- Paperback: 768 pages
- Publisher: Odyssey Publications,Hong Kong; Revised edition (1 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 9622177468
- ISBN-13: 978-9622177468
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 16 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
683,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #33 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > Afghanistan
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Product Description
Daily Telegraph
...strong on history and sumptuously produced, can be enjoyed even by adventurers who never leave the armchair
Spectator, July 2, 2005
well illustrated...strong on history...full of sensible tips...authoritative and well-informed...a reminder of what we are missing
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
It is not difficult to be confused by the history of Afghanistan. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
It is not difficult to be confused by the history of Afghanistan. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a beautiful book, wonderfully put together and packed full of stories, vignettes, stunning photography and suggestions for tourist itineraries and must-sees.
Sadly, despite the hopes of the authors (who published this book very rapidly after the fall of the Taliban), Afghanistan has not become a natural destination for tourists, and this is not a book that will help those fighting the insurgency to understand the Afghan mind in the way that they need to. It is a tourist guide crossed with a coffee table book, in essence - a nice talking point to bring the conversation around to your walking tour of Herat or time in Kabul, and perhaps a place to start your researches for your holiday.
When, that is, holidays in Afghanistan become a little more possible than they are today.
Sadly, despite the hopes of the authors (who published this book very rapidly after the fall of the Taliban), Afghanistan has not become a natural destination for tourists, and this is not a book that will help those fighting the insurgency to understand the Afghan mind in the way that they need to. It is a tourist guide crossed with a coffee table book, in essence - a nice talking point to bring the conversation around to your walking tour of Herat or time in Kabul, and perhaps a place to start your researches for your holiday.
When, that is, holidays in Afghanistan become a little more possible than they are today.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
All most of us see of Afghanistan is war updates on TV, and this richly illustrated book (700 pages) gives you an alternative picture of the ancient history, buildings, people and lifestyle etc. It truly is a fascinating country and this is a brilliant introduction.Trouble is, it leaves you wanting to go there, which may never be possible
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
The unknown Afghanistan
11 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
This hefty tome oozes quality. From its 768! pages printed on very fine paper to the wonderful photographs to the heavy duty binding. The authors convey a deep love for this intriguing country so often only heard of in terms of war and violence. This is also a most comprehensive history of Afghanistan. Its blue lapis lazuli was used as ornament on The Mask of Tutankhamun. Coins of the Graeco-Bactrion kingdoms of Afghanistan reveal life in the lost "Atlantis of the East". As a travelling guide you get "down to earth" advice: "Driving in Kabul is a contact sport. (An airline)... fly, when they feel like it. "The Worst Hotel in the World." etc. Some places are presently out of reach for the ordinary traveller due to war - again. For the Afghans, I sincerely hope peace will prevail. They are proud and tough people despite, or maybe because of, their many hardships. This book tenfold improved my understanding of their beautiful and complex country. Possibly you would bring the several pounds of guide book along in your rucksack? Probably not. On the final page, as in many places in this "tour de force", there is a fine underlying humour: "Published to appeal to the armchair traveller". I'll be travelling often with this good companion.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
afghan guide
27 Mar 2007
Format:Paperback
A comprehensive guide to everything about Afghanistan from carpets to stupas. Its excellent photographs and abundant maps leave the reader with a desire to visit this fascinating country. The book is heavy to hold but difficult to put down. A must for all travelers (armchair or footworn) of distant horizons.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
See Afghanistan without leaving your livingroom
28 Mar 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I picked up this book, I was prepared for a dense, AAA/Lonely Planet-style guidebook (filled with useful information, but not meant to be read from cover to cover). Instead I was surprised to find a very readable and richly informative book on the history and sites in Afghanistan.
Rather than writing a summarized narrative of the history of a particular city, castle, or mosque, the authors use numerous first person accounts from travelers from throughout Afghanistan's history from Alexander's historians to British explorers in the 20th century. These first hand accounts are fascinating. He also includes poems and folk tales translated from historical documents and local interviews. The combined effect of all of these first-hand accounts is a feeling of intimate familiarity with each region described.
The book opens with the history of Afghanistan and is very detailed for being so concise. The rest of the book is broken down into regions. Some regions, notable Kandahar, are left out due to the fact that security was still to dangerous at the time of writing (2006) for the authors to visit. The northeast area of Badakshan opens the account and it is hard not to want to visit this mountainous area after having read the tales. It works its way around the country counterclockwise hitting the areas around Mazar-e-Sharif, Heart, Bamiyan, Ganzi and Kabul to name a few.
Even if you never go to Afghanistan this book could define the concept of the armchair traveler.
Rather than writing a summarized narrative of the history of a particular city, castle, or mosque, the authors use numerous first person accounts from travelers from throughout Afghanistan's history from Alexander's historians to British explorers in the 20th century. These first hand accounts are fascinating. He also includes poems and folk tales translated from historical documents and local interviews. The combined effect of all of these first-hand accounts is a feeling of intimate familiarity with each region described.
The book opens with the history of Afghanistan and is very detailed for being so concise. The rest of the book is broken down into regions. Some regions, notable Kandahar, are left out due to the fact that security was still to dangerous at the time of writing (2006) for the authors to visit. The northeast area of Badakshan opens the account and it is hard not to want to visit this mountainous area after having read the tales. It works its way around the country counterclockwise hitting the areas around Mazar-e-Sharif, Heart, Bamiyan, Ganzi and Kabul to name a few.
Even if you never go to Afghanistan this book could define the concept of the armchair traveler.
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