Book #2: Prisoners of Geography: 10 Maps That Explain Everything About The World by Tim Marshall

Pages: 304

Published: 2015

Review from Survival: Global Politics and Strategy: "Lively and perceptive political and historical analyses are frequent. The chapter on China is excellent; the chapter on Africa combines geography and history in a convincing way; the chapter on Western Europe...is a brilliant [summary] of European relations,particularly between France and Germany. The [compelling] chapter on the Middle East makes for a clear indictment of the Sykes–Picot agreements and of their tracing of artificial borders. The chapter on the Arctic is precise and informative ...A very lively, sensible and informative series of country reports in which geography occupies its [proper] place along with shrewd historical reminders and political judgments." 

From James Denny: "Using physical geography with a bit of climatology thrown in, author Tim Marshall explains Planet Earth's geo-politics in a refreshing and stimulating way. His structure is to lay out ten maps of continents and countries and to delve into the specifics of oceans, rivers, mountains, deserts and climate to explain how some countries have expanded [significantly] (Russia), others not at all (Korea) and why certain places in the world lend themselves to strife and conflict, while others lead to greater economic opportunity, cooperation, [commerce] and stability.

"Prisoners of Geography" is a bold work. Some readers may think that Marshall's approach is reductionist in a 19th century sort of way, that everything can be explained by geo-determinism. I found it quite the opposite. Marshall's analysis of [Asia] (one of his ten maps) and of India and Pakistan (another of the ten) explain how in these situations, two different nation-states and cultures butt-up against each other and unfortunately are stuck in a permanent dance pose that neither wants to be in."

I selected this book because it seems to offer a broad and comprehensive overview of the topic. Through examples spanning most continents, Marshall teaches readers about how geography affects the development of governments and how governments interact with one another.