Reviews for An Afghanistan picture show, or, How I saved the world

The average rating for An Afghanistan picture show, or, How I saved the world based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-05-26 00:00:00 Mikel Rhodent Hmm, he records some pretty horrifyingly sexist practices among traditional Afghan society, but doesn't seem to make the connection that this was part of why Marxism appealed to Afghan intellectuals. Indeed, he apparently sees it as axiomatic that the mujahideen should be supported. Good lord, what does he imagine his friends were fighting for?? Yankee go home. Anyway, I remain a Vollmann fan, but this book rubbed me the wrong the way. If Vollmann was so intent on fighting the Soviet Union as a young man, he probably should have just joined the marines, but noooo... much too precious for that. The book is just not good war journalism or history. It's sort of interesting as a portrait of the artist as a young man, but then both Rainbow Stories and You Bright and Risen Angels serve this purpose better. He never even stops to consider whether outside powers spending billions to arm and empower ultra-reactionary acid throwers might itself be a form of imperialism. Even at the time, it was not a huge secret that CIA and ISI were fomenting unrest before the USSR directly intervened. Still, Vollmann writes as if the mujahideen were the sole and authentic representatives of the Afghan people, as if Afghan culture were not internally contested. You don't have to support the Soviet invasion to find this gross. If for whatever reason you do read this book, I think you should at least also read about this Afghan communist named Tahir When I knew him, Tahir’s eyes would fill with tears as he talked about the ignorance and the suffering of the villagers we met. He understood them, and loved them, and knew why it was so hard to convince them.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-08-29 00:00:00 Pamela Carlstrom I have been a youth worker for the last two years. My efforts to make a difference in some of these youths lives, if I am to be honest, seems to me pretty pathetic. The cycle of abuse and violence in our society is so strong I'm astonished at its powers. I feel like a failure against such an unbelievable force. William Vollmann as a Young Man tried to go to Afghanistan to help them fight the Russians. He failed miserably and pathetically. I find the honesty and complexity of this story seriously beautiful and real. So much more real than all the simple narratives that we love to digest (in book, tv, movie, or even in our interpretations of our lives). I find his efforts to do something, and his shame at being so useless (and his honesty in facing this shame) extremely touching and personal.