Suketu Mehta Knihy

Few subjects in American life prompt as much discussion and rancor as immigration. The renowned author Suketu Mehta offers a reality-based polemic that clarifies this debate. Drawing on his experience as an Indian-born teenager in New York City and years of global reporting, Mehta scrutinizes the worldwide anti-immigrant backlash. He argues that the West is not being destroyed by immigrants but by the fear of them. From Dubai to New York City, he contrasts the narratives of populist ideologues with the ordinary heroism of laborers and domestic workers. Mehta takes readers on a poignant journey to San Diego and Tijuana, where a border fence divides families and damages lives. He explains why more people are on the move today than ever before, as civil strife and climate change reshape the planet, leading to increasingly porous borders. Additionally, he highlights the destructive legacies of colonialism and global inequality, asserting that when today's immigrants are asked, "Why are you here?" they can respond, "We are here because you were there." Mehta contends that immigrants bring significant benefits, enabling communities to flourish. Impassioned and rigorous, this work is an urgent intervention and a literary argument of the highest order.

Immigration is a contentious topic in American life today. The renowned author Suketu Mehta presents a reality-based polemic that clarifies this debate. Drawing from his experiences as an Indian-born teenager in New York City and years of global reporting, Mehta scrutinizes the worldwide anti-immigrant backlash. He argues that the West is not being harmed by immigrants, but rather by the fear of them. Through narratives from places like Dubai, Morocco, and New York City, he contrasts the misleading tales of populist ideologues with the everyday heroism of laborers and domestic workers. Mehta takes readers on a poignant journey to San Diego and Tijuana, highlighting the painful realities created by a border fence that divides families. He explains the unprecedented movement of people today, driven by civil strife and climate change, which has made borders increasingly porous. Additionally, he addresses the destructive legacies of colonialism and global inequality, asserting that when immigrants are asked, "Why are you here?" they can respond, "We are here because you were there." Mehta emphasizes that immigrants contribute significantly to the flourishing of countries and communities. This impassioned and rigorous work is a necessary intervention and a compelling literary argument.

A brilliantly illuminating portrait of Bombay and its people, this work offers a vast, diverse, and rich experience reflective of the city itself, penned by an award-winning Indian-American fiction writer and journalist. As a native of Bombay, Suketu Mehta provides an insider's view, infused with rare insight, detail, and intimacy. He explores the city from unexpected angles, delving into the criminal underworld of rival Muslim and Hindu gangs vying for control of its intricate political and commercial systems. The narrative follows the life of a bar dancer who embraces her limited options after a childhood marked by poverty and abuse, and it opens doors to the hierarchical inner workings of Bollywood. Mehta shares the stories of countless individuals who migrate from villages in search of a better life, only to find themselves living on sidewalks—an essential saga of a great city. Throughout these individual tales, Mehta's own journey of love, frustration, and identification with Bombay unfolds as he seeks to reconnect with his roots after twenty-one years abroad. He emphasizes that Bombay, the world’s largest city, foreshadows the vast megalopolises that will redefine urban life in the future. Candid, impassioned, and heartrending, this work reveals an ancient and ever-changing world.