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Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi
Morning Edition cohost Steve Inskeep presents a riveting account of a single harrowing day in December 2009 that sheds light on the constant tensions in Karachi, Pakistan—when a bomb blast ripped through a Shia religious procession, followed by the torching of hundreds of businesses in Karachi’s commercial district. Through interviews with a broad cross section of Karachi residents, Inskeep peels back the layers of that terrible day. It is the beginning, and a constant touchstone, in a journey across the city’s epic history and its troubled present Thrilling and deeply researched, Instant City tells the story of one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises and the forces competing to shape its future.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2011
43 people are currently reading
1171 people want to read
About the author
Steve Inskeep
12 books207 followersSteve Inskeep (/ˈɪnskiːp/; born June 16, 1968) is one of the current hosts of Morning Edition on National Public Radio. He, along with co-host David Greene and Rachel Martin were assigned as interim hosts to succeed Bob Edwards after NPR reassigned Edwards to Senior Correspondent after April 30, 2004. Inskeep and Montagne were officially named hosts of Morning Edition in December 2004. (David Greene joined the team as the third co-host in 2012.) Prior to being host of Morning Edition, Inskeep was NPR's transportation correspondent and the host of Weekend All Things Considered.
Inskeep is the author of Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi, published in October 2011. The book examines the changes associated with the dramatic growth of Karachi, Pakistan, in the second half of the twentieth century. Inskeep has made several trips to Pakistan in his role at NPR.
Inskeep was raised in Carmel, Indiana, and graduated from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky in 1990. His first professional experience in radio was a stint as a sportscaster at WMKY-FM in Morehead. Inskeep was hired by NPR in 1996. His first full-time assignment was the 1996 presidential primary in New Hampshire
Inskeep is the author of Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi, published in October 2011. The book examines the changes associated with the dramatic growth of Karachi, Pakistan, in the second half of the twentieth century. Inskeep has made several trips to Pakistan in his role at NPR.
Inskeep was raised in Carmel, Indiana, and graduated from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky in 1990. His first professional experience in radio was a stint as a sportscaster at WMKY-FM in Morehead. Inskeep was hired by NPR in 1996. His first full-time assignment was the 1996 presidential primary in New Hampshire
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 6, 2014
I like to think I'm pretty smart and that I have a decent grasp on world history and current geopolitical events that are shaping the world we live in. Then I see or read something that makes me realize I really don't have a frickin clue. These are the moments that I both live for and dread. I love them because they help me remember that I will never stop learning, that there is so much out there for me to discover that I'll never get bored. On the other hand, it's almost too much to comprehend. There are times I feel I should be concentrating on one subject for the rest of my life, if I don't, I'll never know what I need to. Reading Instant City was one such moment.
When I decided I wanted to read/review this book, I wasn't thinking too deeply about it. There were really only two reasons I wanted to do so. I'm a fan of Steve Inskeep, I listen to NPR all the time, and I want to know more about Pakistan, a country I don't know all that much about. That, and this sounds really superficial, but every time I think of Karachi, I think of the last segment of one of my favorite movies. At the end of Auntie Mame, as she is telling Patrick's son about the sites and sounds he is going to see on their trip, Karachi is one of the place she is telling him about. Silly reason to read a book, but I'm glad I did.
What I enjoyed the most about this read, even though it made me feel a little dumb at times, was finally being able to understand a little of the history of the region and why India and Pakistan are always at each other's throats. I know I heard of the partition before, but I never thought about it and the ramifications of splitting apart such a large country into smaller ones. The concept of it being done along religious lines, gave me a better understanding of the history and and current troubles in the region.
Karachi serves as a perfect petri dish for studying the very modern phenomenon of an Instant City. When you have mass migration from rural to urban settings, whatever the reasons, it's bound to cause problems that nobody really thought through or prepared for. Buy investigating Karachi, even by narrowing down to one bloody day in December of 2009, Steve Inskeep is able to look at the subject from all angles.
When I decided I wanted to read/review this book, I wasn't thinking too deeply about it. There were really only two reasons I wanted to do so. I'm a fan of Steve Inskeep, I listen to NPR all the time, and I want to know more about Pakistan, a country I don't know all that much about. That, and this sounds really superficial, but every time I think of Karachi, I think of the last segment of one of my favorite movies. At the end of Auntie Mame, as she is telling Patrick's son about the sites and sounds he is going to see on their trip, Karachi is one of the place she is telling him about. Silly reason to read a book, but I'm glad I did.
