Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes behind the Veil

Version: Unabridged
Author: Deborah Rodriguez , Kristin Ohlson
Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
Genres: Biographies, Islam, Social Science
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Date: May 2007
Length: 9 hours
Ratings:
Formats :
  • CD
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Overview

When Rodriguez bravely opened the Kabul Beauty School, she empowered Afghan women with a new sense of autonomy. The book tells the stories of her students and their many challenges while they learn the lessons of perms, friendship, and freedom.

Selected Reviews

Kabul Beauty School

by Paperback Reader
  • Book Rating: 5/5

fabulous

by Anonymous
  • Book Rating: 5/5

More...

Read All 6

Reviews (6)

Kabul Beauty School

Written by Paperback Reader from Willis, TX on April 14th, 2012

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Interesting story of american woman who opens and manages a beauty shop in Kabul. Inside story of women's daily lives. Highly recommend.

fabulous

Written by Anonymous from Pace, FL on August 19th, 2011

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Loved this book. I went about listening to this book with vague hope that it would be interesting... boy did I get more than I asked for! I told every person I knew about this book, and relayed parts/concepts of it two of my classes and instructors, and tried to lend it to a few people. What an up front, personal, and real point of view. And not to mention, the story is interesting, and does not resemble a news flash. We have to imagine that more goes on in Afghanistan than just shootings everyday... this is the story about the people... and inparticularly, about the women. Well written, well read, well said. Thank you for writing this book!

kabul beauty school

Written by Fred on April 23rd, 2011

  • Book Rating: 3/5

I liked this book a great deal. It was entertaining and very informative about the daily life women of Afghanistan.

Mesmerizing Tale

Written by Peggy Stortz on September 21st, 2007

  • Book Rating: 5/5

For the first time in my life, I listened to a book TWICE. Rodriguez's magnetism leaps off the page. Her account of life in Kabul will make you roar with laughter and weep for the women of Afghanistan. Rodrizuez's compassion and her moxie make her a heroine whom you will never forget. One of the most fascinating stories that I have ever heard, I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

Great REad

Written by Gus Emery from Arroyo Grande, CA on September 3rd, 2007

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. She tells of going to Afghanistan to help after the US liberated it and finding that there was a need for trained beauticians. The Beauty School was born and gave women a chance to earn an income. The author gets in amazing scrapes and decides to settle down in Afghanistan. It is a very uplifting story with all kinds of adventures that I wouldn't dream of doing. But she survives it all and tells a wonderful tale.

Kabul Beauty School

Written by Anonymous on August 3rd, 2007

  • Book Rating: 4/5

This is a fascinating and entertaining book giving the experiences of a woman who started a Beauty School in Afghanistan and became the second wife of an Afghan man who did not have a common language and who still was married to a first wife with eight children. Both aspects of the book - the beauty school and the marriage demonstate that truth is stranger than fiction. The author is an interesting and unique character. The trials of the Afghan women the author befriends are especially horrifying because the trials are mostly at the hands of the women's closest male relatives. The cultural differences portrayed in the book are astounding and incomprehensible, but close female friendships and the shining examples of women going to great lengths to help other women are inspiring.

Selected Reviews

Kabul Beauty School

by Paperback Reader
  • Book Rating: 5/5

fabulous

by Anonymous
  • Book Rating: 5/5

More...

Read All 6

Author Details

Author Details

Rodriguez, Deborah

Deborah Rodriguez has been as a hairdresser since 1979, except for one brief stint when she worked as a corrections officer in her hometown of Holland, Michigan. She currently directs the Kabul Beauty School, the first modern beauty academy and training salon in Afghanistan. Rodriguez also owns the Oasis Salon and the Cabul Coffee House. She lives in Kabul with her Afghan husband.

"From the Hardcover edition."

Ohlson, Kristin

Kristin Ohlson has published articles and essays in the "New York Times, Ms., Salon, O, Discover, Food & Wine," and many other publications.