Tim Marshall's new book Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything about the World is out and we here at the Culture Team wanted to feature it. Certainly, culture is defined by a people's norms, values, behaviors, and beliefs, but other factors like history, language, food, and geography play a large part as well.

In Marshall's new book, he examines Russia, China, the USA, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan and Korea, and Greenland and the Arctic their weather, seas, mountains, rivers, deserts, and borders to provide a context often missing from our political reportage: how the physical characteristics of these countries affect their strengths and vulnerabilities and the decisions made by their leaders. 

In ten, up-to-date maps of each region, Marshall explains in clear and engaging prose the complex geo-political strategies of these key parts of the globe. What does it mean that Russia must have a navy, but also has frozen ports six months a year? How does this affect Putin's treatment of the Ukraine? How is China's future constrained by its geography? Why will Europe never be united? Why will America never be invaded? 

To check out this very fascinating read, click here.