITECTURE  •  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  •  Jonathan Bloom  •  Sheila Blair   • ART & ARCHITECTURE  •  With color photographs, maps and site plans, throughout this survey of 1,000 years of Islamic architecture, design and decoration is a wonderfully illuminating, stimulating introduction tot he subject for anyone with an interest in art. (ISL01, $29.95)
 		  
Traditional Textiles of Central Asia  •  Janet Harvey   • ART & ARCHITECTURE  •  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  •  David Chaffetz   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  A warmly told account of travels in northwestern Afghanistan before the invasion of the Soviets, (CAS87, $22.50)
 		  
An Unexpected Light, Travels in Afghanistan  •  Jason Elliot   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  A vividly reported account of travels in Afghanistan. (CAS74, $18.00)
 		  
Come Back to Afghanistan, A California Teenager's Story  •  Said Hyder Akbar   • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  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  •  Bill Colegrave   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  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  •  William Dalrymple   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  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  •  Morris Rossabi   • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  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  •  Rosanne Klass   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  A unusually vivid memoir of lost Afghanistan and its people, originally published in 1964. (CAS151, $19.95)
 		  
Storyteller's Daughter  •  Saira Shah   • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  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  •  Asne Seierstad   • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  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  •  Peter Levi   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  An engaging account of travels in Afghanistan in the company of Bruce Chatwin. (CAS72, $18.95)
 		  
The Lost Heart of Asia  •  Colin Thubron   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  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  •  Freya Stark   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  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  •  Beatrice Forbes Manz   • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  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  •  Robert Byron   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  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  •  Nicolas Bouvier  •  Patrick Leigh Fermor   • TRAVEL NARRATIVE  •  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  •  Jon Krakauer   • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  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  •  Khaled Hosseini   • LITERATURE  •  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  •  George MacDonald Fraser   • LITERATURE  •  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  •  Steven Pressfield   • LITERATURE  •  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  •  M. M. Kaye   • LITERATURE  •  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  •  Khaled Hosseini   • LITERATURE  •  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  •  Nadeem Aslam   • LITERATURE  •  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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