Zarbul Masalha: 151 Afghan Dari Proverbs

by Edward Zellem, David H. Petraeus (Foreword), Marefat High School Kabul (Illustrator)

Learn something new about yourself and others with the award-winning and world’s most popular book of Afghan Proverbs. Now in a Third Edition that includes 50 additional “Bonus Proverbs” contributed by Afghans from across the globe. Beautifully illustrated by Afghan high school students in a unique collaboration with an American naval officer. Foreword by General David H. Petraeus (U.S. Army, Ret), one of the top 4-star generals in American military history and a user of Afghan Proverbs himself. Bilingual in Dari and English, including transliterations for easy reading and pronunciation. Collected and translated in Afghanistan by U.S. Navy Captain and Dari speaker Edward Zellem, winner of 9 international book awards for 3 books of Afghan Proverbs published in 15 languages. Afghans have used proverbs since ancient times to build bridges and understanding between peoples and cultures. Zarbul Masalha (“Proverbs” in Dari and Farsi) now brings that tradition to the entire world.

262 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2015

About the author

Captain Edward Zellem is the award-winning author of three bilingual books of Afghan Proverbs, now published in 15 languages. He is a U.S. Navy officer and trained Dari speaker who spent a year and a half embedded on native Afghan teams in Afghanistan. This included a year on President Hamid Karzai's staff inside the Afghan Presidential Palace.

While in Afghanistan, Captain Zellem became fascinated with the way Afghans use Proverbs in their daily conversations. He began collecting and translating them, and used them every day with Afghans in his professional and personal life. After students at a local Kabul high school offered to create illustrations, he decided to publish his collection as a personal project to share with the world.

The Afghan Proverbs Collection has received praise from luminaries such as General David H. Petraeus, Kabul University's Nancy Dupree, Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the Princess Salimah Aga Khan, and many other well-known personalities.

The Afghan Proverbs books are available in over 100 countries through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and over 100 other major book retailers. Edward Zellem also publishes a popular series of online interviews with Afghan celebrities and thought leaders.

More information at afghansayings.com or on Twitter at @afghansayings.

Reviews

[Melissa]

Friends from Afghanistan say that these are legit and a prominent part of the culture and communication. They make for great discussion!