“All great nations spend peacetime preparing for the day war breaks out.”
If you were hooked by Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall, you’re probably the type of reader fascinated by how geography shapes global politics, borders, and human history. This thought-provoking book explores how the physical landscape has influenced the development of nations and their relationships. If you’re eager to dive into geopolitics, political geography, and the historical forces that have shaped our world, you’re in the right place. At xxx, we’re recommending the must-read books that offer insightful analyses of geography’s role in global affairs. Whether you’re looking for more books on geopolitics, historical geography, or international relations, these recommendations promise to expand on the themes in Prisoners of Geography. From books on the impact of borders to those exploring world affairs, these titles will broaden your understanding of how geography continues to shape the world around us.
The Revenge Of Geography: What The Map Tell Us About Coming Conflicts And The Battle Against Fate – Robert D. Kaplan
First stop on our list of books like Prisoners of Geography is Robert D. Kaplan’s The Revenge of Geography. In this provocative read, Kaplan explores how geography has shaped the political and economic landscapes of nations throughout history, offering a compelling argument that geographical factors continue to influence global politics today. He delves into the concept that while political ideologies, technological advancements and human agenda are crucial, the physical geography of countries – such as mountains, rivers, and access to resources – has played a dominant role in shaping the fate of civilisations.
The Revenge of Geography assesses how geographical features influence strategic decisions, economic development, and a country’s stability. Using historical examples, he highlights the enduring power of geography in determining national borders, the rise and fall of empires, and the interactions between states. By revisiting the realities of regions like Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa, Kaplan argues that modern geopolitics cannot be understood without acknowledging the timeless influence of geography.
Border: A Journey To The Edge Of Europe – Kapka Kassabova
In this extraordinary work of narrative reportage, Bulgarian-born author Kapka Kassabova chronicles her return to the country and her exploration of its borders with Turkey and Greece after emigrating twenty-five years before. There, Kassabova discovers a place that has been shaped by successive forces of history: the Soviet and Ottoman empires, as well as timeless myth and legend.
Border is a vivid and immersive travel narrative that also presents a shadow history of the Cold War, a sideways look at the migration crisis rocking Europe, and a deep, witchy descent into interior and exterior geographies, perfect for anyone who found Prisoners of Geography interesting.
Maphead: Charting The Wide, Weird World Of Geography Wonks – Ken Jennings
Ken Jennings’ Maphead is a fun and engaging exploration of the fascinating world of geography enthusiasts, or “Mapheads”. As champion of Jeopardy! and a self-confessed map lover, Jennings delves into the unique subculture of people obsessed with maps, geography trivia, and the way in which the world is moulded by geography.
Throughout the book, Jennings takes readers on a journey through the history of maps, from ancient cartography to modern-day digital mapping, highlighting quirky and obscure facts in the process. He also explores the different types of maps that keep map lovers hooked, from topographical to political, and examines how they reveal not just the physical world, but cultural, social and historical perspectives. Blending humour, awe-inspiring facts and thought-provoking insights, Maphead is a celebration of maps and the passionate people who study them, providing a deeper understanding of how geography shapes our world and our imaginations.
Why Nations Fail: The Origins Of Power, Prosperity, And Poverty – Daron Acemoglu And James A. Robinson
Why Nations Fail explores the crucial role political and economic institutions play in shaping the success or failure of nations. The authors argue that inclusive institutions – those that provide a level playing field for all individuals – are key to prosperity; whereas extractive institutions – those that concentrate power and wealth in the hands of a select few – lead to poverty and stagnation.
Through historical and contemporary examples, authors Acemoglu and Robinson demonstrate how institutions, rather than geography, culture, or individual leaders, are the primary drivers of a nation’s fate. They explore how colonial history, political decisions, and economic structures create inequalities that persist for generations. Similar to Prisoners of Geography, Why Nations Fail provides a powerful framework for understanding global inequality and offers crucial insights into the roots of political and economic disparity across the world.
Check Out The Best Books Like Why Nations Fail
Connectography: Mapping The Future Of Global Civilization – Parag Khanna
In Connectography, Parag Khanna presents a visionary exploration of how global connectivity, driven by technology, infrastructure, and economic interdependence, is shaping the future of human civilisation. Khanna argues that the traditional concept of national borders is becoming increasingly irrelevant in a hyper-connected world where cities, trade routes, and digital networks are the true drivers of power and prosperity.
Through an extensive analysis of global infrastructure projects, trade networks, and the rise of megacities, Connectography outlines how transportation, energy, and communication networks are transforming the global landscape. This book offers a forward-looking lens on geopolitics, suggesting that the future of global governance will not be determined by national borders, but rather by the connections that link people, economies, and technologies, making for a fascinating follow-up for anyone who found Prisoners of Geography interesting.
The Great Game: The Struggle For Empire In Central Asia – Peter Hopkirk
For nearly a century, the two most powerful nations on the planet – Victorian Britain and Tsarist Russia – fought a secret war in the lonely passes and deserts of Central Asia. Those engaged in this shadowy conflict called it ‘The Great Game’. When play first kicked off, the two rival empires lay nearly two thousand miles apart. By the end, some Russian outposts were as close as within twenty miles of India.
Another one of the best books like Prisoners of Geography, Peter Hopkirk’s The Great Game tells the story of this fascinating period history through the perspectives of both Russian and British officers who took part in it, shedding light on the origins of many of the geopolitical tensions that continue to influence the region to this day.
The Power Of The Sea: Tsunamis, Storm Surges, Rogue Waves, And Our Quest To Predict Disasters – Bruce Parker
The Power of the Sea by Bruce Parker outlines our struggles to understand the physics of the sea, so that we can use that knowledge to predict when the sea will unleash its fury against us. In a hugely sweeping analysis spanning much of human history, Parker, a former chief scientist of the National Ocean Service, blends stories of unpredicted natural disasters with an accessible account of scientific discovery.
The final result is one of the best books similar to Prisoners of Geography that offers a compelling scientific journey from humanity’s first attempts to predict the tide to the advanced early warning abilities based on the Global Ocean Observing System. Parker’s work is a fascinating look at the intersection of nature’s fury and mankind’s continuing quest for knowledge and safety.
Guns, Germs, And Steel: The Fates Of Human Societies – Jared Diamond
In Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond argues that geography, rather than intelligence or inherent differences between peoples, played the decisive role in determining the success or failure of societies. By examining the spread of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the rise of technology, he reveals how environmental factors influenced the emergence of powerful civilisations and the dominance of some societies over others.
Through detailed case studies of ancient cultures, Diamond presents one of the best follow-ups to Prisoners of Geography with his perspective of ‘guns, germs and steel’ – weapons, diseases and technology – in determining the course of history. Guns, Germs, and Steel provides a thought-provoking analysis of human history, challenging traditional ideas of race and culture while offering a compelling theory for the unequal distribution of wealth and power in the modern world.
Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction – Klaus Dodds
Klaus Dodds’ Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction provides a concise yet insightful overview of the field of geopolitics, presenting a clear explanation of how geographical factors influence global politics, power dynamics, and international relations. Dodds explores the historical roots of geopolitics, tracing its evolution from classical theories to modern-day applications in understanding conflicts, territorial disputes, and global alliances.
In this accessible guide, Dodds highlights the role of geography in shaping the strategies of states and the balance of global power. He examines key concepts such as borders, resources, and spatial relationships, and discusses how geopolitical thinking influences decisions in areas such as defence, trade, and diplomacy. A staple read in the world of geopolitics, Dodds’ work is one of the best books to read either alongside or after Prisoners of Geography if you found certain concepts interesting or confusing and were keen to learn more!
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
