Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches from Lahore, New York, and London

In this collection of 36 essays, Hamid (How To Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia) brings together a wide variety of his work, a number of which appeared in print before, that touch on such subjects as international politics, the East-West divide, President Barack Obama's 2009 speech in Cairo, fundamentalism, and nationalism. Other more lighthearted topics: books and reading, the challenges the author faced moving back to Pakistan at a young age, and fatherhood, are also considered. Some of the pieces are more entertaining, others are more thought provoking, but all are eloquently written and richly informed by the author's background in Pakistan, as well as his time spent living in New York and London. That background informs his prose and offers a unique point of view to his audience. For longtime Hamid readers, this is a great compilation for getting reacquainted with his writing or discovering something missed over the years. For new readers, it is an excellent introduction.