Why Geography Matters: More Than Ever

The world feels like it is getting smaller with more and more major events shared by the media. This book gives me not only a broader understanding of actual physical locations, but historical and other pertinent facts as well.

I needed this for a class at school and I must say I was so impressed with this absolutely brilliant novel. Dr. Harm is an extraordinary writer; even his ramblings flow off the tongue like a Shakespearean play! Every single page brought me immense enjoyment to read, and made the class a blast to be a part of, and it helped me to enjoy school more than ever before! It contains some relevant info too!

This is a massive read and it took me a long time to get through it. Mainly because of the many other projects I had to deal with during the same time. But, and here is my point, despite the many interruptions I never gave up on the book, returning to it time and time again because it was so damn interesting.Clearly its about applying a geographic lens to the way we think about and interpret what we learn and know about the world. I found this to be an enlightening process because my background is military, in the biological sciences, and as a school educator. Frankly, I think anyone who wants to represent my country, Australia, as a diplomat should have trained as a geographer.This book promotes big system thinking and for that, I commend it.No doubt I will dig it out again in a couple of years and give it another go.

As one who's geography education suffered in his youth, but who subsequently discovered the world is a fascinating place, this book filled in some serious gaps in my education. I was in the generation that was quite mystified that there should be a war in as exotic sounding place as Viet Nam, it is sobering to discover that the powers that be--that promoted that didn't know anything about the place either. Fast forward to 2001, and our President is again willing to send our troops into a part of the world that he didn't understand, either.In the 1970s, I assumed that "the communist world" was a great red area on the map. Then I traveled there and discovered that it consisted of a lot of different countries--that actually didn't like each other, a lot more than any of them didn't like us. Indeed, "Eastern Europe" wound up being what for centuries had been known as "Central Europe", whose history (and geography) is very interesting indeed.This book, organized by part of the world, is excellent in describing not just the physical geography, but the human dimensions of each area, including history, culture, and regional conflicts--that go back generations.Our current president (in 2018) increased the troop presence in Afghanistan because of its history. He clearly has no clue about the problems that the Greeks (starting with Alexander), the British in the 19th Century, and the Russians had trying to conquer that bleak, mountainous land.I encourage all who are confused about the countries of central and southeast Asia, as well as Latin America, read this book. It is very enlightening.

Having completed high school geography 28 years ago and one year of geography and environmental science at uni 20+ years ago, I have retained a broad interest in geography and the world at large ever since. At first, I liked de Blij's style of writing and I found the book to be an engaging read. It certainly makes me want to continue to read even more more about History and Human Geography, particularly from the perspective of Muslim, African / African American and European scholars amongst others. In my opinion de Blij pushes an anti Islamic, fear China agenda and fails horribly in his chapter on Africa. It would be interesting to hear what people from the other continents have to say about the chapters on their continents, including China, Russia and Europe.To make one example from the book, de Blij writes that "Some economic geographers describe Brazil's relationship with China as a clear case of neocolonialism: in 2010 more than 80 percent of its exports to China were raw materials, while nearly all of Brazils' imports from China were manufactured goods, with a huge negative impact on Brazil's own industries. On the other hand, the growing trade in Soybeans has lifted hundreds of thousands of farmers out of poverty." What de Blij has failed to mention is that American owned companies such as South American Soy own thousands of acres of farm land in Brazil, and if the CIA World Factbook 2012 is to be trusted, then the agricultural industry only makes up 5.5% of Brazil's GDP.Brazil's unemployment rate is 21.4%. Industry makes up 27% of GDP and the services sector 67%. Brazil's agricultural sector is made up of coffee, wheat, rice, sugarcane, citrus, beef, cotton, corn and soybean. The soybean industry has been highly contested by American owned company Monsanto who tried to sue Brazilian farmers for millions of $US for "illegally" cultivating their patented product. Furthermore, according to the CIA World Factbook, whilst China is Brazil's biggest exporter at 17%, the US does not lag far behind at 10%, and the US is actually Brazil's biggest importer at 15%, with China following at 14.5%. Neo-whatever indeed....The greatest problem with the Kindle version, which led me to purchase a hard copy version, was the size of the maps and graphs. Even when enlarged, I found them impractical to read! And, Professor de Blij, what is Geography without maps after all?

I enjoyed every chapter of this book.. except for the beginning, where de Blij spends too much time trying to persuade us all that geography is important. Yes, I _know_ that: that's why I bought the book. But I'll give him lots of leeway there, because the rest of the book was so informative as well as well written and fun to read.

I read a few chapters when my som had it fir APHuman. Up to date and really interesting information.

Dr. de Blij has delivered an excellent book which makes a strong argument for the importance of geography in understanding and resolving the major challenges facing the human race. His book is less strident and perhaps more thoughtful than the current best seller, "The Accidental Superpower." But, both authors appear to be trending towards similar probable futures.

Great!

Why Geography Matters is an excellent book for everyone. It is current and historical at the same time. Politicians, teachers,journalists, travelers, and anyone who wishes to increase their knowledge of almost all topics that can affect our well being as humans are encouraged to read this book. Geography really does matter in making decisions that can affect all of us and our way of life. Did you know that Harvard, the bastion of many presidents, does not even have a geography department? After reading this book, you will simply wonder why all schools do not teach geography as a mandatory course. Harm Blij has written an easy to read and understand lesson on geography and all should be encouraged to read his latest book.

Needed for class.