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

A fascinating and enlightening insight into the importance of geography and how it has shaped history and will play a central role in the future. Tim Marshall is a very talented writer and explains the issues behind geopolitics in a very interesting and intriguing manner.

Would recommend to any individual looking to increase their knowledge and understanding of current geopolitical situations, and give forth to more consideration of future conflicts and agreements between nations

The topic was presented clearly and made me want to learn more. Having this knowledge is essential today. I do not recommend reading this book on a kindle as it is difficult to flip back to the maps readily. I had wished to have a world wall map or a globe and may just get one.

Really good read for a Geo political buff. If you are planning for an career in international diplomacy this book is a must read. Will help in understanding a country's posture during discussions. Particularly like the last chapter of Arctic Ocean.

The basis for diplomacy

There was a time when people could point to nations on a map and even be able to tell you what nation bordered it. Now ask someone in the U.S. if Disneyworld or the Mexican border is closer and note the reaction. This book explains why Africa has remained underdeveloped, China and India are not at war, and why Korea is important. I found the chapters though provoking – this is the type of book where the reader says, “So that is why…”. It probably would have been better with a few more maps, but overall it was a great read.

Great book that is easy to read. Author shows the world from the very high-level view and explains why specific countries and world regions behave in a certain way and explains why those countries or regions have been successful or not to this day.

An interesting look at how the borders of countries affect how those countries trade and fight with others. Divided into sections on Russia, Europe, China, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Japan/Korea, Africa, Latin America, the US, and the Arctic Circle, the author presents a history of the borders (natural borders usually good; man-made borders not so much) in the area, and why most wars come from the man-made borders. A timely book, which also has an underlying theme of how China is moving to influence both Latin America and Africa through massive investment in those areas.

Good historical and geopolitical recount and analysis of those facts that have shaped relationships between states. A very good basement for trying to understand today forces that drive our political world.

This book on geopolitics is often more “politics” than it is “geo” but when author Tim Marshall sticks to geography and its influence on political development, I enjoyed it and learned something. It when he veers away from geography that the book becomes tedious political ideology, such as the chapter on the Arctic and climate change. Fair warning: I listened to the audiobook version wherein the narrator’s inflection, oddly and unnecessarily, makes nearly every sentence sound as if it were a doomsday warning.

Started reading this one afternoon, could not put it down for two days until I finished it. Present a concise, thoughtful, and methodical understanding of why countries are what they are, and why the leaders do what they do. You will never look at global news the same again after reading this book. I always loved politics and geography, but after reading this you will be doing a lot of new wikipedia and youtube searches. One thing I greatly respect about this book is its tone, it is not derogatory to most countries discussed -okay maybe a little bit to North Korea - and doesn't demonize the USA which unfortunately has become so chic for authors to do.

If not for the strong bias against other systems of government (i.e. Islamic, Communist, Socialist) this could have been a slam dunk of an educational read. I found the author too "white" at times, and at other times too forgiving of the UK and America for their direct (negative?) influence on certain regions.

His premise is an oldie, but goodie: geography dictates (or at least influences) how people live and how civilizations develop. Or don't.

He went more current-day topical than I expected, which will date the book in a few years, but as a current-affairs buff I liked it.

Pretty interesting book. Agree better maps would be useful. However, in talking about Latin America, the author gets the languages wrong-- he says all but Brazil and French Guiana speak Spanish. What about Guyana and Suriname, and if we're talking Central America, Belize? Also a little weird that he refers to Guyana as Guiana when that's not its current name. The section was not nearly as comprehensive as it could have been, and makes me wonder if the author actually has a good Latin American background.