Balkan Ghosts

A Journey Through History

By: Robert D. Kaplan

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

From the assassination that triggered World War I to the ethnic warfare in Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia, the Balkans have been the crucible of the 20th century, the place where terrorism and genocide first became tools of policy. Chosen as one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times, and greeted with critical acclaim as "the most insightful and timely work on the Balkans to date" (The Boston Globe), Kaplan's prescient, enthralling, and often chilling political travelogue is already a modern classic.

This new edition of Balkan Ghosts includes six opinion pieces written by Robert Kaplan about the Balkans between 1996 and 2000 beginning just after the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and ending after the conclusion of the Kosovo War, with the removal of Slobodan Milosevic from power.

©1993, 1996, 2005 Robert D. Kaplan (P)2020 Tantor

Another great read by Robert Kaplan

What an adventure it would be to actually travel with Robert Kaplan. This was a wonderful journey.

Interesting and descriptive

Very detailed encounter of the Balkans. Can be a little slow at times but still great information.

Well written history infused travelogue with some kind of cringy takes

I found it a fascinating listen that was well plotted out and gave lots of great background history to the situation in the Balkans in the early nineties. The real downside is the author’s orientalist bent that constantly defines the East as “mysterious and magical” and the West as “logical and orderly.” For how much nuance there is in many aspects of the book, this sometimes felt generalizing.

Yes

Yessddddddd really good was one good as the very good awesomeness that he eyes when I wasn’t born

Long but very informative

I have a better understanding of why the region has struggled so badly. Basically they have been screwed by every one. And still denied the freedom they deserve

Exceedingly well narrated for a very interesting book

This is more than a travel book. Kaplan writes with clarity and erudition giving the reader an interesting wealth of historical background.

A very slow dissection of the Balkans

Robert Kaplan does a master class job of explaining and very great and compelling detail the history of the different countries that make up the Balkans, of the present day, Croatia, vasquez, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece , as well as the role the ottoman empire played in the sheathing, and so many ethnic and religious hatred that exists even to this day. Says the book is written in the early 1990s at risk being a little outdated, but the history and background homemade relevant or any leader who wants to understand this very complicated reason.

I felt privileged to read it

Not the first Kaplan book I've read but certainly the best. I loved the singular travelogue perspective through space and time. It's very well written and delivered and I learned much despite having traveled to many of these places during the same years. I didn't want it to end. This is what makes audiobooks worth it! And for those who feel shorted by the less than a master class in Balkan history, or too one-sided, I say, ha! That proves the point. That's why they call it "Balkanization." No one is ever happy about anything.

Really good overview

Gives you insights on the Balkans. Author gives great history of Greece. Wish he would give fundamental history of other countries too.

The best book I have eever read about this heartland of many civilizations and cultures.

An unique novel,history and travel book. It is amust read to understand the Balkan countries.