Afghanistan

by Louis Dupree

Afghanistan , written in 1973, looks at this age old land and country as it was before the Soviet invasion. It contains two epilogues; one written in 1978 and the other in 1980 right before the Soviet invasion. Afghanistan traces the development of this country from tribal and politically
unstable towards a system of representative government consistent with its cultural and historical patterns. The book traces the socio-economic, cultural and political development of this rugged country and can serve as an indicator of things to come in this unsettled land. Apart from the narrative
the author presents all this material to us through charts, maps and illustrations. It also contains appendices on music and calendars used in Afghanistan.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Anthropology

802 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the many, many folks out there who have this book listed on their 'to-read' list (seems to be more than those who have read it), my advice: skim this book. Skip through and read the sections that interest you. Full of worthwhile insights, it is more encyclopedia than narrative, so lends itself well to dipping into at the points that intrigue you. Nomadic cooking techniques? Check. Detailed accounts of the early constitutional experiment undertaken by the king? Check. There's a litle bit for all interests, and sometimes just a bit too little on each topic. But the photos alone are worth a visit to your library to find a copy. The history sections, which account for the bulk of the 400 pages, are in fact uneven, as Dupree casually mixes opinion with sometimes arcane historical detail--an example of the kind of wonderfully/frustratingly impressionistic scholarship that no scholar could get away with anymore. Dupree's book also functions as a fascinating snapshot of the country just before it all fell completely apart.

[Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this epic! Incredibly detailed but generally very readable, it is an important initial step for anyone trying to understand Afghanistan and what is going on today. I wouldn't recommend this as the first book to read -- try maybe Tom Barfield's excellent book of the same title released earlier this year -- but it is a must-read if you're hoping to really become knowledgeable about the country and its history.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dupree, an anthropologist and Afghan-ophile, studied and lived in Afghanistan and broader southwest Asia much of his adult life. This edition of his summative work on Afghan culture, geography, history, and politics was originally published in 1973. The 1980 edition was not changed in substance but instead included several epilogues providing updates on events since the original work was written. Dupree died shortly after Russian forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 but even so this work ably identifies some of the most vigorous and pernicious seeds of modern Afghanistan - internal considerations including non-literacy, poverty, lack of development, fragmented elites, and Pashtun cultural mores as well as significant external constraints stemming from great-power and regional aims largely devoid of state-level partnership interests of enduring benefit to Afghanistan.

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moderately useful. The information is there. But it can be misleading or worse. At first I have thought, given the French sounding name, that all is because of crappy translation. But no, the text itself is crappy and with phrasings like "All Pashtun, for example, are not Afghan citizens." He misses the information that the Pashtun are the major ethnic group. To make things worse, the never ending war with the colonial powers make a good portion of this book dated. So Wikipedia, with all its faults, would be a far better source of information.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent early 70s era anthropological and historical survey of the area that is now Afghanistan.

NOTE: This survey was published before the 1973 coup that brought at end to Durrani rule and eventually led to the Communist rise to power and Soviet war / Afghan civil war, it's scope ends around 1972.

[M.E. Rostron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for Afghanistan pre 1980. Dupree understood the region like few others have.

[Greynomad]

never got around to reading

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In depth recounting of Afghanistan's history and culture, coupled with observations of international interference in the Cold War era, much of which could be copied and pasted into describing today's situation. A beautiful read, before its time.