What do you think?
Rate this book
Politics of Place #5
Przyszłość geografii. Jak polityka w kosmosie zmieni nasz świat
Satelity szpiegowskie krążące wokół Księżyca. Kosmiczne złoża metali warte więcej niż PKB większości krajów. Ludzie lądujący na Marsie w ciągu najbliższych dziesięciu lat. To nie science fiction. To astropolityka.
Ludzie eksplorują kosmos, a odwieczna rywalizacja i walka o władzę trwa niezmiennie. Wkrótce przestrzeń kosmiczna będzie miała taki sam wpływ na naszą historię jak góry, rzeki i morza na naszej planecie. To nie przypadek, że prym w tym wyścigu wiodą USA, Rosja i Chiny. Następne pięćdziesiąt lat zmieni oblicze globalnej polityki.
W swojej nowej książce autor bestsellerów o geopolityce Tim Marshall opowiada o tym, jak będą wyglądać kolejne etapy wyścigu kosmicznego, jaką rolę odegrają w nim największe mocarstwa oraz jak eksploracja kosmosu wpłynie na rozwój technologii, realia ekonomiczne i prowadzenie wojen. A przede wszystkim ukazuje, jakie szanse i niebezpieczeństwa kryje przestrzeń kosmiczna dla przyszłości ludzkości.
Ludzie eksplorują kosmos, a odwieczna rywalizacja i walka o władzę trwa niezmiennie. Wkrótce przestrzeń kosmiczna będzie miała taki sam wpływ na naszą historię jak góry, rzeki i morza na naszej planecie. To nie przypadek, że prym w tym wyścigu wiodą USA, Rosja i Chiny. Następne pięćdziesiąt lat zmieni oblicze globalnej polityki.
W swojej nowej książce autor bestsellerów o geopolityce Tim Marshall opowiada o tym, jak będą wyglądać kolejne etapy wyścigu kosmicznego, jaką rolę odegrają w nim największe mocarstwa oraz jak eksploracja kosmosu wpłynie na rozwój technologii, realia ekonomiczne i prowadzenie wojen. A przede wszystkim ukazuje, jakie szanse i niebezpieczeństwa kryje przestrzeń kosmiczna dla przyszłości ludzkości.
344 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2023
About the author
Tim Marshall
15 books2,146 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Tim Marshall was Diplomatic Editor and foreign correspondent for Sky News. After thirty years’ experience in news reporting and presenting, he left full time news journalism to concentrate on writing and analysis.
Originally from Leeds, Tim arrived at broadcasting from the road less traveled. Not a media studies or journalism graduate, in fact not a graduate at all, after a wholly unsuccessful career as a painter and decorator he worked his way through newsroom nightshifts, and unpaid stints as a researcher and runner before eventually securing himself a foothold on the first rung of the broadcasting career ladder.
After three years as IRN’s Paris correspondent and extensive work for BBC radio and TV, Tim joined Sky News. Reporting from Europe, the USA and Asia, Tim became Middle East Correspondent based in Jerusalem.
Tim also reported in the field from Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia during the Balkan wars of the 1990’s. He spent the majority of the 1999 Kosovo crisis in Belgrade, where he was one of the few western journalists who stayed on to report from one of the main targets of NATO bombing raids. Tim was in Kosovo to greet the NATO troops on the day they advanced into Pristina. In recent years he covered the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria.
He has written for many of the national newspapers including the Times, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, and the Sunday Times.
Bio photo credit © Jolly Thompson
Tim Marshall was Diplomatic Editor and foreign correspondent for Sky News. After thirty years’ experience in news reporting and presenting, he left full time news journalism to concentrate on writing and analysis.
Originally from Leeds, Tim arrived at broadcasting from the road less traveled. Not a media studies or journalism graduate, in fact not a graduate at all, after a wholly unsuccessful career as a painter and decorator he worked his way through newsroom nightshifts, and unpaid stints as a researcher and runner before eventually securing himself a foothold on the first rung of the broadcasting career ladder.
After three years as IRN’s Paris correspondent and extensive work for BBC radio and TV, Tim joined Sky News. Reporting from Europe, the USA and Asia, Tim became Middle East Correspondent based in Jerusalem.
Tim also reported in the field from Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia during the Balkan wars of the 1990’s. He spent the majority of the 1999 Kosovo crisis in Belgrade, where he was one of the few western journalists who stayed on to report from one of the main targets of NATO bombing raids. Tim was in Kosovo to greet the NATO troops on the day they advanced into Pristina. In recent years he covered the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria.
He has written for many of the national newspapers including the Times, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, and the Sunday Times.
Bio photo credit © Jolly Thompson
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
October 22, 2023
Tim Marshall, British journalist, author and broadcaster, specialising in foreign affairs and international diplomacy is back with yet another book founded on geo-politics, and this time the venue is space! This has everything from the history of space exploration all the way to the impact of science-fiction! Yet again put together in very accessible language and from neutral fact-based stance this a must-read, dare I say, for anyone interested in the future of mankind! Yeah, that's right, three exclamation marks, that were well deserved in this on paragraph.
I can honestly say that I learned something new on every single page of this book from the fact that countries like Nigeria and Djibouti have satellites, to the impact of fraud and corruption on the Russian space programme. Yes the book has a focus on USA, China and Russia but makes notable and detailed mentions of most of the space players in the world.
After I read The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World and Prisoners of Geography
I had very high hopes for this book, which have been very much met :) A superb 9 out of 12, Four Star read.
2023 read
I can honestly say that I learned something new on every single page of this book from the fact that countries like Nigeria and Djibouti have satellites, to the impact of fraud and corruption on the Russian space programme. Yes the book has a focus on USA, China and Russia but makes notable and detailed mentions of most of the space players in the world.
