Pros and cons of Myths of Geography

3.5 stars. My initial thoughts on this book felt decidedly negative as the text seemed an attack on Britain from a hater of the UK, which got my hackles up. It felt like a far left, liberal university lecture against Brexit, the Tories (especially Boris Johnson), self-governance and any desire to curb migration. Fully in support of any country wanting to be out from under the yoke of British, Russian or Chinese control but failing to see that logic also applies to the UK regarding the EU? No longer wanting to be a fully paid up member of the EU club does not mean turning our back on Europe or not cooperating. It seemed short sighted and, well, rude.

I was able to relax into the book when I saw the author seemed to attack everyone from American Trumpism, Russia and China. If I were of these places I would feel equally aggrieved, though the bashing of the UK felt especially personal. Slavery, is a good example. From this text you might believe the UK was the only country in human history to garner wealth trafficking slaves. The Arabs and Vikings, to name a few, got off scot-free.

Needless to say, Myths of Geography got off to a bumpy start for me but I did grow to appreciate it more as the focus shifted to Russia, China and Africa. It's easy to paint Russia and China as enemies, and they may well be, but it is far more difficult to understand them. I found the insight here thought provoking and fascinating. I love Africa and have seen first hand China's meddling in her countries from the building of roads, airports and infrastructure so China can extract minerals, etc, to the great debt it burdens African countries with. It is worrying but not unlike what all colonisers did hundreds of years ago. But now it feels worse because we are so aware of these activities and can see the damage it does to indigenous peoples, their lands and seas, and the wider world.