Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World
Written by Tim Marshall
Narrated by Scott Brick
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
In this New York Times bestseller, updated for 2016, an award-winning journalist uses ten maps of crucial regions to explain the geo-political strategies of the world powers—“fans of geography, history, and politics (and maps) will be enthralled” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
Maps have a mysterious hold over us. Whether ancient, crumbling parchments or generated by Google, maps tell us things we want to know, not only about our current location or where we are going but about the world in general. And yet, when it comes to geo-politics, much of what we are told is generated by analysts and other experts who have neglected to refer to a map of the place in question.
All leaders of nations are constrained by geography. In “one of the best books about geopolitics” (The Evening Standard), now updated to include 2016 geopolitical developments, journalist Tim Marshall examines Russia, China, the US, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Greenland and the Arctic—their weather, seas, mountains, rivers, deserts, and borders—to provide a context often missing from our political reportage: how the physical characteristics of these countries affect their strengths and vulnerabilities and the decisions made by their leaders.
Offering “a fresh way of looking at maps” (The New York Times Book Review), Marshall explains the complex geo-political strategies that shape the globe. Why is Putin so obsessed with Crimea? Why was the US destined to become a global superpower? Why does China’s power base continue to expand? Why is Tibet destined to lose its autonomy? Why will Europe never be united? The answers are geographical. “In an ever more complex, chaotic, and interlinked world, Prisoners of Geography is a concise and useful primer on geopolitics” (Newsweek) and a critical guide to one of the major determining factors in world affairs.
Editor's Note
A satellite view…
When we think about who and what shapes political policy, we rarely think about all the ways in which geography plays one of the biggest roles. A deft and concise explanation of geopolitics that will give you a satellite view of world order.
Tim Marshall
Tim Marshall is a leading authority on foreign affairs with more than thirty years of reporting experience. He was diplomatic editor at Sky News and before that worked for the BBC and LBC/IRN radio. He has reported from forty countries and covered conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. He is the author of Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World; The Age of Walls: How Barriers Between Nations Are Changing Our World; and A Flag Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of National Symbols. He is founder and editor of the current affairs site TheWhatandtheWhy.com.
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Reviews for Prisoners of Geography
1,111 ratings78 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book's title keeps its promises, showing how physical geography shapes and constrains geopolitics. The subtitle, however, does not: the maps are distinctly disappointing, and don't illustrate the (excellent) premises of the text nearly as well as they ought to do. This doesn't spoil the book, which is an excellent geographic/historical/current events review of key points of conflict in our world. I learned a lot from it, and it made some things very clear, like why Russia can't tolerate a NATO-leaning Ukraine. It would have been a five star book for me had the maps measured up to the rest of it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Better than his flag book. There were a few things it made me think about that I'd not previously, not necessarily things I'd not have been able to conclude, but sometimes one needs prompting.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Read Atlantic article based on book regarding Russia - interesting.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well researched and clearly presented. This is a book that will make just about anyone smarter about the world we live in. Highly recommend.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Joy's review: This is an excellent overview of the impact of geography on nations, politics, and the world as we know it today. Light on scholarship, but solid on insight and explanation into events and situations that are shaping today's world. If you want a better understanding of current events around the world, this is a great place to start.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A useful, brisk, engaging primer on geopolitics, especially if you (like me) are not a foreign policy expert.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It would have better to have detailed maps, but still was really informative, I'll read it again.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Provides an excellent summation and background for understanding today’s geo-politics.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The book contained a lot of interesting stuff
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fascinating book, although I’m not so crazy about the narrator.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5entertaining, educational and steeped in history, taught me a lot about the continents and regions of the world and their key countries and conflicts, 100 percent recommended and a must listen again for me in 30/60 days
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This books give the reader the crash course on international affairs and geopolitics.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stellar book! A must read! A breathtaking walk across the planet to each of the prominent regions and a deep dive into the geographies and the physical advantages and challenges of each and how it shaped the subsequent histories and the current state. Opened my eyes into some of the hot spots in the world and the underlying issues different from what the hype machine has fed us all along. This is a book I will keep going back to!!!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very Insightful, good overview of the geographical limitations countries.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great geopolitical book for the curious mind and the seasoned expert.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Too much politics, too little geography. OK primer on the subject.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great great book really love it the simple explanation of the book.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The way in which he explores the impact of geography on politics and economics is interesting. It's a good starting point if you don't know anything about the region he's discussing. If you have more background knowledge, his conclusions are rather simplistic.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic insight and explanation to the power of geography across the ages.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Outstanding - fast paced and fascinating. This book provides excellent context to many of the world’s current disputes.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book on geography, politics, international affairs, all in one.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Who knew how important the geography of a land is in explaining its history and predicting it future success. I was very impressed with the author's amazing research and geographical knowledge and insights into the how and why a country/continent has evolved over time. It will be my go to reference guide as a refresher when I travel to different areas of the world.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tim Marshalls böcker är mycket läsvärda. Ger nya tankar och perspektiv.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5This book is interesting at first but gets so racist so fast
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The subtitle is misleading — this book is about geography, not maps.
There’s some interesting foreign policy info in here for those that aren’t well versed (like me) but the book came back to the same elementary points over and over again, especially that mountains make it hard for people to invade each other. It felt like a running gag after a while. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's a good read. Gives perspective to a lot of disputes between the nations around the globe.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Outstanding! Excellent book to help us understand our world and rethink the future.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I really enjoyed this book! It opened my eyes to some of what it behind some present day conflicts.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It has a lot of interesting information and covers a lot about what the world is all about.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book. A very good look into how the world works.