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  • The Power of Geography

  • Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World
  • By: Tim Marshall
  • Narrated by: Tim Marshall
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,414 ratings)
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The Power of Geography

By: Tim Marshall
Narrated by: Tim Marshall
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Summary

The Sunday Times Best Seller

Tim Marshall's global best seller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn’t changed. But the world has.

In this revelatory new book, Marshall explores 10 regions that are set to shape global politics in a new age of great-power rivalry: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and space. Find out why Europe’s next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks as trouble brews in the Sahel; why the Middle East must look beyond oil and sand to secure its future; why the eastern Mediterranean is one of the most volatile flashpoints of the 21st century; and why the Earth’s atmosphere is set to become the world’s next battleground.

Delivered with Marshall’s trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity’s past, present - and future.

As read by the author.

Includes pdf with maps.

©2021 Tim Marshall (P)2021 Elliott & Thompson Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Another outstanding guide to the modern world. Marshall is a master at explaining what you need to know and why." (Peter Frankopan)

"I can't imagine reading a better book this year." (Daily Mirror)

What listeners say about The Power of Geography

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • 28-04-21

Much enjoyed sequel

Immensely entertaining and informative book detailing how politics is shaped by geography. Following on from his previous ‘Prisoners of Geography’ this book focuses on mid-sized countries such as Australia, Iran and the UK. I found the chapter on Saudi Arabia really brings home the importance of geography (and climate), how it has shaped the country and how it will do so in the future. I enjoyed the chapter on space which really brings the story to a logical conclusion.
This time the book is narrator by the author, whose clear reading accentuates and brings it to life, which I much preferred to the narrator of the previous book.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening stuff

its enlightening, in the same way that shinning a torch into the dark corners of the kitchen cupboards reveals stuff that you've happily ignored for a while.

Its a brilliant book but sobering to realise how little I still know about geography, history, economics and demographics and the subsequent politics.

it's a great to be reminded how the forces that shape our world a anchord by factors othe than just money.



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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Unlistenable

Bought the book instead. The narrator punctuates nearly every sentence with a noisy, squelchy lip smack, a mouth gasp of air right into the microphone or just the weirdest grunts, huffs, and mouth slops. They should have had an actual professional read the book out, or at least stumped up the money to have someone edit out the awful mouth sounds.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not as good as the first one

I'm a bit disappointed as I think the author is biased towards western culture and western ideas. There were some good chapters especially on Spain and Space, but in general it lacks neutrality

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read.

This was very interesting. Learned a huge amount about history of various parts of the world, as well as geography and politics.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoughtful, thorough and fascinating

I have no idea what the reviewer who gave this 1 star means when he says that this book is too "woke".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which feels like a well-researched, slightly playful and enlightening look at modern and historical geopolitics.

Yes: the author is quick to criticise past mistakes (slavery, the repression of native peoples) but he also paints a realpolitik view that demodulated why some of these things happened and also what long term effects they still have. Is it woke to say that a regime is repressive? Or that slavery was bad? In that case I would guess we are all woke.

If you aren't scared off by these radical perspectives, I think you'll find a thoughtful - if a little disjointed - exploration of some serious and current issues. It gave me some things to think about and a desire to read more - and that feels like a success.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wished it was longer!

Perfect mix of historical fact and geopolitical analysis. My favourite Tim Marshall book so far 👍

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Poor performance ruins a good book

The content is good, although not as interesting as the prior in the series, the reading is poor. I can hear the performer's mouth a lot when speaking and it makes it an uncomfortable listen - especially with headphones.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

More of the same, but not the same quality

‘Prisoners of Geography’ was terrific. This is mediocre, just randomly chosen countries and then brief historical overviews on each. The Sahel was interesting and that’s about all, really. Disappointing.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Informative

I really enjoyed this book, felt like the second part to prisoners of geography. It explorers other nations outside the bigger powers and demonstrate how they view the world.

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2 people found this helpful