Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World (Politics of Place)

I've seen World power struggles refined by energy, water and other things, but overall geography is a fascinating and clearly relevant look. The author is convincing but doesn't need to be. What is laid out makes itself very clearly obvious, out just isn't often looked at that way. Whether you like geography, World politics, history, military affairs or just want to learn something new and interesting, this is a worthwhile and interesting read

The book is good, but oversimplified. Author Tim Marshall does a nice job trying to synthesize history and modern security dilemmas, but his treatment is at times cursory to the point of inattention, and he occasionally wanders into historically complicated issues without demonstrating much of an eye for nuance.This is a good introductory book, perhaps for young readers or folks who plan to follow up with other books and articles. For more advanced readers, it won’t provide much that is new.

Prisoners of Geography gives an overview of modern geopolitics through the lens of geography. It provides a brief history of the worlds major geographic regions and powers and how geography has both shaped events as well as define current relationships. The author sets out chapters for China, Russia, the US, Western Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Korea and Japan, Latam as well as the Arctic. The book in short space gives a easily readable overview of how to think about the geography of the world and its impact on historic and contemporary events.Given the breath of books on politics this book is a refreshing read which brings fresh insight with how to view geopolitical conflicts. We often forget about the role of geography in the modern age with integrated supply chains in an age of global trade but access to resources and stability of borders have often defined economics and in particular politics. The author discusses how the geography of Russia has defined recent events in the Ukraine and how China's energy trade make the South and East China Seas of critical national importance. The author discusses the remarkably beneficial geography and resources of the US and how the territory's natural defenses make it largely impossible to defend, unlike Russia and Europe. The author discusses how colonial powers divided and put up fictitious borders in Africa and the Middle East and how the ethnic divisions plague the regions today. The author gives an account of India and Pakistan and how the Himalayas provide both a boundary but also have forced the conflicts for those inside the boundaries. The author spends some time on South America but discusses how despite resource wealth the trade distance has been prohibitive.The role of geography in politics is of course of utmost importance. It is usually subordinated these days to the narratives of the time but in Prisoners of Geography the author spells out how it is geography that defines national interest and creates the conditions for conflict. It is definitely a quick read and there is far more comprehensive books out there on how geography has defined development and historic conflicts but this is a highly readable overview for interpreting today's politics.

This is a must read book. US Veterans whom have read it and either "trained" for and or "fought" in regions discussed claim it to be a "highly" militarily factual representation of the "challenges" faced in various Global "theaters" of operation not only geographically but also "politically" with very few errors.... in authors "assessments"!!!! Furthermore, "technologically" and "demographically" it points out numerous "interesting" points, such as on page number 242 were the author asserts "America is an Arctic nation without an Arctic strategy in a region that is heating up." Furthermore, the author points out on page 251 of hard copy, that in 2014 Russia conducted "military exercises" in the Arctic Region with 155,00 troops and the exercise opponents were in fact named "Missouri" and "an unnamed Asian power [Japan] which had already clashed with Russia" in the past (Sino-Russian Conflict; WWIII etc..)! (Do not recall these simple facts making it into main-stream American Media reporting-interestingly enough!) Furthermore, IAW author in the case of the former Tsarist Russian Empire-Soviet Union, its leaders purposely left "pockets" of pro-Soviet/Russian populations in place as the Empire expanded and/or contracted to utilize various "political" reasons....if it so chose!!!! Interesting point!As far as Latin America or South America, the author really hits home the fact most of the "continents" population resides along the coasts and the numerous difficulties in establishing development in the vast interior, and issues arising from this such as "deforestation" of the rain forest, as well as numerous difficulties these nations face in bringing "goods" from the interior to port, etc....! On this note, in the "conclusion" on page 260- the author states "To take an extreme and unlikely scenario: imagine a majority Hispanic Florida has seceded from the United States and allied itself with Cuba or Mexico. This would alter only the dynamics of whom controlled the Gulf, not the importance of the location!" Clearly, a very poignant point about the total and absolute "importance" of geography and too some extent "demographics" and its role in shaping national strategic policies.....not only in the US but around the Globe!The author, also has a very interesting take on "Africa" and the countless issues facing nations there and those other nations involved there for various reasons. The author makes a point of "hammering" home the massive Chinese involvement in nations in Africa and why other nations must also follow suit to some degree, not only in Africa but around the Globe as well.Finally, the author touches on points of "global" warming and the impacts it may play Globally as well as "outer-space" and numerous global national issues there as well.In a nut shell this is must read- well informed, factual work- from most all perspectives (Military, Political, Technological Etc..) for those interested in Global Politics and Current Affairs!

Who knew!!!!! Mr. Marshall makes one think. Maps ARE lines! What he writes about is SO logical!! I cannot say when I have been awed by a book! BRAVO!!!