Amitava Kumar is a writer and journalist born in Ara, India; he grew up in the nearby town of Patna, famous for its corruption, crushing poverty and delicious mangoes. He is the author of several works of literary nonfiction, including Husband of a Fanatic, and the novel, Nobody Does the Right Thing. Kumar is professor of English at Vassar College.

One Muslim artist responded to his mistaken FBI investigation by creating an online record of his every move, meal, and travel. An excerpt from Amitava Kumar’s book on global reactions to the U.S. war on terror.