After I read The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World and Prisoners of Geography
I had very high hopes for this book, which have been very much met :) A superb 9 out of 12, Four Star read.
2023 read
August 25, 2023
This is a super fun, entertaining book about serious topics. You really don’t expect to be laughing when reading about near future space age, but this author is incredibly witty and it fits!
I read and enjoyed “prisoners of geography” that brought valuable insights. I wasn’t expecting this book to be about space! It was very well timed though, since India successfully landed an unmanned craft on the South Pole of the moon this week.
First we get an introduction to how man got to the moon and the importance of this in relation to the Cold War. Then there is a discussion of now. Many countries are dependent on satellites for communication and intelligence and just one well placed detonation of an atom bomb could knock most of it out. Also, the moon will harbor valuable minerals that the super powers want to get at, and it will very likely be first come, first serve. The moon could have water, that could lay the foundation of a base from which humanity could explore our solar systems. We can already see the jostling for positioning and it is likely the Chinese will be on the moon within the next decade or two.
Space, the moon, our solar system will become even more important than it already is. What happens up there will also influence what goes on on earth. Read the book, it’s fun and you will learn something along the way!
I read and enjoyed “prisoners of geography” that brought valuable insights. I wasn’t expecting this book to be about space! It was very well timed though, since India successfully landed an unmanned craft on the South Pole of the moon this week.
First we get an introduction to how man got to the moon and the importance of this in relation to the Cold War. Then there is a discussion of now. Many countries are dependent on satellites for communication and intelligence and just one well placed detonation of an atom bomb could knock most of it out. Also, the moon will harbor valuable minerals that the super powers want to get at, and it will very likely be first come, first serve. The moon could have water, that could lay the foundation of a base from which humanity could explore our solar systems. We can already see the jostling for positioning and it is likely the Chinese will be on the moon within the next decade or two.
Space, the moon, our solar system will become even more important than it already is. What happens up there will also influence what goes on on earth. Read the book, it’s fun and you will learn something along the way!
December 11, 2023
I withdrew my original review because it was not a review of the book but of a review of it in the Times Literary Supplement sometime in May 2023 by a Brandon J. Weichert, a former congressional staffer, geopolitical analyst and senior editor at 19FortyFive.com and author of 'Winning Space: How America remains a Superpower'. Mr. Weichert's review annoyed me to such an extent that my review of this book became a denunciation of his review. In other words I made an ass of myself and I am very grateful to another goodreads reviewer, Jack Saunders, who brought it to my, very embarrassed, attention.
I have now reread Tim Marshall's book, increased my rating to four stars, and happily acknowledge that it is a timely and up-to-date examination of the question of how current political relationships, rivalries and tensions between the USA, Russia and China maybe played out in space. There is nothing wrong with his analysis or knowledge of current trends, problems, issues or personalities. With thirty years journalistic experience this is to be expected, I wouldn't dream of questioning anything he says based on that experience, but I have deep reservations about this or any work that deals with potential future events or trends in current affairs, politics, or foreign relations based purely on current trends as reflected in the news. Maybe it is because I am over 60 but I have almost limitless distrust of any pronouncement about the future holds that is not based on a limitless acknowledgement of almost universally wrong predictions, warnings, analysis, etc. such as you will find in this and Mr. Marshall's books turn out to be.
In 1972 Nixon 'opened' China and throughout the 1970's we were treated to countless books about what all this meant and the future of the vast bicycle riding communist country. Not a word is relevant to what was actually happening in China or predicted what would happen.
In 1989/90 as 'Eastern Europe' and the Soviet Union imploded you can search journalistic reports and CIA analysis up to almost the last minute before the Berlin Wall ceased to be a barrier to find anyone correctly predicting what would happen never mind anyone have suggested twelve months before that these events would be happening. All that on the spot experience aided them nothing in seeing or understanding what was actually happening.
I doubt if many people remember now how it seemed inevitable in the 1990's that Japan was going to be the dominant economic power of the 21st century. Just watch the now risible 1993 Sean Connery vehicle 'Rising Sun' where a Japanese corporations 'samurai' business culture is presented as both a threat and example for us effete Westerners. Where is Japan now? Its mighty economy was sunk by overvalued real estate. I doubt anyone sees a threat or example in Japan these days.
But the real estate fault line in Japan is instructive - China's current economy is balanced on top of a vast real estate bubble - there is vast over supply of housing, very expensive housing, in vast empty sections of cities provinces all over China. For the moment it is fuelling China's economic boom but is as much a house of cards as the estate boom that bankrupted Ireland in 2009.
But what of Russia and the USA? - well I have my doubts about current projections of how sustainable their power is. The USA is a country whose essential infrastructure - roads, bridges, dams and highways and long past crisis and into dangerously near collapse - can we be so convinced that a country that can't keep its roads from crumbling is really about to dominate space? Or Russia? It is currently unable to conquer Ukraine, Putin's boasts are showing up hollow - he of course has a powerful apparatus of control to support him but losing wars is always dangerous.
Journalists are excellent for reporting the here and now, they lamentable at placing it in context, and unlike in the past, most journalists are not based for long periods of time in the places they report on. I just don't think books like this are relevant after an immensely short time frame because they have no depth or context. I have absolutely no doubt that ten years from now not one item of importance to this author in this book will be relevant. Just remember other predictive books like 'The End of History' by Francis Fukuyama - the most important thing he failed to predict was his book's future in the dustbin of history.