What I enjoyed the most about this read, even though it made me feel a little dumb at times, was finally being able to understand a little of the history of the region and why India and Pakistan are always at each other's throats. I know I heard of the partition before, but I never thought about it and the ramifications of splitting apart such a large country into smaller ones. The concept of it being done along religious lines, gave me a better understanding of the history and and current troubles in the region.
Karachi serves as a perfect petri dish for studying the very modern phenomenon of an Instant City. When you have mass migration from rural to urban settings, whatever the reasons, it's bound to cause problems that nobody really thought through or prepared for. Buy investigating Karachi, even by narrowing down to one bloody day in December of 2009, Steve Inskeep is able to look at the subject from all angles.
August 17, 2013
This is a lucid portrayal of a city that has expanded enormously and beyond recognition since 1945. There are not many cities of over 10 million inhabitants where one can state that. Even Tokyo, which was fire-bombed during World War II, still had a much larger population than Karachi in 1945.
Mr. Inskeep examines some of the current events in Karachi such as the bombing and subsequent riots of December 28/2009. But he also delves into the past and the complex history of Pakistan which has undergone so many migrations; from India in the late 1940’s to the migrations from Afghanistan that go on to this day. Also within Pakistan there is a rural to urban movement. It is also a reflection that even if life is demanding in Karachi – it is probably much more onerous in the rural hinterlands.
Mr. Inskeep also interviews a wide swath of individuals who have made their mark on Karachi, and as he points out, women have more opportunities in the urban milieu. They can certainly view a wider texture of life and have more favourable circumstances to pursue their education. We get a complex portrait of a city that tries to redefine itself – often unsuccessfully – it does not even have a rail commuter or subway network.
In a sense, what we get from this book is a “tip of the iceberg” view of this city of over 13 million. We see it from many levels – with the author we encounter the religious, the rich, the selfless and the disenfranchised. In every city, but more so in Karachi, real estate lurks behind everything. There is religious fanaticism mixed with politically armed groups, who dialogue with guns, and all use the civil structure (electricity, sewage, water) in their own way to protect their turf. Migrants arrive and build their own dwellings within a political grouping.
All-in-all this is an intense and engaging expose.
Mr. Inskeep examines some of the current events in Karachi such as the bombing and subsequent riots of December 28/2009. But he also delves into the past and the complex history of Pakistan which has undergone so many migrations; from India in the late 1940’s to the migrations from Afghanistan that go on to this day. Also within Pakistan there is a rural to urban movement. It is also a reflection that even if life is demanding in Karachi – it is probably much more onerous in the rural hinterlands.
Mr. Inskeep also interviews a wide swath of individuals who have made their mark on Karachi, and as he points out, women have more opportunities in the urban milieu. They can certainly view a wider texture of life and have more favourable circumstances to pursue their education. We get a complex portrait of a city that tries to redefine itself – often unsuccessfully – it does not even have a rail commuter or subway network.
In a sense, what we get from this book is a “tip of the iceberg” view of this city of over 13 million. We see it from many levels – with the author we encounter the religious, the rich, the selfless and the disenfranchised. In every city, but more so in Karachi, real estate lurks behind everything. There is religious fanaticism mixed with politically armed groups, who dialogue with guns, and all use the civil structure (electricity, sewage, water) in their own way to protect their turf. Migrants arrive and build their own dwellings within a political grouping.
All-in-all this is an intense and engaging expose.
March 14, 2018
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant book on Karachi. Steve has managed to capture the spirit of Karachi in a small book which reads like a documentary. The book is filled with interesting characters with their life summaries and the impact they are making in the instant city of Karachi.
So why has Karachi failed while other instant cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai thrived? The reason is well explained by the following quote.....
We are not a poor country, we're a poorly managed country.
And the main reason for poor management seems to grasped by the founding father Jinnah sahib with his reply to a Muslim military officer who expressed for quick promotion upon joining the Pakistan army just before the great Partition, The old man made a face 'You musalmans, either you are up in the sky or down in the dumps. You cannot adopt a steady course. All promotions will come in good time, but there will be no mad rush'.
Unfortunately, most Pakistanis conveniently choose to ignore his advice and opted for the shortcut approach which has resulted in a string of avoidable failures. Like the failure to clean sewers, pick up garbage, look after neighbours, to respect the greater good, to govern, in short, the failure to find workable solutions to chronic problems.
I would highly recommend this book to every Pakistani......
So why has Karachi failed while other instant cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai thrived? The reason is well explained by the following quote.....
We are not a poor country, we're a poorly managed country.
