Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury academic for the eArc of August in Kabul!

This is an extensive overview of august 2021, when Afghanistan once again fell into the hands of the Taliban after the US withdrew it's last troops. I, like many others, watched this unfold live on television, and although i had a general understanding of the situation, this book definitely taught me a lot about the circumstances and what actually happened.

It's clear that Quilty has not only extensive knowledge of what goes down in Afghanistan, but also has a heart for the country and it's people. It's difficult to rate a non fiction book like this, because i did find it a little dense at times, but at the same time i recognize how important it is that this story is told. I agree with many other reviewers on GoodReads that chapter 11 and 12 are a must read. Nadia's story will definitely stay with me.

The book gives an account of what happened in the few last days of catastrophic withdrawal from Kabul. It is written by an investigative journalist as a chronicle of all events at that tumultuous time.

A really interesting book and I was very happy to be given the chance to read and review it.

Compelling reading, this account covers the last few days of the US/coalition forces in Afghanistan with a close look at the lives of some of the individuals who were directly affected by it. The tension of the desperate scramble by so many to enter the airport and flee before the last planes leave is palpable - I could feel my heart beating faster just reading about it.

The author writes really well - the style is informative and engaging, but the situation in Afghanistan for so many is truly tragic.

This is a very worthwhile addition to any library on the topic.

Another great account of the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. This book will serve as a reliable source for future chroniclers of this portion of the recent war in Afghanistan. Overall this will serve as a valuable source for those wanting to make sense of this long war.

I can't forget the horrifying scenes of the evacuation of Americans from Kabul in August 2021, which I saw on television and social media. I was pretty up to date on the situation there, but I still couldn't believe what I was seeing. Since then, I have been waiting for a publication that would somehow explain why things went so terribly wrong. This book more than fulfills my expectations, as it is not only a very thorough geopolitical analysis, but first and foremost a great piece of narrative non-fiction. It reads like a thriller.

I was familiar with Andrew Quilty's work as an excellent photographer and knew that he had a deep knowledge of Afghanistan, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good a writer he is. He gives voice not only to Afghan and American officials but also to ordinary people we so rarely hear from, such as soldiers on both sides of the conflict. And I love that he includes a female perspective because women are one of the most discriminated groups in this culture, not just under the Taliban. All the stories together create a nuanced and revealing picture.

Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury Academic, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.