The Hooligans of Kandahar: Not All War Stories Are Heroic

By: Joseph Kassabian

Narrated by: Thomas Dukeman

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.

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.

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.

A "fun" modern war story

Reminds me of a Tim O'Brian story turned into a novel with a more sarcastic & nonchalant tone; less nihilistic & surrealist. Describes the absurdity of the average military member & the horrors of war smeared with the comedic lens necessary to keep one sane during their deployment. Hilarious stories mixed about with the depressing nature of everything in Afghanistan. "If a war story has a moral, its not true" pretty sure O'Brain said that. IDK love the book, wish Joe was reading it though.

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.

Bad Narrator

Narrator sounds like a goof. takes away from the gravity of the story. almost unlistenable

Fantastic book

My only critique was the narrator just doing THE MOST. Constantly reading characters in exaggerated voices which detracted from the story. Would love to hear again with a more neutral reading.

Great Read.

it's was a very good book and very informative and very funny as well.

Came from the podcast

Love the Lions Pod so wanted to check out Joe’s book. His storytelling ability didn’t disappoint. Talented writer, historian, and cynic. The narrator wasn’t so bad, just didn’t fit the narrative. Most other listeners seem annoyed, I wasn’t too distracted. Great book by a solid human.