Opium Nation: Child Brides, Drug Lords, and One Woman’s Journey Through Afghanistan – An Afghan-American Memoir of Politics and Homeland

Although the newspapers have reported on the opium trade in-country, very few have gone into detail about the history or the impact this has on the nation. The author gives a very detailed, personal account of her interviews with many of the witnesses and participants in the trade before, during, and after the American intervention.We hear mostly the political side of the nation's governance including before the Americans arrived to liberate the Afghan people. We failed to understand the depth of the malaise that exists in this assembly of tribes and regional chiefs, driving the country ever further into an endless cycle of violence and oppression of the powerless citizens.Written from the viewpoint of a Muslim reporter, nonetheless, it reflects quite faithfully the tawdry truth about the real war behind the front pages. In view of the recent collapse of American involvement, now is a good time to read this book and begin to understand some of the forces shaping this troubled nation, if it can honestly be called a nation. It's really more like an assembly of independent chieftains that are constantly at odds. You be the judge.

Opium Nation is an excellent read about the side of the opium/heroin drug business we don't often think about in the West - its inception in Afghanistan.I agree with a lot of what the other reviewers say here about the book providing much needed insight into the workings of the drug trade and the lives it impacts. But what really stood out for me were the descriptions of the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan - they aren't always what you might expect. From stories of girls' lives growing up in war - to female drug smugglers and addicts - to politicians and anti-narcotics officers - to the author's own story as an Afghan-American woman returning there - these narratives flesh out what is often missing in accounts of Afghanistan - the diverse and fascinating lives of women there.Hands down, this is the best book I have read on the subject of the Afghan drug trade. And in addition to being very informative, it's a really enjoyable book to read. You'll find your mind turning to the people whose lives Nawa recounts well after you have finished reading the book. To me, that's the mark of a good book. I recommend Opium Nation to anyone who is curious about Afghan society and wants to better understand the role of the drug trade in modern day Afghanistan.

Having lived and worked in Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004, I know the impact on innocent lives of the totally corrupt government and abject legal system described in the Opium Nation. This situation resulted in large part from the US government's conscious decision not to obstruct the opium/heroin business that is described in detail in this book. This small book is interesting, easy to read and contains no subliminal messages. What makes a knowledgeable reader want to throw it out the window is the indisputable fact that American leaders in Washington DC have probably destroyed many more innocent Afghan lives by supporting the heroin business than we ever did with mis-guided missiles. Ms. Nawa's years of undercover work documents the Afghan drug trade and those senior US and Afghan government and business people who profit by it and protect it. This book should be required reading by the key decision makers in Washington because they will find themselves indicted by their own wrong decisions. Recognition of this erroneous US policy would be a huge step on the road to finding some workable solution to protect the future of Afghanistan.

This author spent too much time blaming the US for all of Afghanistan's problems. The book dragged in several places, and the "child bride" of the cover photo gets short shrift. This was more political and less personal than I expected it to be.

Haunting, compelling, surprising in its truths and ultimately deeply humanizing. Opium Nation gives the layperson a degree of insight into the human side of Afghanistan's drug trade that seems to be rare even in specialized circles. The humanity Nawa gives Afghanistan's people is unparalleled. She is a true journalist, grounding the shocking figures behind the opium trade and Afghanistan's 30 plus years of turmoil through stories that stick. The children, women and men in Nawa's writing are honored with three dimensional realities rather than romanticized stereotypes. Few reporters can claim the Afghan roots, built-in cultural knowledge and sheer bravery that Nawa demonstrates. The complexities of a drug trade that supports as well as harms its people are revealed with intelligence. I was riveted and am altered by Nawa's book. A rare find, and one well worth sharing.

Fariba Nawa gives a personal perspective to her troubled homeland which continues its struggle to find peace due to its strategic location for trouble. It's a heartbreaking tale that needs to be told by those who experienced it that you will never see in the news. The book is a must read for anybody who wants to understand Afghanistan, its people and the problem it faces which is currently rooted in drugs which has ravaged the country in every possible way. In order to solve the problems of Afghanistan, you have to know its history which both US administrations has failed to comprehend. Nawa gives a voice to the poor and innocent victims of the drug war that are forgotten in the process.

I was really impressed with the author and her resolution to return to Afganistan and live the life and risk her life for this story. I feel so frustrated for Afganistan people and the life they have to lead just to live. It is a real eye opener.

Dieses Buch ist meines Erachtens überhaupt nicht informativ, zumindest kann es nicht die Infos liefern wie auf dem Titel beschrieben. Die Autorin erzählt lediglich Ihre eigene Sicht, als Afghanin, über Afghanistan. Kritisiert werden in einem Land welches den Anbau von Opium nicht bekämpft die Pashtunen im Süden, die sogenannte Quetta Connection aus Pakistan und natürlich der Westen der an allem Schuld ist. Mir ist auch aufgefallen, dass die Autorin Drogenschmuggler aus dem eigenen Freundes- und Familienkreis kaum für Ihre Taten kritisiert sondern eher als “nette Menschen” darstellt und Ihr handeln eher aufgrund der vergangen Krisen in Afghanistan rechtfertigt!! Bezogen auf die child brides erfahren wir nur, dass ein Mädchen - natürlich einem Pashtunen Druglord - im Tausch von Drogen versprochen wurde und irgendwann dorthin zog. Die Autorin hat sich natürlich auf die Suche nach ihr getan, aber ohne großartigem Erfolg. Im grossen und ganzen kann man aus diesem Buch weder etwas über die Machenschaften der Drogendealer Afghanistans erfahren, noch irgendwas über das Land Afghanistan selbst. Am schlimmsten ist jedoch, dass es so gut wie keine Kritik an den Drogenschmuggler aus der Region Herat gibt weil die Autorin aus dieser Region stammt. Irgendwann regt man sich auf weil immer nur die anderen Schuld sind aber nur nicht die Afghanen mit Ausnahme der Pashtunen. Das Buch ist nicht empfehlenswert!

Fariba does a great job describing the stories of Afghan people. I learned a great deal about them. This book increased my appreciation of the situation Afghanistan is in. Wishing all Afghans a better future.