What To Read

I've been looking for a book to take with me on this trip. It's nice to read something relevant when you're traveling somewhere new. I picked up the autobiography of Nelson Mandela today in the bookstore, but it has somewhere around 8 million pages and I'm feeling a little bit of advance jetlag. And besides there are all those boring facts.

So I'm trying to find something a little shorter, and funnier, with a nice balance of historical erudition and entertaining (but thoughtful) personal observation. This should all be mixed with a bit of postmodern irony and a dash of world-weary commentary. In addition the book should attempt to deal compassionately with the struggles of the downtrodden masses (in a balanced and democratic way) and yet maintain a cool, reserved composure, showing the author to be informed, intellectual, at a distance, full of refined opinions. The book should be popular, so I can mention it in passing. The book should have pretty, textured artwork on the cover. The book should make cultural observations and witty comments accessible only to a certain, priveleged cross-section of society. The book should quote Noam Chomsky. The book should be hip. And cool. And hot. The book should be like sitting in a Starbucks (with the air conditioning set to "Arctic") on the corner of Mumbai and Mogadishu.

Do you think they have any like that?