What I'm Reading:"Come Back to Afghanistan" by Said Hyder Akbar

The subtitle of this book is "A California Teenager's Story." Said Hyder Akbar grew up in the Bay Area, the son of Afghans who fled their country when the Taliban took over. After 9/11, his father was tapped to work in the new government. Said joined him on his summer vacations from high school, first in Kabul, then in Kunar province, taking along recording equipment courtesy of the radio show "This American Life."

This is a unusual and interesting perspective of the troubles facing Afghanistan and is well-written. The author mixes stories of his adventures, his naivete and his excitement with a perceptive outline of the history and political situation.

This is a good book to read if you want to understand something more about Afghanistan than what you will find in the newspapers. It will give you a feel for the place and a sympathy for the people and is entertaining, to boot.