Intelligence Squared

The Last White Man, with Mohsin Hamid

Oct 7, 2022

Mohsin Hamid, an award-winning Pakistani author known for thought-provoking novels like "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," discusses his latest work, "The Last White Man." He delves into themes of race and identity, recounting the story of Anders, who experiences a dramatic racial transformation. The conversation covers the implications of privilege and the importance of inclusive storytelling in shaping societal narratives. Hamid also reflects on global racial injustices spurred by recent events and the influence of grief on identity formation.

56:03

Episode guests

Mohsin Hamid

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Exploring Race in 'The Last White Man'

21min

Imagining an Inclusive Future: Building Hope through Narrative

3min

The Evolution of Storytelling: Identity and Race

17min

Global Reflections on Racial Injustice in 2020

3min

Navigating Grief and Identity in Contemporary Society

4min

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Anders wakes up one day to find that his skin has turned dark. Soon it transpires that this is happening to people all over the land, leading first to panic which then turns into an upheaval in establishment, power, and compassion.

In this Kafka-esque tale, award-winning Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid explores how we as a society define the concepts and structures of race, and how much in turn we let them define us. To delve deeper into The Last White Man, Mohsin Hamid joins us on the podcast, in conversation with BBC broadcaster Razia Iqbal.

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