West of Kabul, East of New York, by Tamim Ansary

I have to confess that the cover picture of a boy with a pidgeon on his turban captured my attention. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I found it intriguing. It was a glimpse inside of a culture completely foreign to me. Mr. Ansary is a true Afghani- American, as his father was the first Afghani to marry an American wife. The first part of the book details his childhood in an Afghani traditional home, his coming of age, and decision to attend the last years of high school in Colorado.
Mr. Ansary is uniquely placed to help others understand the true nature of traditional Afghani culture, the effect of the Taliban on it, and the background to some of the terrorist attacks that our country has experienced. I recommend it to anyone seeking to understand why America has become a target for Muslim extremists.