I have now reread Tim Marshall's book, increased my rating to four stars, and happily acknowledge that it is a timely and up-to-date examination of the question of how current political relationships, rivalries and tensions between the USA, Russia and China maybe played out in space. There is nothing wrong with his analysis or knowledge of current trends, problems, issues or personalities. With thirty years journalistic experience this is to be expected, I wouldn't dream of questioning anything he says based on that experience, but I have deep reservations about this or any work that deals with potential future events or trends in current affairs, politics, or foreign relations based purely on current trends as reflected in the news. Maybe it is because I am over 60 but I have almost limitless distrust of any pronouncement about the future holds that is not based on a limitless acknowledgement of almost universally wrong predictions, warnings, analysis, etc. such as you will find in this and Mr. Marshall's books turn out to be.
In 1972 Nixon 'opened' China and throughout the 1970's we were treated to countless books about what all this meant and the future of the vast bicycle riding communist country. Not a word is relevant to what was actually happening in China or predicted what would happen.
In 1989/90 as 'Eastern Europe' and the Soviet Union imploded you can search journalistic reports and CIA analysis up to almost the last minute before the Berlin Wall ceased to be a barrier to find anyone correctly predicting what would happen never mind anyone have suggested twelve months before that these events would be happening. All that on the spot experience aided them nothing in seeing or understanding what was actually happening.
I doubt if many people remember now how it seemed inevitable in the 1990's that Japan was going to be the dominant economic power of the 21st century. Just watch the now risible 1993 Sean Connery vehicle 'Rising Sun' where a Japanese corporations 'samurai' business culture is presented as both a threat and example for us effete Westerners. Where is Japan now? Its mighty economy was sunk by overvalued real estate. I doubt anyone sees a threat or example in Japan these days.
But the real estate fault line in Japan is instructive - China's current economy is balanced on top of a vast real estate bubble - there is vast over supply of housing, very expensive housing, in vast empty sections of cities provinces all over China. For the moment it is fuelling China's economic boom but is as much a house of cards as the estate boom that bankrupted Ireland in 2009.
But what of Russia and the USA? - well I have my doubts about current projections of how sustainable their power is. The USA is a country whose essential infrastructure - roads, bridges, dams and highways and long past crisis and into dangerously near collapse - can we be so convinced that a country that can't keep its roads from crumbling is really about to dominate space? Or Russia? It is currently unable to conquer Ukraine, Putin's boasts are showing up hollow - he of course has a powerful apparatus of control to support him but losing wars is always dangerous.
Journalists are excellent for reporting the here and now, they lamentable at placing it in context, and unlike in the past, most journalists are not based for long periods of time in the places they report on. I just don't think books like this are relevant after an immensely short time frame because they have no depth or context. I have absolutely no doubt that ten years from now not one item of importance to this author in this book will be relevant. Just remember other predictive books like 'The End of History' by Francis Fukuyama - the most important thing he failed to predict was his book's future in the dustbin of history.
July 20, 2024
"Ami távoli volt, az most közel van, ami lassú volt, az most gyors, és a lehetetlen mára megszokottá vált."
Azt hiszed, messze van a Lehel tér a Jászaitól, csak mert 40 fokban kell oda elgyalogolnod? Gondolj arra, milyen messze van a Mars! Hogy a Naprendszer határain túli világról ne is beszéljünk. Az univerzum óriási, gigantikus és ismeretlen, évszázadok óta foglalkoztatja a pionírok fantáziáját, és történelmi léptékkel nézve most jutottunk el annak a küszöbére, hogy ezzel a vonzalommal kezdjünk is valamit. Ha az élet egy békebeli szovjet scifi lenne, akkor ez úgy nézne ki, hogy az "emberiség" mint olyan, összeteszi, amije van, aztán hajrá, nekiáll betömni a fekete lyukakat. De az van, hogy az "emberiség" csak egy absztrakció, ehelyett vannak amerikaiak, kínaiak, oroszok, meg a többiek. Mindegyiküknek megvannak a maguk stratégiai gondolataik, önző nemzeti céljaik. Számukra az űr nem pusztán retek nagy felfedezésre váró terület, hanem a rivalizálás leendő helyszíne: kitermelhető ásványi anyagok és stratégiailag fontos pontok tárháza, amiért versenyezni kell. Ez a verseny egyfelől persze produktív is lehet, mert arra inspirálja a feleket, hogy újabb és újabb fejlesztésekkel rukkoljanak elő. Másfelől viszont iszonyatos kockázat, mert egy olyan jövőt vetít elénk, ahol az országoknak az űr csak egy újabb alkalom a konfrontációra, hely, ahol úgy vadásznak egymás műholdjaira, mint a nyulakra.
Marshall ismét példaszerűen szedte össze mindazt, amit az űrkutatás múltjáról és (főleg) jövőjéről sejteni lehet. Igaz, ezt a kötetét valahogy kevésbé érzem konkrétnak, mint az eddigieket, de alighanem ez a téma törvényszerű hozadéka - hisz végtére is egy olyan kontextusba helyezi át geopolitikai tudását, ami még végtelenül képlékeny, mondhatni, a tudományos-fantasztikus irodalom határain túl helyezkedik el. De pont ezért olyan bátor és fontos vállalás - csak Orbán Viktor el ne olvassa, mert rögvest elkülönít 120 milliárdot a bugaci űrkikötő felépítésére. 2030-ra magyar embert küldünk a Jupiterre! Lesz nála egy puli meg egy Wass Albert kötet!! Tárgyalni fog a klingonokkal a békéről!! Pénz nem akadály!!!!! Úgysem az övé.
