Prisoners Of Geography

Tim Marshall

Elliott & Thompson

2015

256 páginas

8h 32m

ISBN-13: 9781783961412

All leaders are constrained by geography. Their choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Yes, to understand world events you need to understand people, ideas and movements - but if you don't know geography, you'll never have the full picture. To understand Putin's actions, for example, it is essential to consider that, to be a world power, Russia must have a navy. And if its ports freeze for six months each year then it must have access to a warm water port - hence, the annexation of Crimea was the only option for Putin. To understand the Middle East, it is crucial to know that geography is the reason why countries have logically been shaped as they are - and this is why invented countries (e.g. Syria, Iraq, Libya) will not survive as nation states. Spread over ten chapters (covering Russia; China; the USA; Latin America; the Middle East; Africa; India and Pakistan; Europe; Japan and Korea; and Greenland and the Arctic), using maps, essays and occasionally the personal experiences of the widely travelled author, Prisoners of Geography looks at the past, present and future to offer an essential guide to one of the major determining factors in world history.

Resenhas (1)

4 (Muito bom)

Geography matters!

Whats your level of knowledge about Geography and its influence on the past / actual wars and future threats? Backing to our childhood we are taught about country capitals, biome, fauna and flora all general stuff regarding geography and that's great. However, for a better understanding about historical issues between countries and how the Geography has such importance on its development, this book provides full content and important facts of the main conflicts that we are tired to see on the news.

Loads of information are given about 10 maps and the description of them are clearly enough and most important; this last version from 2019 gives the reader an excellent update about the actual world scenario. Actually, I was looking for something that could give me an overview in the history of most famous world conflicts and reading this book I gained more than that, I've gained the opportunity to understand about the past and be aware about the actual and future threats. Firstly, how China turned their sight to Africa's resources, how they are leading this huge partnership with them and how this can be a real threat to US and European Union. Secondly, India and Pakistan eternal conflict and their impact in the whole world was what more took my attention.
In conclusion, I do recommend this book. It's actual, gives you all the facts and for me it has a neutral opinion when it goes to the political sphere.