Mohsin Hamid, author of the bestselling novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist, is not a typical Pakistani Muslim. He argues eloquently that there is no such thing: Muslims are individuals, too. His wise antipathy towards nationalism and religious fanaticism echoes loudly in a world riven by sectarian conflict. This book is a collection of Hamid's essays. Some describe his life and literary development, but it's his political pieces that are most effective. He passionately believes Pakistan must persist with democracy and adopt compromise, "between religion and secularism, between us and our neighbours". He abhors the persecution in Pakistan of minorities such as Christians, Hindus and the Ahmadi sect. He could despair of a country of 180 million people afflicted by terrorism, US drone attacks with a siege mentality towards India and a predilection for military coups. Instead he stresses Pakistan's elected assemblies, its free media, its independent judges and the great potential of its people.
