Jonas Jonasson consistently offers insightful commentary on international politics. While running to washing dishes and even deep cleaning the bathroom in our new home, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his latest novel, ‘The Prophet and the Idiot,’ available on Storytel.

The narrative begins in Sweden and swiftly transports readers to the fictional nation of Condors, nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean. This peculiar land is governed by a President who made a transition from serving the Soviet Russian regime under Gorbachev to leading a nation situated amidst the vast ocean. Remarkably, the President, accompanied by a group of cunning Swedes, managed to con rich figures ranging from Britney Spears, and Bill Gates to Donald Trump.

The story takes readers on a journey from Condor to Mombasa in Kenya, then to Malta, before finally reaching Vermont in the United States. In Vermont, the President of Condors, who is now on the run after swindling the Russian mafia, Trump, Gates, and many others with a doomsday bet, establishes a cheese-making factory. During his electoral campaign for a second term, Barack and Michelle Obama pay a visit, as Obama expresses his appreciation for the delicious cheese and recognizes the factory’s potential to create job opportunities for Americans.

The novel ingeniously utilizes satire to scrutinize the banking system and global politics, while skillfully incorporating special appearances by prominent figures such as Obama and Ban Ki-Moon. Jonas Jonasson’s adept humour and unique perspective on the world never fail to captivate readers.