Discontent and its Civilizations

Author-narrator Hamid competently delivers his recent work, a compilation of essays touching on globalization, multicultural issues, and his life moving between Lahore, Pakistan, New York, and London. Playing off the title of a Freud work on the tensions surrounding modern society, Hamid speaks at an easy pace with clear diction and a light accent as he conveys his messages of humanity's universal themes, diversity, modernity, and the war on terrorism. While his insights may be intriguing and even provocative, listening can occasionally be tiring as he often speaks in a monotone that flattens the emotional impact of his words. Nonetheless, his sense of timing and use of emphasis, however sporadic, connect well with his topics. M.L.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine