There exists a wonderful tradition at my husband’s workplace that they give their employees a set of carefully selected books every December to read in the coming year. This practice is a blessing for me. As a crazy reader, this collection of books serves as a predetermined roadmap for my literary journey over the next 12 months. The book I am going to write about was also a part of the package in last year’s giveaway. Amongst the entire collection, it was the title containing the word "Geography" that captivated all my attention and attraction. I have a deep passion for the field of geography; particularly, Human Geography is the subject that I would like to study if I am given the chance to live my life once again.
Before you read this review, let me warn you that you will fall in love with this masterpiece and would go to YouTube to watch Tim Marshall's interviews and talks, and you might fall in love with him as both a scholar and writer. About this book Daily Mirror, a leading newspaper in the UK, writes, “I can’t imagine reading a better book this year,” but I would say I cannot imagine a better book my whole life. The name of the book is The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World by Tim Marshall.
Talking about the treat in hand, it has ten chapters and contains over 380 pages, which makes it convenient to carry and a perfect fit for your handbag. I mentioned this aspect because, as compared to our smartphones, carrying books can be challenging. It provides yet another excuse for people not completing a book. If you are reading this review, it means you hold a fancy for reading. Here is a suggestion: whenever you embark on a book, make it a persistent companion, an essential part of your life at home, at your institution, during travels, or while waiting in places like hospitals or NADRA offices. Carry it with you, just as you do with your smartphone. Much like how you unconsciously scroll through your phone, you'll find yourself involved in the act of reading and turning pages. This book is a treat for people who are interested in reading about global politics, contemporary history, human geography, or international conflicts.
In Marshall’s telling, states are dynamic like a living organism: they are born, they bloom, they dominate, they decline, and they fall
The Power of Geography talks about the history, geography, politics, climate, economy, problems, and privileges of Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain, and Space. In the era of the 2020s, when the Cold War and 9/11 are becoming distant phenomena and the world is entering a post-COVID version of affairs, some previously less significant geographic entities are gaining prominence. States are dynamic like a living organism: they are born, they bloom, they dominate, they decline, and they fall. The concept of the West as the only advanced and powerful region is gradually crumbling, and a number of states across various regions worldwide are resurging, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Gulf, Greece and Turkey in Southern Europe, and the Sahel and Ethiopia in Africa. According to Tim Marshall, these are the places that will mark the future of human society on Earth because these are expected to take the lead in international political affairs, either as a cause or as an effect.
The central argument of the book is that geography plays a more significant role than politicians in shaping the fate of a state. The physical features, topography, natural resources, abundance or absence of water, climate, location, and distance from the equator all contribute to forming the destiny of a state. Both people and politicians assume secondary roles. However, in the subject of history, emphasis has always been given to human beings, labelling them as heroes or saviours of their nations. But in reality, Marshall says, the choices that people make, the plans that are designed, and the steps that have been taken all hinge significantly on geography. Marshall explains in detail the ‘how and why’ of his core thesis with the map of the respective country in these ten chapters.
Upon completing The Power of Geography, you will be intellectually empowered too. You would agree with Tim Marshall's premise that humanity and its development are dependent on the natural placement of the state. Grab a copy of this book and thank me for my recommendation.