Veteran journalist Peter Eichstaedt exposing himself to grave dangers crisscrossing Afghanistan to interview an astonishing array of Afghans. Readers find emotional commentary from a former warlord; blunt talk from a Taliban judge; harrowing stories of abuse from teen-age victims of self-immolation; the economic realities of poppy growers; and many others. Eichstaedt reveals the truth behind the calculated rhetoric of war, politics, and diplomacy, and suggests a path forward toward a sustainable future for Afghanistan and southern Asia.