Reading this book was similar to experiencing a fever dream. It completely diverged from my expectations. After reading it, I understand why it was nominated for an award: it's stance is anti-religion and pro-America. It fails to address the the atrocities of the Russian or American wars but instead relies on religious stereotypes for emotional impact.

I believe our rewarding system is flawed. We tend to prioritize negative experiences over positive ones, and after reading a few negative opinions or experiences, we start generalizing about entire societies and cultures. It's a dangerous game that traps us in a vicious cycle of misinformation. This book only serves to reinforce the prevalent Western stereotypes of Muslims instead of challenging them.

It's disheartening when someone who has never resided in Afghanistan narrates stories without proper research and any due diligence. The author was raised in America and it shows in his writing. In my opnion, rather than recounting experiences he has never encountered, he should concentrate on subjects within his realm of knowledge.

In times where Islamophobia is escalating, the call for books that cast a positive light is more pressing than ever.

I find this book lacking and would hesitate to recommend it. While a select few stories, such as the one featuring Metal Gear Solid and another about Israel, did capture my interest, they fell short of leaving a lasting impression.