And the main reason for poor management seems to grasped by the founding father Jinnah sahib with his reply to a Muslim military officer who expressed for quick promotion upon joining the Pakistan army just before the great Partition, The old man made a face 'You musalmans, either you are up in the sky or down in the dumps. You cannot adopt a steady course. All promotions will come in good time, but there will be no mad rush'.
Unfortunately, most Pakistanis conveniently choose to ignore his advice and opted for the shortcut approach which has resulted in a string of avoidable failures. Like the failure to clean sewers, pick up garbage, look after neighbours, to respect the greater good, to govern, in short, the failure to find workable solutions to chronic problems.
I would highly recommend this book to every Pakistani......
November 8, 2012
I approached this book with skepticism just like the woman (from Karachi) who approaches Steve Inskeep at the Doha airport in the epilogue of the book. Not even for a moment did it feel like a foreigner had written this account of my home city. I wouldn't call it unbiased, it was striking that Steve actually sounded sympathetic and even affectionate (as the end approaches) to Karachi and it's resilient citizens. It was heartening to read such a love-filled account of Karachi. It also felt like I knew nothing about my city, as if I could now put all the pieces together that the headlines in the papers created for me.
Coincidentally just a few months before I picked this book up, I had captured the old buildings of Karachi along M.A.Jinnah road with a group of friends. I knew nothing about what I was seeing though. He has helped me in unravelling the mystery to an extent. He made me learn about the city I love the most. I am grateful to have learnt about this book and it will remain a precious possession.
Coincidentally just a few months before I picked this book up, I had captured the old buildings of Karachi along M.A.Jinnah road with a group of friends. I knew nothing about what I was seeing though. He has helped me in unravelling the mystery to an extent. He made me learn about the city I love the most. I am grateful to have learnt about this book and it will remain a precious possession.
October 18, 2011
As a Karachi native, I consider myself forever connected to that tangle of a metropolis even though I moved to Chicago at a year old and have lived here ever since. It is a notoriously tumultuous city, a microcosm of mismanagement, violence and instability. Despite my deep personal interest in Karachi, its history and current state are difficult to unravel and daily changes impossible to follow. Having read Steve Inskeep’s “Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi,” I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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January 7, 2012
Innskeep's study of Karachi suffers a little from multiple personality disorder, but all of those personalities (to extend the analogy) are pretty charming and interesting. He has a couple of competing narratives here - at times, the book wants to be a study of the rise of the myriad of "instant cities" that have grown up since the end of World War II, and Innskeep argues that these cities offer opportunities to help us better understand the challenges and opportunities of 21st century life, particularly in the ways in which diverse religious and ethnic populations are forced to interact with each other (in Karachi, this is, oftentimes, not successful); he also has a more muted, but equally useful thesis that lack of capacity leads to disorder, chaos, and corruption. At other times, the book reads like a "whodunit," investigating the events and causes of the Ashura attacks of December 28, 2009, in which 30 were killed and hundreds wounded in an initial bombing of a Shia religious procession, and dozens more were killed (and millions of dollars lost) in a series of fires set immediately afterwards in the Bolton Market area of downtown Karachi. Innskeep also flirts with recounting the history of Pakistan and Karachi, and he centers each chapter around personal stories of Karachi residents. He integrates all of these different narratives pretty successfully, and in the end, weaves a rich narrative of life and death in dense and difficult city of Karachi. Those interested in Pakistani history, religious strife, urban planning, or instant cities will likely find this a rewarding read.
April 22, 2016
NPR's Steve Inskeep writes a very readable account of daily life (or as is just as common, death) in one of South Asia's hustling-bustling metropolises. I could relate to the stresses ordinary working folk face daily, as they struggle to survive amidst unrelenting pressure from troublemakers of all sorts. Corrupt politicians, land mafias, violent extremist groups are all par for the course - as they are in almost all cities of the developing world. Karachi, although unique in some respects, shares a lot of characteristics with other cities like Mumbai, Karachi, Nairobi, Kolkata, Delhi and Shanghai. The author does a commendable job conveying the special flavor of life in Karachi through anecdotal narrative, but fails to draw parallels to other cities. This is not a real shortcoming except that Steve Inskeep mentions this as a central goal of the book. The book describes memorable characters like the heroic Dr. Seemin Jamali persevering in the face of unimaginable pressures, the populist mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal, and others. All South Asians should be able to relate to this book - especially recommended for Indians - we can sympathize with the struggles of the "aam junta" (common people) across a fractious border.
