Looking For The Enemy

The author brings a completely different perspective to the Taliban, its weaknesses, compulsions, relations with Pakistan, the ISI and the received western views. For that alone it is worth reading. Her research is independent and hence more believable. It is surprising that it is not widely known.

Book came in good condition and good packing

I needed books on the Talibans. Apart from Anand Gopal's this one was what crossed my eye. On reading even a few pages , I knew , Igot a good book.

Bette Dam has. Really done a remarkable work in collecting informations about Mullah Umar (RA)

The book provide a complete different perspective on the subject.

I consider myself a slow reader, but this is one book that I finished in around a week. Highly recommended for anyone who want to actually understand the situation of Afganistan. Very well written and certainly has changed my perspective regarding the Taliban and specially Mullah Omar. It actually shows how a biased media and so called powerhouses of the world decides the narrative for the whole world.

Good researched book. Many unknowns are made visible.Lacks photos, book has no photos except the cover and back page

While the author claims to present a view different from what she repeatedly calls as the 'western narrative', it is difficult to accept her perspective as an alternative to what is generally known about Taliban & its role in pushing Afghanistan back by a few decades.This book comes across as a narrative of Taliban as against that of the Afghan people, as claimed by the author. One does feel sad for the general public of Afghanistan whose life has been so badly impacted due to continuous internecine conflicts, fostered by foreign interference. The author seems to be eager to downplay the role of Pakistan and ISI in creation & nurturing of Taliban. Events post US departure comprehensively established that unholy nexus -- which has always been known as part of narrative the author wants to denounce.In the epilogue, the author tries to pin the blame of failure of getting this book published in the West, on publishing interests invested in the 'western narrative'. I wonder if she considered the possibility that few commercial ventures may want to take the risk of monetary losses by publishing a book with an ordinary, unconvincing story.

This is a captivating journey through Afghanistan, led by the incredible writer and investigator Bette Dam. I read the book in one sitting.Beyond it's power as a piece of compelling writing is its importance as a document that vitally broadens and deepens our understanding of the Taliban and the war in that country. Dam carefully and meticulously shows how misinformed the broader public was. This is necessary reading. 10 out of 10.

This is a well written and researched account of the story behind the rise of the taliban. Written from the perspective of the key Afghan actors involved in this movement, I found myself rereading certain anecdotes such was my amusement (i.e taking up his kandahar office in what to all purposes was a broom closet under the stairs, or his arrest by his own soldiers since his distaste for fame meant he wasn't recognised even among his troops).Part academic, part anecdotal yet wholly engrossing. It must be the only book in which I spent as much time reading through footnotes as I did the actual text! Such is the level of detail.Throughly recommended for anyone wanting to know what really was happening during this key time in Afghan history.

Excellent write up backed by research and citations. Not a different perspective but a dug up facts

This book was very well-written. The investigation that went behind this book makes it worthy of understanding the Taliban from a different lens that is more humanistic. As an academic, I enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend it not only to the International audience but also to the Afghan community.

If two sides to a story I cliche then so be it this book most definitely gives you another perspective