Azt hiszed, messze van a Lehel tér a Jászaitól, csak mert 40 fokban kell oda elgyalogolnod? Gondolj arra, milyen messze van a Mars! Hogy a Naprendszer határain túli világról ne is beszéljünk. Az univerzum óriási, gigantikus és ismeretlen, évszázadok óta foglalkoztatja a pionírok fantáziáját, és történelmi léptékkel nézve most jutottunk el annak a küszöbére, hogy ezzel a vonzalommal kezdjünk is valamit. Ha az élet egy békebeli szovjet scifi lenne, akkor ez úgy nézne ki, hogy az "emberiség" mint olyan, összeteszi, amije van, aztán hajrá, nekiáll betömni a fekete lyukakat. De az van, hogy az "emberiség" csak egy absztrakció, ehelyett vannak amerikaiak, kínaiak, oroszok, meg a többiek. Mindegyiküknek megvannak a maguk stratégiai gondolataik, önző nemzeti céljaik. Számukra az űr nem pusztán retek nagy felfedezésre váró terület, hanem a rivalizálás leendő helyszíne: kitermelhető ásványi anyagok és stratégiailag fontos pontok tárháza, amiért versenyezni kell. Ez a verseny egyfelől persze produktív is lehet, mert arra inspirálja a feleket, hogy újabb és újabb fejlesztésekkel rukkoljanak elő. Másfelől viszont iszonyatos kockázat, mert egy olyan jövőt vetít elénk, ahol az országoknak az űr csak egy újabb alkalom a konfrontációra, hely, ahol úgy vadásznak egymás műholdjaira, mint a nyulakra.
Marshall ismét példaszerűen szedte össze mindazt, amit az űrkutatás múltjáról és (főleg) jövőjéről sejteni lehet. Igaz, ezt a kötetét valahogy kevésbé érzem konkrétnak, mint az eddigieket, de alighanem ez a téma törvényszerű hozadéka - hisz végtére is egy olyan kontextusba helyezi át geopolitikai tudását, ami még végtelenül képlékeny, mondhatni, a tudományos-fantasztikus irodalom határain túl helyezkedik el. De pont ezért olyan bátor és fontos vállalás - csak Orbán Viktor el ne olvassa, mert rögvest elkülönít 120 milliárdot a bugaci űrkikötő felépítésére. 2030-ra magyar embert küldünk a Jupiterre! Lesz nála egy puli meg egy Wass Albert kötet!! Tárgyalni fog a klingonokkal a békéről!! Pénz nem akadály!!!!! Úgysem az övé.
July 8, 2024
Odejmuję jedną gwiazdkę za suche, krindżowe żarty. Więźniowie geografii nie byli książką z humorem i nie wiem, po co humor tutaj. Poza tym całkiem ciekawa, czegoś nowego się dowiedziałam, choć sporo książek o kosmosie za mną.
June 13, 2023
This is the first book I have read in this series by Tim Marshall and what better way of doing things than by starting in the future. This is one of those books that is about a subject that you may have no opinion on at the start but by the end of the book you’ll be chomping at the bit looking for somebody to discuss what you’ve learnt and willing to join you as a pioneer to Mars.
The book is well structured, a book about the future starts off in the past, the initial space race between USSR and USA. It explains why they were in this race and how the feat was achieved by those rather brainy sciency guys, as each milestone was reached Marshall shows us where the opposition was. This section of the book felt like a proper good page turning spy novel.
We then get the heavy part of the book, the theory on how the geography of space will work, what will be the laws and will those laws apply to countries as well as private companies? How will wars play out, what weapons will be available? Will it be possible to get everybody to work together for the good of mankind? I found this far more interesting than I expected.
Next he brings us to today and shows us the big players, the USA seem to be just holding on, China has stepped up big time and Russia…well they have Putin so any chances of progressing in space are unlikely, the question is whether they will recover. The space race has evolved from being state run as the space agencies use the private sector to help push the boundaries of technology, included are a few private space companies that have big projects of their own. There is that Amazon empire that has various plans in progress, mostly seems to be about mining everything and you have Elon Musk, who has a million great ideas but seems to always be rushing to get them done. This section ends looking at what the future holds for us, cities on the moon, on Mars, in space…cities everywhere it seems, that part seems simple, it’s the getting there that is the tricky bit.
This is a fascinating read, full of science, politics, history and geography and so very easy to follow, this is the sort of book that book-clubs were built for. This is highly recommended reading and I’ll most definitely be picking up another book in this geography series soon.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2023...
The book is well structured, a book about the future starts off in the past, the initial space race between USSR and USA. It explains why they were in this race and how the feat was achieved by those rather brainy sciency guys, as each milestone was reached Marshall shows us where the opposition was. This section of the book felt like a proper good page turning spy novel.
We then get the heavy part of the book, the theory on how the geography of space will work, what will be the laws and will those laws apply to countries as well as private companies? How will wars play out, what weapons will be available? Will it be possible to get everybody to work together for the good of mankind? I found this far more interesting than I expected.
Next he brings us to today and shows us the big players, the USA seem to be just holding on, China has stepped up big time and Russia…well they have Putin so any chances of progressing in space are unlikely, the question is whether they will recover. The space race has evolved from being state run as the space agencies use the private sector to help push the boundaries of technology, included are a few private space companies that have big projects of their own. There is that Amazon empire that has various plans in progress, mostly seems to be about mining everything and you have Elon Musk, who has a million great ideas but seems to always be rushing to get them done. This section ends looking at what the future holds for us, cities on the moon, on Mars, in space…cities everywhere it seems, that part seems simple, it’s the getting there that is the tricky bit.
This is a fascinating read, full of science, politics, history and geography and so very easy to follow, this is the sort of book that book-clubs were built for. This is highly recommended reading and I’ll most definitely be picking up another book in this geography series soon.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2023...
