Part of my Reading pipeline.
Details
- Author: Peter Zeihan
- My rating: ★★★★
- ISBN: 9781455583669
Pre-review
I picked up this book after listening to an excellent podcast from Hidden Forces talking to the author, Peter Zeihan, about the implications of a future where America steps back from its role as in international leader of the world order.
Peter has recently published a new book called ‘Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World’ but before I read this I would like to familiarise myself with the conditions that led to America becoming a dominant force by reading this book and it’s sequel, The Absent Superpower.
First impressions
A fantastic first four chapters have illuminated my understanding of the perfect storm of conditions that allowed America to succeed as a dominant world power. Naturally-effective borders seperating America from Canada and Mexico, a perfectly-suited location for deepwater (ocean) navigation, the world’s longest navigable river (Mississippi) providing efficient transport, barrier islands allowing enormous port construction potential and the world’s largest piece of arable land (the Midwest) all combined to enable the rise a global superpower.
I have now got my eye on a re-read of ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’ to further cement my geopolitical knowledge. Highly recommend thus far.