The Guardian has a review of Rory Stewart's new book, Occupational Hazards, about his time working for the Coalitional Provisional Authorityin Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. I have Stewart's recent US release, The Places in Between and hope to run a joint interview/review with Ann Jones and her wonderful book, Kabul in Winter.
As it happens, the NYT has a stellar review of Stewart's The Places in Between. In this book he literally walked across Afghanistan, something that would be difficult and impressive in the first place but in the wake of the Taliban's removal was even more impressive. From their review:
So is "The Places in Between" — a pipsqueak title for what is otherwise a striding, glorious book. But it's more than great journalism. It's a great travel narrative. Learned but gentle, tough but humane, Stewart — a Scottish journalist who has served in both the British Army and the Foreign Office — seems hewn from 19th-century DNA, yet he's also blessed with a 21st-century motherboard. He writes with a mystic's appreciation of the natural world, a novelist's sense of character and a comedian's sense of timing.
I'm really looking forward to this title and will pick up Occupational Hazards as well. One of the things that has bothered me so much about the horrific things happening around the world these days is how little Americans seem to know about the places we invade. While we can blame schools and journalists and tv news, it would help if there were at least some good books that could be thrust in someone's hands - not big thick intimidating books but ones that are timely and informative and enjoyable to read. Hyder Akbar did that earlier this year with Come Back to Afghanistan, and it looks like Stewart is doing it as well. Now the ball is our courts - do we read these books or just keep hiding our heads in the sand?