June 21, 2023
I highly recommend anything by Marshall. He has a gift for presenting the complex in a simple and accessible way.
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
Read
July 17, 2024I'm a big fan of Marshall's books on the influence of geography on our political decisions, and here he takes on a topic dear to my heart: the exploration and colonization and, oh yes, the militarization of space. It turns out there is a lot going on in low earth orbit, not to mention on the moon, the Lagrange points, and Mars, and by some unlikely actors like Israel and the UAE and half of Africa. Everyone has at least a token space program now. The US, Russia, China, India, and ESA, take note.
They all are, of course. Of 4900 satellites orbiting above us when his book went to print, 3,000 of them are US-made and controlled, but China is coming up fast on our back trail with 500 and Russia, having led the way with Sputnik, Gagarin, Tereshkova, and the first unmanned moon landing, is now concentrating its efforts on military applications. Space lasers, anyone? Already deployed on Earth. Those Insight Helicarriers in The Winter Soldier were inspired by true events.
In 2003 the senior command of the Russian Aerospace Forces had watched keenly as the US military sliced through Iraq's half-a-million-strong army using satellites to target troops, equipment and buildings precisely. By the time the US ground forces rolled in, Iraq's army was in no shape to resist...during the Second World War, 4,500 air sorties had been required to drop 9,000 bombs to destory a railway bridge...By the time of the invasion of Iraq, a single missile guided by satellite could do the job.
The scariest chapter of this book is Chapter 9, "Space Wars," in which Marshall posits various scenarios for Cuban Missile Crisis-level incidents precipitating not quite all out war.
Each time humanity has ventured into a new domain it has brought war with it...Given that technologically advanced powers now rely so much on space, the domain is central to modern military thinking...It is therefore a tremendous advantage for China to take out US space support prior to initiating a terrestrial military action that would be opposed by the USA.
The US, Russia, and China all now have the capability of knocking out each other's satellites by occluding their electronics or by running one vehicle smack into another. We've all already done it, accidentally (maybe) and deliberately (certainly).
NASA estimates there are more than 23,000 pieces of debris in orgit around Earth that are larger tha 10 centimetres in diameter (roughly the size of a grapefruit). There are another 500,000 sized between 1 and 10 centimetres (a tennis ball is about 7 centimetres) and in total, about 100 million bigger than 1 millimetre. Most pieces of debris may be small, but they are travelling at 25,000 km/h, which would be troubling if you came into contact with one. A 1-centimetre fragment travelling at that speed can create as much energy as a small car crashing into you, or your spaceship, at 40 km/h.
"Troubling." Heh.
Leave off imagining for a moment a huge solar flare knocking out all our satellites and consider the possibility that we do it to ourselves, leaving a huge cloud of orbiting debris from destroyed satellites, space stations (oh yes, the Chinese have one of those, too), and maybe one of Gerald K. O'Neill's habitats Jeff Bezos is planning to build. That cloud would preclude us from launching more, of anything. Maybe I shouldn't have given up my landline after all.
In the face of these dire possibilities, Marshall retains his optimism and his humor. He points out what space exploration has contributed to our quality of life thus far.
Computer science, telecommunications, microtechnology and solar power technology...Modern portable water purification systems...lighter breathing masks used by firefighters...heat-resistant clothing. Laptop computers, wireless headsets, LED lights and memory-foam mattresses? All can be traced back to the science of the Space Race...
The Lagrange points are car parks in space. We'll begin construction of permanently manned habitats on the moon by the end of this decade, even if it is driven by the prospect of mining essential elements in short (or shortening) supply on Earth. The 2020 Artemis Accords attempted to establish some sort of international law for future lunar colonization and exploitation, and are flawed (China and Russia didn't sign on) but at least a start. In the end he says
All the imagined and unimagined wonders are out there, in front of us, waiting to be discovered by Homo Spaciens.
A fascinating and enlightening read, highly recommended.
They all are, of course. Of 4900 satellites orbiting above us when his book went to print, 3,000 of them are US-made and controlled, but China is coming up fast on our back trail with 500 and Russia, having led the way with Sputnik, Gagarin, Tereshkova, and the first unmanned moon landing, is now concentrating its efforts on military applications. Space lasers, anyone? Already deployed on Earth. Those Insight Helicarriers in The Winter Soldier were inspired by true events.
In 2003 the senior command of the Russian Aerospace Forces had watched keenly as the US military sliced through Iraq's half-a-million-strong army using satellites to target troops, equipment and buildings precisely. By the time the US ground forces rolled in, Iraq's army was in no shape to resist...during the Second World War, 4,500 air sorties had been required to drop 9,000 bombs to destory a railway bridge...By the time of the invasion of Iraq, a single missile guided by satellite could do the job.
The scariest chapter of this book is Chapter 9, "Space Wars," in which Marshall posits various scenarios for Cuban Missile Crisis-level incidents precipitating not quite all out war.
Each time humanity has ventured into a new domain it has brought war with it...Given that technologically advanced powers now rely so much on space, the domain is central to modern military thinking...It is therefore a tremendous advantage for China to take out US space support prior to initiating a terrestrial military action that would be opposed by the USA.
The US, Russia, and China all now have the capability of knocking out each other's satellites by occluding their electronics or by running one vehicle smack into another. We've all already done it, accidentally (maybe) and deliberately (certainly).
