THE PUNISHMENT OF VIRTUE

Sarah Chayes has written what will undoubtedly be the definitive account of the fall of the Taliban. More extraordinary, though, is the fact that she delivers this vitally important information in a form that one could almost mistake for the best sort of thriller. Every American who wants to understand why planes flew into our buildings on September 11 must read this book. Ms. Chayes has lived in Afghanistan for five years now, and in all likelihood she knows the country better than almost any journalist or diplomat over there; on top of that she's an extraordinary writer. She must be heard.