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Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2015

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Book Brief

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Tim Marshall

Prisoners of Geography

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2015
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Various Geopolitics • Contemporary

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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Super Short Summary

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall explores how geographical features influence the fate and politics of nations, covering regions such as Russia's North European Plain, China's natural borders, the US's advantageous isolation, and Europe’s divided rivers and mountains. The book also examines Africa's geographical challenges, the Middle East's conflict zones, the India-Pakistan disputes, Japan and Korea's dynamics, Latin America's hurdles, and the Arctic's climate impacts. Additionally, sensitive geopolitical conflicts and ethnic tensions are discussed.

Informative

Mysterious

Challenging

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.4

104,072 ratings

83%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall offers compelling insights into geopolitics, explaining how geography shapes global events. Readers praise its accessible writing and informative content, though some critics feel it oversimplifies complex issues. Overall, Marshall's analysis is engaging, making complex geopolitics understandable to a broad audience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Prisoners of Geography?

Readers who appreciate geopolitical analysis and enjoy books like Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel or Robert D. Kaplan's The Revenge of Geography will find Prisoners of Geography intriguing. They seek to understand how geography shapes global politics and are interested in a blend of history, politics, and geography.

4.4

104,072 ratings

83%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Tim Marshall

A British foreign affairs journalist and author known for his insightful analysis on global events and the geopolitical influences shaping modern history and politics.

The Russian leader who has taken measures to strengthen Russia's borders and influence, particularly in response to European and NATO actions, drawing comparisons to historical Russian strategies.

A former US President recognized for his foreign policy approach that included promoting economic ties, challenging global powers, and addressing human rights issues.

An early Islamic leader whose legacy is central to the Shia-Sunni division, with differing beliefs regarding his position as a successor impacting Middle Eastern dynamics.

A key figure in South America's independence from colonial rule, whose legacy influences contemporary political and social movements in the region.

The founder of modern Turkey, known for his reforms that modernized the country and shifted it towards a secular, European-style governance.

An explorer famed for navigation achievements that opened the idea of a Northwest Passage, with modern implications for global shipping.

An impactful US President who expanded American influence and military presence globally, altering the nation's international perception.

An English diplomat involved in drawing the Sykes-Picot Line, which set contentious borders in the Middle East following World War I, contributing to enduring geopolitical tensions.

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Various Geopolitics • Contemporary

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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