NASA estimates there are more than 23,000 pieces of debris in orgit around Earth that are larger tha 10 centimetres in diameter (roughly the size of a grapefruit). There are another 500,000 sized between 1 and 10 centimetres (a tennis ball is about 7 centimetres) and in total, about 100 million bigger than 1 millimetre. Most pieces of debris may be small, but they are travelling at 25,000 km/h, which would be troubling if you came into contact with one. A 1-centimetre fragment travelling at that speed can create as much energy as a small car crashing into you, or your spaceship, at 40 km/h.
"Troubling." Heh.
Leave off imagining for a moment a huge solar flare knocking out all our satellites and consider the possibility that we do it to ourselves, leaving a huge cloud of orbiting debris from destroyed satellites, space stations (oh yes, the Chinese have one of those, too), and maybe one of Gerald K. O'Neill's habitats Jeff Bezos is planning to build. That cloud would preclude us from launching more, of anything. Maybe I shouldn't have given up my landline after all.
In the face of these dire possibilities, Marshall retains his optimism and his humor. He points out what space exploration has contributed to our quality of life thus far.
Computer science, telecommunications, microtechnology and solar power technology...Modern portable water purification systems...lighter breathing masks used by firefighters...heat-resistant clothing. Laptop computers, wireless headsets, LED lights and memory-foam mattresses? All can be traced back to the science of the Space Race...
The Lagrange points are car parks in space. We'll begin construction of permanently manned habitats on the moon by the end of this decade, even if it is driven by the prospect of mining essential elements in short (or shortening) supply on Earth. The 2020 Artemis Accords attempted to establish some sort of international law for future lunar colonization and exploitation, and are flawed (China and Russia didn't sign on) but at least a start. In the end he says
All the imagined and unimagined wonders are out there, in front of us, waiting to be discovered by Homo Spaciens.
A fascinating and enlightening read, highly recommended.
May 2, 2023
I loved the first section about the history of our understanding of space. From Ancient Greece, The Abbasids to The Renaissance up to the space race it was all fascinating when all put in its context. I also quite enjoyed the China chapter and Marshals writing style is always digestible, informative and a pleasure to read.
However this very much lacks a sense of focus present in the previous two books. I know when it comes to space it’s going to be more speculative some of which was insightful but it didn’t paint a clear picture or theme in the way he managed previously and seemed a little haphazard.
I also thing this book was very much a stretched out version of the last chapter in his last book and simply wasn’t needed. Sections towards the end giving sci-fi space battle scenarios and history of space in film just came across as add ones to get up to a decent world count.
Overall I still enjoyed it and there were some things to ponder for the future of space geopolitics, but it’s undeniably a step down from previous works and I feel this series, if you will, has run its course. I’d like to see him do another book about his war journalism in a modern conflict I think that would be more productive and I’d be very interested to read it.
However this very much lacks a sense of focus present in the previous two books. I know when it comes to space it’s going to be more speculative some of which was insightful but it didn’t paint a clear picture or theme in the way he managed previously and seemed a little haphazard.
I also thing this book was very much a stretched out version of the last chapter in his last book and simply wasn’t needed. Sections towards the end giving sci-fi space battle scenarios and history of space in film just came across as add ones to get up to a decent world count.
Overall I still enjoyed it and there were some things to ponder for the future of space geopolitics, but it’s undeniably a step down from previous works and I feel this series, if you will, has run its course. I’d like to see him do another book about his war journalism in a modern conflict I think that would be more productive and I’d be very interested to read it.
November 16, 2023
This book was interesting but kept dropping bombs like “the moon has the perfect fuel source for nuclear fission reactors and could power all of Earth for 10,000 years” or “a rogue nation could launch a nuclear bomb into low orbit and take out every single satellite in operation and leave a radiation field satellites can’t function in for years to come” that just made me unnerved
For the USA being so ahead in space technology you would think we’d have politics and human rights figured out
For the USA being so ahead in space technology you would think we’d have politics and human rights figured out
June 12, 2023
An eye-opening book about space development. These few years the media has been focusing on geopolitics that there is not much attention devoted to space discovery. It's unbelievable that human made such a big progress in the last two decades.
Worth reading. Better than focus our attention on Russia and China. I bet both would no longer exist as a country by 2060 the latest.
Worth reading. Better than focus our attention on Russia and China. I bet both would no longer exist as a country by 2060 the latest.
May 10, 2023
This book should have been a chapter. When a book called “The Future of…” starts with the Big Bang, it’s never a good sign.
Otherwise easy and comprehensive writing, important themes and clear idea repeated over 250 pages.
Otherwise easy and comprehensive writing, important themes and clear idea repeated over 250 pages.
July 18, 2023
Wir wissen alle, dass die Ressourcen auf diesem Planeten endlich sind. Wenn wir unseren Lebensstandard halten wollen und auch künftigen Generationen ermöglichen möchten, müssen wir uns daher woanders nach Rohstoffen umsehen. Eine naheliegende Lösung sind dabei die anderen Himmelskörper in unserem Sonnensystem. Der nächstgelegene ist natürlich der Mond und er ist rohstoffreicher, als die meisten von uns wahrscheinlich vermuten. Der Aufbau von Rohstoffminen auf dem Mond mag für viele noch wie ferne Zukunftsmusik klingen, aber die Pläne dazu sind in vollem Gange. Und das dies nicht ohne internationalen Wettkampf um die Vorherrschaft einhergehen wird, ist vorauszusehen.
Tim Marshall beschreibt in Die Geografie der Zukunft sehr anschaulich und auch für Leser*innen mit wenig naturwissenschaftlichen Kenntnissen äußerst verständlich, welche Herausforderungen und Probleme dabei in den nächsten Jahrzehnten auf uns zukommen werden. Denn es geht nicht nur um die technischen Details, es gibt noch eine ganz andere Schwierigkeit: der Weltraum ist noch ein relativ rechtsfreier Raum. Es wurden zwar Verträge aufgesetzt. Diese wurden aber natürlich wieder nicht von allen Ländern anerkannt und sind häufig auch sehr ungenau formuliert und mit vielen Ausnahmen. Wer also einen Beruf mit Zukunft sucht, sollte Anwalt für Weltraumrecht werden.
