Sociologist Skaine presents a brief overview of the quality of life for Afghan women under the former Taliban regime of Afghanistan, as well as women's responses to the Taliban. After presenting a brief overview of the history of Afghanistan, discussing how women have played a much more prominent role in Afghan civil and political life in the past, she details many of the abuses of the Taliban regime and discusses whether their treatment of women is somehow intrinsic to the practice of Islam. A significant part of the work includes profiles of a couple dozen Afghan women, many of whom resisted Taliban policies by opening schools, documenting abuses, and building resistance organizations. This section is helped by the fact that Skaine is able to present interviews collected by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), thereby gaining access to voices that aren't normally heard in Western sources. The rapid turning of events following the U.S. attack on the country necessarily dates a final chapter on the prospects for the future. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)