193. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

This month's selection is The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid. Published in 2022, The Last White Man is the fifth novel by the British Pakistani novelist and consultant Mohsin Hamid. Written as an extended allegory, it tells the story of an unnamed town in an unnamed country whose white inhabitants have all begun to change skin color from pale to brown. The novel explores themes of race and whiteness as constructs, loss and mourning, and conspiracy theories. 

The Last White Man is a thought-provoking and, sometimes, uncomfortable read, but it's definitely worth your time. We couldn't find out exactly why this particular book was banned but there are several obvious reasons why book banners might be keen on banning it. Read the book before passing judgement. It's slightly more than 200 pages so it's a quick read, but it'll stay with you long after the final page. 

Mentioned in this episode:  Velshi Banned Book Club: 'The Last White Man' by Mohsin Hamid - YouTube