Genau dieser Mangel an klaren Regeln, das Wettrennen um die besten Plätze und Ressourcen oder auch Platzmangel im Erdorbit sind potenzielle Konfliktherde. Gleichzeitig erlaubt es die heutige Technik schon, Krieg im Weltraum zu führen. Ein wesentlicher Aspekt dabei ist das (Zer-)Stören feindlicher Satteliten, von der Erde aus durch Raketen oder durch einen gewollten Zusammenstoß mit anderen Satteliten.
Einige der in diesem Buch dargestellten Szenarien waren mir bekannt, doch es ist auch vieles Neues dabei. Ich fand es sehr spannend zu lesen, insbesondere da es sehr aktuell ist. Es zeigt beispielsweise, welche Auswirkungen der Ukrainekrieg auf die internationale Zusammenarbeit im Weltraum hat und beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, welche Auswirkungen der Einsatz der Starlink-Satteliten von SpaceX hätte haben können.
Tim Marshall beschreibt in Die Geografie der Zukunft sehr anschaulich und auch für Leser*innen mit wenig naturwissenschaftlichen Kenntnissen äußerst verständlich, welche Herausforderungen und Probleme dabei in den nächsten Jahrzehnten auf uns zukommen werden. Denn es geht nicht nur um die technischen Details, es gibt noch eine ganz andere Schwierigkeit: der Weltraum ist noch ein relativ rechtsfreier Raum. Es wurden zwar Verträge aufgesetzt. Diese wurden aber natürlich wieder nicht von allen Ländern anerkannt und sind häufig auch sehr ungenau formuliert und mit vielen Ausnahmen. Wer also einen Beruf mit Zukunft sucht, sollte Anwalt für Weltraumrecht werden.
Genau dieser Mangel an klaren Regeln, das Wettrennen um die besten Plätze und Ressourcen oder auch Platzmangel im Erdorbit sind potenzielle Konfliktherde. Gleichzeitig erlaubt es die heutige Technik schon, Krieg im Weltraum zu führen. Ein wesentlicher Aspekt dabei ist das (Zer-)Stören feindlicher Satteliten, von der Erde aus durch Raketen oder durch einen gewollten Zusammenstoß mit anderen Satteliten.
Einige der in diesem Buch dargestellten Szenarien waren mir bekannt, doch es ist auch vieles Neues dabei. Ich fand es sehr spannend zu lesen, insbesondere da es sehr aktuell ist. Es zeigt beispielsweise, welche Auswirkungen der Ukrainekrieg auf die internationale Zusammenarbeit im Weltraum hat und beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, welche Auswirkungen der Einsatz der Starlink-Satteliten von SpaceX hätte haben können.
September 17, 2023
Space exploration is not a topic I’m particularly interested in but I’ve seen some of the authors other books and thought it might be interesting.
I think the most glaring problem is it feels quite clear that the author is not an expert in this (extremely complicated) topic. Instead, he compensates with seemingly irrelevant points and lame attempts at humor throughout. Oh well.
I think the most glaring problem is it feels quite clear that the author is not an expert in this (extremely complicated) topic. Instead, he compensates with seemingly irrelevant points and lame attempts at humor throughout. Oh well.
February 8, 2024
Great insight into the future of tech and space. Sci-fi becoming realities?🫢🤔
May 1, 2023
“To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would limit the human spirit”.
Stephen Hawking
“What we know is a drop. What we don’t know is an ocean”.
Isaac Newton
This is the latest (third) instalment in the author’s “Prisoners of Geography” series, which gives a fascinating account of how geographic realities influence the decision making of nation-states. In this instalment the author opens the question of how the drive to discover, explore space will lead to great new opportunities but also very real flashpoints between the great powers on Earth.
“It has been a long time getting from there to here” as the cheesy and divisive theme song to Star Trek Enterprise begins. The author starts the book by charting the historical course of how we humans have over generations sought to understand what is beyond our atmosphere. At first, I was a bit impatient with this chapter, having heard much of it before. But I gradually come to appreciate the point the author was trying to make and the accessible way they wrote about it. Essentially mankind has been building from one detective case from another. Using careful observation, recording those same observations and drawing conclusions from them. As time has gone on or methods have improved. Different empires learned from each other. The Romans learned from the Greeks. The Muslim Empires learned from both of them. Christian powers learned from all of them and so on. Each new discovery owed a debt to not only the curiosity, but also the bravery of those who worked hard to bring them about. Bravery was important because all too often these discoveries went against the static worlds imposed by organised religion. The boundaries of what we know have been pushed even in relatively recent years. I was amazed to find out in this book that it was only in 1992 when the existence of planets beyond our Solar System were confirmed.
The bulk of this book describes summarises the capabilities of the so-called big three space powers: US, China and Russia. All of them have some form of space-directed military capability including ground launched anti-missile weapons. To varying degrees all of them have looked into the potential for blinding, dazzling or physically disabling enemy satellites through the use of other satellites. The author has pointed out a few hair-raising times where certain powers have made their satellites close on a rivals, seemingly as a test for their capabilities and to see how their rivals would react to such a provocation.
Just as interesting was the author’s discussion of the rise of smaller powers in bringing about pretty impressive achievements in space in their own right. These range from Israel’s automated Moon landings to Japan’s numerous projects including building the next generation of Moon Rovers.
