Understanding the War in Afghanistan is an invaluable primer, a book that aims to clarify and explain the country as well as the war. With chapters on the Afghan people,their culture, the history leading up to the war, the Taliban, 9/11, and the various phases of the fighting itself, Understanding the War in Afghanistan is required reading for anyone wanting to understand oneof the most important chapters in U.S. history. Included in the book are detailed physiographic, administrative, and linguistic maps of the country to supplement the author's nuanced analysis of the region and the war.