Review of The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker

Kim Barker has a sense of humor, which is desperately needed when reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan. In her book The Taliban Shuffle, the former Chicago Tribune reporter and fellow Northwestern alum recounts her experience doing the "Taliban shuffle," moving between and reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan over the course of several years. Barker, who has worked for newspapers around the country, didn't have a passport when she offered to cover the conflicts in these two countries. She did have a thirst for adventure and a willingness to learn. And so she became a foreign correspondent, writing about the daily lives of the Afghan and Pakistani people, dissecting the politics, and navigating a world completely different from her own. Through it all, Barker tries to maintain a social life and keep things in perspective. That is not easy in a war zone. But Barker does the best she can to chase stories, acclimate to new cultures, and learn about herself. Both her sense of humor and work ethic are evident. Barker admits that she gets "addicted" to the lifestyle of a foreign correspondent, with the constant threat of danger and the always changing political landscape. But she also realizes when it's time to come home. And that is the strength of this book-- seriousness and levity in pretty equal doses. Barker reveals what's going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan in a completely understandable manner. She also lets us in on her own life over there, which is also interesting (FYI, dating in Kabul seems a bit more difficult than dating in Chicago). All in all, this was an informative, enjoyable, and funny read. Just One Pink gives The Taliban Shuffle a 9.5.