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In the Wars

A Story of Conflict, Survival and Saving Lives

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In the Wars

By: Waheed Arian
Narrated by: Waheed Arian
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Born in war-torn Afghanistan, Waheed Arian's earliest memories are of bombs. Fleeing the conflict with his family, he spent much of his childhood in refugee camps in Pakistan, living sometimes ten to a room without basic sanitation or access to education. After he contracted tuberculosis, his first-hand experience of the power of medicine inspired Waheed to dedicate his life to healing others. But how does a boy with nothing hope to become a doctor?

Waheed largely taught himself, from textbooks bought from street-sellers, and learned English from the BBC World Service. Smuggled to the UK at fifteen with just $100 in his pocket, he found a job in a shop. He was advised to set his sights on becoming a taxi driver. But the boy from Kabul had bigger ambitions.

Working through PTSD and anxiety, he studied all hours to achieve his vocation. He was accepted to read medicine at Cambridge University, Imperial College and Harvard, and went on to become a doctor in the NHS. But he wanted to do more. In 2015 he founded Arian Teleheal, a pioneering global charity that connects doctors in war zones and low-resource countries with their counterparts in the US, UK, Europe and Australia. Together, learning from each other, they save and change lives - the lives of millions of people just like Waheed.

For readers of Educated and War Doctor, this is the extraordinary memoir of a boy who recognized the power of education and dreamed about helping others. It's a tale of courage, ambition and unwavering resilience in the face of all the challenges that life can throw in your way.

©2021 Waheed Arian (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Medical Professionals & Academics War Inspiring Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"A thrilling and absorbing read from first to last. What a life and what an inspiration." (Stephen Fry)

"Anyone who reads Dr Arian's remarkable memoir will put it down inspired by the immense power and resilience of the human will. At a time when displacement has become increasingly politicized, this book is a gift, a dazzling testimony to the extraordinary contributions that refugees make to the host communities that welcome them." (Khaled Hosseini)

"A powerful, heart-warming account of a young man's escape from war and deprivation to extraordinary success in serving the people of his new country. This is a book which thoroughly deserves to be read and celebrated. I was moved and delighted by it." (John Simpson)

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What an amazing story! Dr Arian‘s telling of the pathway of his life - from the early days as a youngster in war-torn Afghanistan, through his arrival and incarceration as an asylum-seeker in the UK; the sheer hard work of years training, and the final realisation of his life‘s vision - all of this is breathtaking and inspiring.

Inspiring and Heartwarming

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Loved the story of Waheed’s family’s struggle to survive in hostile conditions. Felt I needed to hear his experiences arriving in the UK. We shared the same college. It made me wish I had been more welcoming and sensitive to overseas students. A book of two halves - history in part one, accomplishment and ambition in part two.

Glimpse into another world

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This was the most worthwhile book I've read in a long time. Moving, informative, inspirational. Excellent narratiom.

Extraordinary story

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In the wars is the most brilliant book I can highly recommend reading (or listening too) it tells the truth about refugees and how hard their Journey to have a life free from war and trauma really is. A brave account and determined to help others is admirable

Everyone should read this book

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As he says himself it is important that he shared his story. There is much to learn and take away from it.

Inspiring

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