January 25, 2013
A very detailed and interesting book about Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, with the background of the city's history, how it started as a small port city cultivated by the British in the nineteenth century, and its evolution into a massive metropolis of 13 million people. Inskeep builds the narrative around a terrorist attack during a Shiite religious procession in 2009 as a metaphor for all of Pakistan's problems, its conflicting ethnic clashes, tensions and horrific poverty. He interviews scores of Karachi citizens, from the rickshaw drivers to the moguls and finds optimism among the chaos; from millionaires who want to turn Karachi into the next Hong Kong or Dubai, to the mullahs who want it to return to the eighth century. Fascinating details about the birth of Pakistan in the 1940s and its great leader, Mohammed Jinnah, as well as many other Karachi hands from throughout the city's history.
December 25, 2011
On a recent trip to Cairo, I was amazed by the incredible unplanned, unregulated growth into the desert. A review of this book made me think that it might help me to understand how such a situation could develop, and it certainly did. More than that, it helped to explain the political chaos of recent events. This is a wonderfully readable book about a fascinating part of the world.
December 8, 2011
Wonderful read. Highly recommended. "But when the public interest was neglected and the environment was destroyed, then private interests too, would be steadily and inexorably destroyed" summarizes what is happening in Karachi and all over Pakistan.
January 15, 2012
Fairly quick read for a work of non-fiction, Instant City is a well-researched and overall interesting book. As someone fairly well-versed with the history and socio-politics of Pakistan, I didn't find it particularly eye-opening, but it was still interesting enough that I finished reading it in 2 days. Inskeep writes with affection and without judgement. Most hearteningly, he explores the history of the city without obsessing over Islamic extremism, while still acknowledging the heartbreaking violence that Karachi has been subjected to in recent years. If I had to nitpick, I'd say that often the narrative is fairly disjointed and Inskeep's penchant for over-explaining before getting to the point can be mildly grating. Still, I'm not sorry I read the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in knowing more about Pakistan.
July 6, 2013
Wow. I wanted to learn more about Pakistan to understand the dynamics underlying the country. Inskeep does a beautiful job, anchoring this story with bombings in Karachi, and then doing the forensics on history, people, economics and religion to explain it. This was the NPR anchor's first book. Comments promoting the book in the forward talk about inskeep's courage in reporting for this book. You have to read it to appreciate it. I finished it admiring his ability to show how some people in the story are unsung heroes and continuing to bring hope and humanity to Pakistan. Very good book.
May 3, 2017
An enthralling and informative new journalism work about the realities of ethnic tension, violence and politics in Karachi & more generally Pakistan. A must read for anyone traveling to the city or country for the first time.
December 8, 2011
Excellent book that reviews Karachi from its murky beginnings to its frightening present in an easy to read style filled with fascinating characters from the city's residents.
September 25, 2024
This was my second Pakistan book. It is a great follow up to the first. It’s a borderline 5 star, because the organization was just a little convoluted, but the content is really really good. Inskeep has a great journalist's eye for revealing anecdotes and good characters and a good sense of how the biggest stories of the city come together.
Basically, you’ve got a city that has exploded in population, first because of partition, and then later because of Bengali independence, then the green revolution (probably the biggest factor), and finally the war on terror. The government has totally failed to regularize land use which has been probably the single biggest factor leading to the massive city becoming super violently fractured with powerful ethnic and religious parties/militias offering people a modicum of security where the government has failed.
There’s much more than that, but that’s the core of the story, and it there is so much to explore there. One of the most interesting parts of this for the completely clueless reader to drop in on is the creation of the “mohajir” ethnicity of partition migrants. While these people mostly all spoke Urdu when they came, they came from different parts of today’s India and did not have a common ethnic identity until one formed through living as immigrants in Pakistan. The swings of fortune of the MQM party which claims to represent the Mohajirs with its charismatic leader Altaf Hussain (who has kept that job through 30 years of exile in London!) are one of the most interesting urban political histories I have ever read.
Basically, you’ve got a city that has exploded in population, first because of partition, and then later because of Bengali independence, then the green revolution (probably the biggest factor), and finally the war on terror. The government has totally failed to regularize land use which has been probably the single biggest factor leading to the massive city becoming super violently fractured with powerful ethnic and religious parties/militias offering people a modicum of security where the government has failed.
There’s much more than that, but that’s the core of the story, and it there is so much to explore there. One of the most interesting parts of this for the completely clueless reader to drop in on is the creation of the “mohajir” ethnicity of partition migrants. While these people mostly all spoke Urdu when they came, they came from different parts of today’s India and did not have a common ethnic identity until one formed through living as immigrants in Pakistan. The swings of fortune of the MQM party which claims to represent the Mohajirs with its charismatic leader Altaf Hussain (who has kept that job through 30 years of exile in London!) are one of the most interesting urban political histories I have ever read.
