Describes the important world, national, and cultural developments of the first decade of the new millennium.

Surveys the political, social, and cultural trends of the first decade of the twenty-first century which included terrorist attacks, the first African American president, global financial collapse, and new inventions like the iPod and Facebook.

The editors at LIFE vigorously carry on the traditions of excellence in photography, in journalism, and in telling the story of our country and our world which began with LIFE magazine in 1936 by founding editor and publisher, Henry R. Luce. They have published books on a broad range of subjects, including New York Times bestsellers One Nation, LIFE Picture Puzzle and The American Journey of Barack Obama .

Afghanistan, 1975: Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.

The editors at LIFE vigorously carry on the traditions of excellence in photography, in journalism, and in telling the story of our country and our world which began with LIFE magazine in 1936 by founding editor and publisher, Henry R. Luce. They have published books on a broad range of subjects, including New York Times bestsellers One Nation, LIFE Picture Puzzle and The American Journey of Barack Obama .

The first decade of the new millennium ushered in an age of unprecedented amounts of information through the Internet and electronic media. The US was attacked in 2001, changing the face of New York City forever. There was economic slowdown, political divisiveness, and unprecedented terrorism. US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq achieved their initial goals, then devolved into bloody guerrilla conflicts. International competition for energy resources escalated dramatically. Then, in 2008, a time of change began when Barack Obama was elected president. As the 2000s moved forward, people changed the way they socialized, worked, and even entertained.

Not since the 1960s have the events of a single decade so transformed the United States. Life re-lives events in words and pictures with everything from the Harry Potter phenomenon to the election of Barack Obama covered.