In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Khaled Hosseini, the Afghan-American author whose novels have brought the stories of Afghanistan to a global audience. We trace his journey from a privileged childhood in Kabul to political asylum in the United States, where he arrived as a teenager unable to speak English. Listeners will learn about the "survivor’s guilt" Hosseini felt regarding the Soviet invasion of his homeland—an emotion that deeply influenced his debut novel, The Kite Runner.

We also dive into Hosseini’s fascinating career pivot. Discover why he practiced internal medicine for over a decade—a career he famously likened to an "arranged marriage"—before the massive commercial success of his writing allowed him to retire from being a physician. Finally, we discuss his subsequent bestsellers like A Thousand Sp ...