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

 This book is ambitious in intent and expansive in scope. It endeavors to explain how geography has shaped the development of the major regions of the world. There are ten chapters, with three focused on specific countries—the United States, China, and Russia—and seven addressing broader groupings like Africa, Western Europe, and the Middle East. Marshall contends that the unique geographies of each of these areas have had a major determinative effect on their governance and economies. He concentrates in particular on proximity to oceans, navigable rivers, arable land, access to deep water ports, location of mountain ranges and deserts, distance from trading partners, and vulnerability to invasion. The United States has been uniquely blessed with abundant natural resources, a temperate climate, long and accessible rivers, plentiful croplands, many large harbors, and oceans on its western and eastern borders that have facilitated global trading and served as barriers in times of war.

Our group had decidedly mixed opinions of the book. Several thought the author was too concerned with applying his own template of what determines success or failure to all regions when, in fact, there are myriad other factors, like tribalism and borders, that come into play. Some were critical of the author’s attempt to comprehensively explain global dynamics in under 300 pages. That volumes could be written about each region and still not plumb the depths of how the world as we know it came to be. On the other hand, others appreciated the survey nature of the book in that it covered virtually every major area of the world in a readable format and made some valuable points in getting at the roots of why some countries thrive while others struggle. Most of us would have liked some discussion of the influence of modern technology. For instance, cyber warfare and advanced missile technology may endanger all nations, regardless of their isolation or distance from other nations. We also would have appreciated more discussion about the impact of religion and climate change.

Charles Glovsky 

November 30, 2020