A Thousand Splendid Suns: Afghanistan

Discusses terrorism in the Middle East, starting with Egypt and Syria and differentiating types of activity before and after the 1970s, analyzes religious, cultural, and historical influences on Arab and Israeli conflicts, and covers terrorist sponsors, religious fundamentalism, and al Qaeda.

Hairdresser Deborah Rodriguez details her experiences in post-Taliban Afghanistan, discussing the opening of her beauty school and recalls the personal stories of various women who overcame obstacles to obtain an education in cosmetology.

Discusses how Muslim men and women are fighting for equality and basic rights for women through progressive interpretations of Islam, chronicling the political struggles of those in the Middle East and Asia who struggle to create more political, educational, and economic opportunities for other women.

Greg Mortenson describes his efforts to promote peace throughout the world, and details how he was able to establish over 130 schools--mostly for girls--in remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan with the backing of the Central Asia Institute--a nonprofit organization.

Presents thirteen essays on the history of the Taliban, how it gained strength in the Muslim world, the suffering of women under Taliban rule, and the United States attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Rory Stewart recounts the experiences he had walking across Afghanistan in 2002, describing how the country and its people have been impacted by the Taliban and the American military's involvement in the region.

Correspondent Jon Lee Anderson describes his experiences reporting in Afghanistan following the September 11 terrorist attacks, describing such key elements in the war effort as the fall of Kunduz and the search for Osama bin Laden in the caves of Tora Bora.

Saira Shah reflects on how being the English-born daughter of an Afghan aristocrat impacted her life and led her to rediscover the history of her people.

Recounts events during which, immediately after the attacks of September 11, 2001, a small group of U.S. SpecialForces soldiers entered Afghanistan on horseback to capture the city of Mazar-i-Sharif and were ambushed in a battle in which they were outnumbered forty to one.

Recounts the true story of Kamila Sidiqi, a woman who was forced to support herself and her five siblings after the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul and her father and brothers fled the country.

Examines the life of Muslim women, and the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives.

Explains how terrorist organizations are formed by opportunistic leaders who use religion as both motivation and justification to recruit the disenfranchised to their cause.