August 24, 2018
Very insightful book on the history and the ins/outs of a mega-city called Karachi, which I've visited several times over the years. Estimates by the UN show the population of Karachi changing from approximately 1 million in 1950 to 5 million in 1980 and then to 13.1 million in 2010. As pointed out in the conclusion by Inskeep, Karachi is still in dire need of "more law and order." As he found in his research, probably "more than half the city lives in unauthorized housing." The city has been deluged over the years by refugees, immigrants (many from India following Partition in 1947), and IDPs (Internally Displaced Peoples)--due to economic opportunities, education, or as the result of widespread flooding of the Indus River & destruction.
October 30, 2022
This was great. Interestingly, a quote from the book comes to mind immediately. In the book a Karachite says that if you visit Karachi for 4 days, you'll hate it. If you stay for 40 days, you'll like it and never leave. I didn't hate the book in the first four or 14 pages, but I didn't get it. As it continued, I began to see the story of the instant city and loved it. This book was great at being a travelogue, a look at Karachi, a look at urban development, a look at democracy and politics, and a series of compelling human stories. I doubt I'll try to get to Karachi anytime soon but I will give this book five stars. Boom.
August 26, 2025
Probably one of the best written books I have read recently. The book is lucid, super moving, and zooms into a very specific incident - the bombing of a Shia procession in 2009, and then zooms out to present a most vivid, visual and rare picture of the ethnic-religious and political history of a city that has even ravaged by terrorism and sectarianism at a level that is nearly unmatched, especially surprising given its super cosmopolitan history with the Hindus, Sikhs and Parsis. A must-read for anyone trying to piece together the puzzle of internal Pakistani politics and its place in the larger narrative of South Asian history.
May 31, 2020
This is a weak story. Inskeep, whom I love listening to on NPR, tries to frame the narrative around a street bombing he reported on in Karachi (a city I have been to many times) but he digresses into other stories from his reporter’s notebook and frankly his reporting on the bombing is far from great journalism. He also wants to make a point about supersonic growing megacities like Karachi — but fails to do so coherently. I was determined to finish it - and it took me long time to do so. For those wanting to learn more about Pakistan, I don’t recommend “Instant City.”
November 16, 2020
A really well-written and well-researched book about Karachi. Inskeep goes beyond the political history of Pakistan and its many rulers since partition. He tells the story of a city that was suddenly inundated by a flood of refugees and how the city grew to an almost unimaginable size in a few decades. He brings the city to life through profiles of a few memorable people. The rulers of Pakistan come and go, the lives of the residents are impacted by complex forces. Even though the book was written more than ten years ago, it tells a vibrant and relevant story.
March 7, 2021
Steve Inskeep writes on how Karachi has grown 30 times in population since 1947 and how it changed to a instant city. This Boom dies not cover Karachi comprehensively but touches many characters and takes us through their parallel lives. It covers all issues facing Karachi from poverty to Housing to sectionalism. Covers Independence of Pakistan and years after that briefly also dwelling on How Jinnah after breaking a country based on religion went out to try make his new country a secular one !!
April 8, 2019
Brilliant, sympathetic story of Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city. Humane, historical and amazingly unfettered by the author’s personal views. I’ve spent time in Karachi and despite its dysfunction find it immensely attractive. Inskeep manages to convey that weird brilliance as well.
Only criticism is the typically American attempt to wrap up the book with some managerial recommendations at the end.
Highly recommended.
Only criticism is the typically American attempt to wrap up the book with some managerial recommendations at the end.
Highly recommended.
May 25, 2020
Steve Inskeep tackles the political and social issues surrounding Karachi well. His meticluous research provides a unique perspective of all the rival interests in Karachi. The gangleaders and politicians which aren't always distinguishable. As well as the people whose optimistic view for Karachi has been admirable. Definitely a worthy read.
May 15, 2017
An essential read if you have anything to do with Karachi and a well put together book in general. Compresses a lot of history and storytelling in an easy and captivating read. I would have never understood the city the way I do now.
February 26, 2022
If you want to know about Karachi and the people who have worked with dedication for the progress of this city then this is the best book to read. Insightful and thought-provoking! ALAS! What a beautiful city it was.
March 12, 2018
I knew almost nothing about Karachi before I read this book and found it very enlightening. It is well done and shows perseverance in documenting a place that is difficult to document.
December 3, 2019
This book didn’t hold my attention as much as I hoped it would, but I enjoyed learning about Karachi.
September 7, 2021
Accessible and interesting book with a focus on the development of Karachi. This has some similar themes to Arrival City by Doug Saunders
April 27, 2022
Easy to read about a surprising city.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews