The Kabul Peace House

1 customer review

$30.00

After decades of conflict, few Afghans remember what it is like to live without war. Yet a group of young Afghans, male and female, come together – led by a charismatic and idealistic man called Insaan – to form a community devoted to peace. Hafizullah was illiterate until he was a teenager; Horse was a child shepherd supporting his family of eight; Tara had never left her own house unaccompanied by a male relative; Hojar’s father was executed by the Taliban. They and others join this radical experiment, in the face of great risk, to dedicate themselves to peaceful inter-ethnic coexistence – a microcosm of what a new Afghanistan could look like.

Refugee advocate and acclaimed author Mark Isaacs takes us inside this remarkable and unlikely peace project in Kabul, where day-to-day life involves terror and extreme danger. He lives alongside these courageous young people and reveals their personal stories of trauma and loss, their setbacks and struggles, and their small steps in making the world a better place.

An uplifting story of activism, bravery and optimism, The Kabul Peace House shows us a portrait of modern Afghanistan that is deeply human and recognisable, and reminds us that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope, love and peace can flourish.

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Description

Why did human beings denounce murder and immortalise the conqueror? Why was killing illegal, but warfare glorified?

InsaanThe Kabul Peace House

A fitting book for today’s radical climate

In the past century, the systems of governance human societies have adopted are hurling us on the road to mutually assured destruction. Our political leaders are failing to make the necessary and immediate changes needed to battle environmental destruction, eradicate warfare and demand equality for all global citizens. More and more people are turning to grassroots community organising to take back the power that should belong to the people. The latest example of this is in the most unlikely of places, Afghanistan.

By living with his subjects in a country being torn apart, Mark Isaacs' beautifully written book brilliantly portrays in exquisite detail, authenticity and insight, the internal struggles of those fighting for peace.

Robin de CrespignyAuthor of The People Smuggler

Mark Isaacs has given the world this insightful and thoughtful read about The Kabul Peace House and Afghanistan.

Caro Meldrum-HannaGold Walkley award-winning investigative reporter

A unique and lyrical portrait of which does not focus on the vicious cycle of Afghanistan's wars but on peace building.

Ahmed RashidBest-selling author of The Taliban

The people in your book demonstrate the importance of intercultural and interfaith understanding. This is the bedrock of socially cohesive societies, where everyone is treated equally regardless of their ethnicity or faith.

Honourable Richard Wynne MPVictorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Told with his trademark empathy and ability to focus on the personal, Mark Isaacs cuts through cruel politicising and empty rhetoric to show our common humanity — and a story of individuals at their very best.

Debra AdelaideAuthor

Allow yourself to be inspired by a group of young people, each of whom has lived their entire life in a country at war both with itself and with foreign countries, but has refused to submit to the predominant delusion that violence is the way out.

Robert J. BurrowesAuthor

The Kabul Peace House is a book that gives substantial and realistic hope for what has been until now a repeatedly defeated dream, that human intelligence might evolve into peacemaking.

Tom KeneallyAuthor, Man Booker prize winner, Miles Franklin, prize winner

What a rare and wonderful creature this book is – a hope-filled, good news story from Afghanistan.

Fiona CappBook of the week, The Sydney Morning Herald

Isaacs is able to delve deeply into the thoughts, hopes, fears and dreams of the people he has come to know. The way he reflects on and articulates the dreams of these young people is testament to his capacity as a journalist and as someone who cares deeply about what he has taken on with this book.

Nils von KalmReview in The Melbourne Anglican

The Kabul Peace House reflects the hopes, dreams and resilience of the group of multicultural volunteers as well as recording their darkest experiences, grief, loss and suffering.

Sue WallaceBook of the Week, Weekly Times, Victoria

An inspiring book that gives a new narrative to life in Afghanistan and the community members that are striving for hope. I am truly in awe of the people like Insaan, Hojar and Hafizullah who are working for hope and peace amongst chaos.

NellieGoodreads

The story paints a portrait of modern Afghanistan that is human and recognisable, reminding us that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope, love and peace can flourish.

Midland Express Kyneton

Isaacs’s interviewees at the Kabul Peace House were willing to state hard truths. Their own beleaguered nation, and the millions who flee from it, are victims not only of the violence of war but the “violence of economics”: inequality, poverty, corruption, environmental degradation.

Roy WilliamsThe Australian

Hugely popular book with our customers - mind-opening and very wise.

Meera GovilEltham Bookshop

This book is an important work that explains the impact of 40 years of war on a country that is so impoverished that the concepts of peace and voluntary work are almost unknown. It also gives an insight into what interference of powerful nations does to a country. I was fascinated by this insightful book.

Cathleen RossGoodreads

A fantastic read that I highly recommend.

Violet RoumeliotisCEO, Settlement Services International

It comes together like a fugue with verses and a chorus that get richer and richer as the reader gets to know more and more of the group. As the complexity of each character comes into view, the extraordinary nature of what they have chosen to do together seems all the more remarkable.

Alick IsaacsAuthor of Prophetic Peace

A recent book by an Australian writer provides a glimmer of light and hope for the young people of this country.

Support Association for the Women of AfghanistanSouth Australia

This is so well written that it seems like one is in conversation with the author as you progress through this very insightful read. The book is also so well supported by the study guide.

Sandra Cox-TownendLibrarian, Kildare Catholic College

The Kabul Peace House reflects the hopes, dreams and resilience of the group of multicultural volunteers as well as recording their darkest experiences, grief, loss and suffering.

Lainie AndersonCL Books, Wakefield Press

An earnest glimpse into the difficulties faced by those who desire to seek change, staring with themselves. Beautifully written, Isaacs perfectly conveys the complicated lives of the people who commence the Kabul Peace House project with nuance and humanity so rarely extended to this part of the world.

StephanieGoodreads

The Kabul Peace House is a moving account of Mark’s experiences in the war-torn country and the stories of hope that prevailed within this community.

Bellarine Times

I feel like I have a great deal more compassion for the Afghani people and nation. Those young people and Insaan are so brave to be trying this peaceful work. Even though I don't personally know them, just as another human I feel so proud of their efforts.

Phoebe Noel-Wilkins

What we can learn from a community of young Afghans?

This is a story of individual and collective power. The community believes that change starts with the individual and grows through constructive, cooperative, community work. At the heart of the young volunteers’ work is relationship-building and the atomic power of love. This is a story of power and who can wield it. It’s a story of change and who can affect it. Ultimately this is a story of hope.

This is a book for changemakers

It is a book for the politically uninspired; for those who don’t believe they can make a difference. It is a book for people who have lost hope; for those who are looking for inspiration. It is a book for the curious; for those who want to learn about our world and the amazing people in it. It is a book for adventurers and explorers; for philosophers and academics. It is a book that will make you cry and laugh and it will uplift and inspire.

What a rare and wonderful creature this book is – a hope-filled, good news story from Afghanistan.

Fiona CappThe Sydney Morning Herald

Buy your copy now

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Hear Mark talk about the community

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A unique and lyrical portrait, which does not focus on the vicious cycle of Afghanistan's wars, but on peace building. Nobody has quite depicted the young generation of peacemakers in Afghanistan as Isaacs does in this stimulating book.

Ahmed RashidBest-selling author of The Taliban

How can you help?

1) Donate

Now that the Taliban are in control of Afghanistan, the peace house has ceased its operations. However, donations will help support the vulnerable community members who remain at serious risk of persecution.

Donations (in the process of acquiring tax deductible status) can be made to:

World BEYOND War Australia

Account Number: 207 803 347

BSB: 633 000

2) Private sponsorship

You can help resettle community members through private sponsorship to North America.

3) Write an email

Emails will be directed to members of the community.

4) Download a study guide

Download the FREE study guide for the Kabul Peace House and educate students about Afghanistan, the peace house and the mission of nonviolence.

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1 review for The Kabul Peace House

  1. Peter Graves

    This book is an outstanding tribute to a group of people in Afghanistan who refused to allow the “old ways” to stop them thinking about peace in Afghanistan.

    And – even more importantly – how to make it happen. By bringing together Afghans of different backgrounds, such as Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and other minorities I had not previously known about.

    To live together, share their experiences and become aware that the “old ways” of ancient enmities and hostilities would not serve a peaceful Afghanistan in the future. To learn each other’s languages of Dari and Pashto. This included educating street children hustling to make a living from collecting rubbish or polishing shoes.

    Then spread this awareness amongst other towns and villages, promoting opportunities to prepare Afghanistan for peace. As improbable as that may seem today. Mark Isaac’s writing makes all this real and brings it home to the western reader.

    Remember that Afghanistan is much more than the never-ending military conflicts in which 41 Australian soldiers have died. When the foreign military forces have left, the people of Afghanistan will remain – to cope, to dream, to hope.

    As Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

    For anyone with hope about “the graveyard of empires” and the people of Afghanistan – this is a must read.
    (declaration: I have supported several other programs reaching out to the people of this country).

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