"[Akbar offers] incisive observations of a country struggling through a pivotal moment in its history. . . Since so few Western journalists are stationed in Afghanistan and few venture outside Kabul, Akbar's observations are particularly illuminating. He shows how, since the early 1980's, "very modern warfare has reduced this country to a very primitive state," and laments the lack of resources devoted by the United States government to building roads and schools. He argues persuasively that the American military's practice of trading aid for intelligence has blurred the line "between militarism and humanitarianism," leading to the horrific attacks on aid groups like Doctors Without Borders; and through his encounters with rural tribal communities, we see how fragmented and bitterly divided the country remains."—Nathaniel Rich, The New York Times
"[A] disarming, non-wonkish account of what Akbar calls his return to a country to which he had never been. Akbar vividly re-creates the so-called roads, the exotic food, the incredible vistas. He counts the burqas and hears the rockets that explode nearby but leave everybody acting as if nothing has happened. There's no shortage of realistic detail. This is a book that leaves dust in your hair and blows sand into your teeth."—San Francisco Chronicle
“Hyder spent three summers in Afghanistan and wasted no time getting to know the land of his ancestors and coming to terms with the country's years of violence. His experiences include visiting a mass grave, witnessing the interrogation of a suspected terrorist, being shot at and sharing his U2 CD with a local killer. Raw, honest and unnerving, the book is a grim reminder of Afghanistan's ongoing political struggles. For: Those who prefer their current events seasoned by a refreshingly youthful perspective.”—USA Today
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