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, The Age of Walls, A Flag Worth Dying For, The Power of Geography, and The Future of Geography.
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Reviews for Prisoners of Geography
1,151 ratings86 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Best book on international relation for beginners. It is written with witty sentences that makes it riveting
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic insight and explanation to the power of geography across the ages.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Very fascinating tour of geography and nations. Since the history of nations and persecuted groups were raised in Russia, China, the Middle East, “IndoChina “, India, Turkey, North Korea, etc. as is often the case the persecution of Christians is barely mentioned and Catholic Christians all but ignored. It’s a trend that feeds on itself.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book. A very good look into how the world works.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book should be mandatory. The narrator was also brilliant.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tim Marshalls böcker är mycket läsvärda. Ger nya tankar och perspektiv.
- 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 stars5/5Foarte bună cartea! Vocea clară într-o engleză ușoară. Spor la lectură!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Insightful and apolitical explanation of the current world that makes sense
- 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 stars5/5I hesitated to listen to this audiobook because I thought that I might not get it without seeing the visual maps, instead I tore through it. Fascinating and a great concept. It’s still relevant even though so much has happened in the last 6 years since the update
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One of the best book I have ever read. A great story and narrative
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The book contained a lot of interesting stuff
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I found it Very very enlightening . I Would definitely recommend it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A great read for anyone looking to understand what motivates the behaviors of world powers.
- 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 stars5/5I 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 covers a lot of important information in an accessible and easy to understand way. Great book for a general understanding of the world.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Its amazing! The facts and way of describing situations is good.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5if you already have knowledge about geopolitics this book is not for you.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Outstanding! Excellent book to help us understand our world and rethink the future.
- 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 stars5/5I would never have read this book and I found it fascinating and very well narrated. I hope the author writes more about Australia and other countries not included in this first book
- 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 stars5/5Great book from 2015. Outlines a lot of trends continuing up to today.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Provides an excellent summation and background for understanding today’s geo-politics.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An excellent book that I would recommend to those interested in the history of the different cultures that occupy the entire globe and the conflicts that separates them.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The substance of the book was great and I highly recommend it. However, the narrator definitely isn't my first choice he's very soft spoken that he can put you to sleep if you're not caffeinated while listening to the audiobook.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent and lucid presentation of a complex subject. Loved listening
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I went through and would like to again. Each word is knowledge