Kabul Calling

If travel books came with warnings, the one for Afghanistan: A Companion and Guide would read, "Caution: may inspire actual voyage." But then, this lavishly produced guide couldn't help but do otherwise — especially if you're partial to adventure. By the time you've read the account in Chapter 6 of Alexander the Great's legacy in Herat , you'll be drawing up an itinerary. And once you finish the chapter on Bamiyan and its ancient Buddhist kingdoms, you may well be on the phone to your travel agent.

All of this is testimony to the skill of authors...