Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press for providing me with a review copy!

I found the book to be fascinating. Since the writing came from previous New Yorker pieces there was an immediacy that came from reading them that one doesn’t get from a book written with time and distance. I appreciated Anderson’s insights on the conflict, as well as his character profile of all types of Afghans that he met and spoke to; everyone from warlords to politicians and regular people. I could feel his anger at the mistakes that he was witnessing happening in real time, as well as genuine sadness at the cost of those mistakes. Anderson is a great writer, and again the fact that the book was pulled together from many New Yorker pieces really showed the tragedy in Afghanistan happening in real time.

My only minor complaint, and it is very minor, is that since the book was made up of previously written pieces there is a tendency to repeat information over and over again. The same stories might appear more than once or twice because he is referencing something previous even if it was in the previous chapter. Again, this speaks to the immediacy that each chapter provides, as they were written years apart from each other. Maybe some of that will be cleaned up in further editing for the final edition, but I found it to be very minor and did not hamper the reading experience.

Would definitely suggest this to someone who is interested in history and current events. Really shines a fascinating and sad light on a time in history that we already seem to be forgetting about.

Jon Lee Anderson is one of my favorite New Yorker staff writers. There aren't many foreign correspondents with such stature, which comes from his extensive experience, as well as his talent as an author and the deep insights he offers.

I’ve read some of the stories included in this book in the magazine, but together, they provide an excellent overview of Afghanistan’s recent history. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher, The Penguin Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

*To Lose a War* is a staggering, unflinching chronicle of America’s longest war, told by one of the few journalists who witnessed its full arc from beginning to bitter end. Jon Lee Anderson brings decades of firsthand reporting to bear on the tragic sweep of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, weaving together frontline dispatches, political insight, and human stories with clarity and moral force. This is not just a history—it’s a reckoning with the delusions, missteps, and hubris that defined an era of American foreign policy. As the world grapples with the consequences of that war's end, Anderson’s account feels more essential than ever. It’s a monumental work of journalism, and one I won’t soon forget.