The Hooligans of Kandahar: Not All War Stories Are Heroic

By: Joseph Kassabian

Narrated by: Thomas Dukeman

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

During the peak of the Afghanistan War, a group of soldiers is dropped by helicopter into the remote mountains outside of Kandahar City. Mismanaged and overlooked by command, the squad must rely on each other to survive.

Their mission is to train and advise the Afghan National Police and help rebuild the country of Afghanistan. The Afghan Police station they are assigned to live in is falling apart and disease-ridden. Many of the police officers they are supposed to train are Taliban sleeper agents or the family of Taliban fighters. The ones that aren’t are often addicted to drugs, illiterate, or smuggling child slaves.

The squad is led by Slim, a Staff Sergeant in his late twenties who has so many mental issues his insanity is his most dominant personality trait. An alcoholic with a penchant for violent outbursts against both his own soldiers and the Afghans, he is more comfortable at war than at home.

Joseph Kassabian is the youngest and most junior fire team leader in the squad. He’s charged with leading a team of soldiers not even old enough to drink. He himself is only 21 years old. As a combat veteran from previous deployments with four years in the Army, he assumes he has seen it all. But he has no idea how bad things can get in war-torn Kandahar.

©2018 Joseph Kassabian (P)2019 Joseph Kassabian

Great story

Loved the story, but as others have stated the narrator was a bit much for me.

Joe is awesome!

I heard about his book on his podcast Loins led by donkeys and it’s amazing. The book gave me a better insight to my people who were over in Iraq the last one leaving there a year before Joes first deployment overseas. I really loved the book. It’s totally worth getting. Also he is amazingly sarcastic and bitter and I love it and being able to listen to the podcast and then this book I appreciate he shared what it was like for him so bluntly.

Fascinating from beginning to end.

A very real book that I hope everyone can read to understand a point of view not often spoken about in the media, other books, or films.

great story suffering from a bed narrator

As a fan of the podcast Lions led by donkeys hosted by Kassabian, and becoming familiar with his understated speaking style, this over the top narration is jarring. Genuinely sounds like the narrator is trying to do a bunny show about growing up rocks than the 60s for how much he's milking his performance.
But once you said that aside and are able to listen to the story, it's fantastic. Typically a fan of memoirs but as I said you fan of kasabian's podcast and decided to check his book out after he got talked up by several people on show. It did not disappoint! It gave me a new perspective on the soldiers who fought in the war in Afghanistan

Bad Narrator

The narrator does not fit the author’s speaking style and comes off as over the top. It’s a bit off putting when you listen to the Lions Led By Donkeys podcast. However, Kassabian’s writing and storytelling are excellent and I would recommend the book to anyone.

very well written

big fan of the podcast, love to hate you, and hate to love you joe. figured you needed the money so bought the book, very well written. all in all i enjoyed it very much. dont spend the money all in one place, and take care of yourself.

great book, good for most people

it's a very honest first person perspective of war. can't wait to read more.
everyone go follow Lions Led by Donkeys on Spotify.

Interesting account of Afghanistan war

Joe's stories of his experience in the war are terrifying at times, disturbing and funny at others. It's sad to think we still have soldiers in the country

great book

knew Kassabian from his podcast so was a bit shocked to here someone else narrate his story but all in all I loved it.

Bi+[# about Texas huh?

Hey Frank and delightful narrative in opposition to the all too common fellatio required by a great mini alleged memoirs which is to say yes account he is in far greater agreement with all of the personal experiences I have heard from family Viet Korea Vietnam Germany Intel in Italy etc. in short if you’re not a fancy ass officer this is a hell of a lot more like what actually occurred Salut