As a young reporter in Uzbekistan, Bagila Bukharbayeva was a witness to her countrys search for an identity after the collapse of the Soviet Union. While self-proclaimed religious leaders argued about what was the true Islam, Bukharbayeva shows how some of the neighborhood boys became religious, then devout, and then a threat to the country's authoritarian government. The Vanishing Generation provides an unparalleled look into what life is like in a religious sect, the experience of people who live for months and even years in hiding, and the fabricated evidence, torture, and kidnappings that characterize an authoritarian government. In doing so, she provides a rare and unforgettable story of what life is like today inside the secretive and tightly controlled country of Uzbekistan. Balancing intimate memories of playmates and neighborhood crushes with harrowing stories of extremism and authoritarianism, Bukharbayeva gives a voice to victims whose stories would never otherwise be heard.

This is an important book, combining discussions of large-scale political events with insights into their impact on individual Muslims and Muslim communities. . . . Highly recommended.

This is an important book for scholars of modern Uzbekistan, and will be a worthwhile addition to student reading lists. It provides a fascinating journalistic account of an important period in modern post-Soviet politics, and will also appeal to general readers interested in the Central Asian region. For students and scholars of Islamist movements, there are also important insights into processes of religious revival and radicalization.

Bagila Bukharbayeva is a former Central Asia correspondent for the Associated Press. She is a winner of the Paul Klebnikov Courage in Journalism Award.