The author doesn’t take the question from the simple binary question of whether we should of shouldn’t be invested in Space. His convincing argument is that we already are, so we need to think very carefully about how we manage the relationship between the powers to minimise escalation. After all, the dizzying amount of satellites in orbit alone show that we are already heavily invested in Space. So the imperative is on us to keep the peace likely through new types of arms agreements, and making sure that as few players as possible feel cheated out of any settlement out of the spoils of Space.
Overall, I found this a fascinating, informative, entertaining and thoughtful book. The author has a certain style of writing that can sometimes come off as cheesy, but I appreciate as making for lighter and more accessible reading some pretty heavy subject matter. Any author who even lightly tries to make concepts such as quantum entanglement more accessible is a braver writer than I. I also appreciate that he tries to emphasise the importance and uniqueness of some of the figures that have pushed us along on our journey to the stars. For instance, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of Russian rocketry, conceived of the invention of rockets and space elevators even before the Wright Brothers successfully tested their first airplane.
I think the author could have made more of a point about the benefits for humanity of investing in space, from getting Rare Earth minerals to putting polluting industry out of reach out of the atmosphere. But then one can argue that he strongly made the flipside point that the Space genie cannot be put back into the bottle. That means that staying out of this game can lead to rival powers making life difficult for us. But perhaps one of the last points the author makes is also their most powerful. Mankind has a natural curiosity, and it has got us to some wonderous places before. And now there is so much potentially open for us to wonder at.
Stephen Hawking
“What we know is a drop. What we don’t know is an ocean”.
Isaac Newton
This is the latest (third) instalment in the author’s “Prisoners of Geography” series, which gives a fascinating account of how geographic realities influence the decision making of nation-states. In this instalment the author opens the question of how the drive to discover, explore space will lead to great new opportunities but also very real flashpoints between the great powers on Earth.
“It has been a long time getting from there to here” as the cheesy and divisive theme song to Star Trek Enterprise begins. The author starts the book by charting the historical course of how we humans have over generations sought to understand what is beyond our atmosphere. At first, I was a bit impatient with this chapter, having heard much of it before. But I gradually come to appreciate the point the author was trying to make and the accessible way they wrote about it. Essentially mankind has been building from one detective case from another. Using careful observation, recording those same observations and drawing conclusions from them. As time has gone on or methods have improved. Different empires learned from each other. The Romans learned from the Greeks. The Muslim Empires learned from both of them. Christian powers learned from all of them and so on. Each new discovery owed a debt to not only the curiosity, but also the bravery of those who worked hard to bring them about. Bravery was important because all too often these discoveries went against the static worlds imposed by organised religion. The boundaries of what we know have been pushed even in relatively recent years. I was amazed to find out in this book that it was only in 1992 when the existence of planets beyond our Solar System were confirmed.
The bulk of this book describes summarises the capabilities of the so-called big three space powers: US, China and Russia. All of them have some form of space-directed military capability including ground launched anti-missile weapons. To varying degrees all of them have looked into the potential for blinding, dazzling or physically disabling enemy satellites through the use of other satellites. The author has pointed out a few hair-raising times where certain powers have made their satellites close on a rivals, seemingly as a test for their capabilities and to see how their rivals would react to such a provocation.
Just as interesting was the author’s discussion of the rise of smaller powers in bringing about pretty impressive achievements in space in their own right. These range from Israel’s automated Moon landings to Japan’s numerous projects including building the next generation of Moon Rovers.
The author doesn’t take the question from the simple binary question of whether we should of shouldn’t be invested in Space. His convincing argument is that we already are, so we need to think very carefully about how we manage the relationship between the powers to minimise escalation. After all, the dizzying amount of satellites in orbit alone show that we are already heavily invested in Space. So the imperative is on us to keep the peace likely through new types of arms agreements, and making sure that as few players as possible feel cheated out of any settlement out of the spoils of Space.
Overall, I found this a fascinating, informative, entertaining and thoughtful book. The author has a certain style of writing that can sometimes come off as cheesy, but I appreciate as making for lighter and more accessible reading some pretty heavy subject matter. Any author who even lightly tries to make concepts such as quantum entanglement more accessible is a braver writer than I. I also appreciate that he tries to emphasise the importance and uniqueness of some of the figures that have pushed us along on our journey to the stars. For instance, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of Russian rocketry, conceived of the invention of rockets and space elevators even before the Wright Brothers successfully tested their first airplane.
I think the author could have made more of a point about the benefits for humanity of investing in space, from getting Rare Earth minerals to putting polluting industry out of reach out of the atmosphere. But then one can argue that he strongly made the flipside point that the Space genie cannot be put back into the bottle. That means that staying out of this game can lead to rival powers making life difficult for us. But perhaps one of the last points the author makes is also their most powerful. Mankind has a natural curiosity, and it has got us to some wonderous places before. And now there is so much potentially open for us to wonder at.
April 27, 2023
Space: the final frontier. These are the pages of The Future of Geography, by Tim Marshall. Its 320-page mission: to explore not only our world but the strange new worlds that we, as a species attempt to seek out and exploit. To seek out new life and new civilizations (if any exist). To boldly go where no book has gone before!
In The Future of Geography, the latest and fascinating book by foreign affairs expert and author, Tim Marshall sets the scene for mankind’s futuristic ventures into geopolitical space ventures and our exploitation of not just the world around, us but also the final frontier, space.
The Space Age has existed throughout the majority of our recent history, being a predominant factor in our world since the 1950s, but Marshall takes us back to its earliest roots in the early twentieth century and its development through the Nazi missile program during World War Two under such auspices of Werner Von Braun, who became instrumental in the development of NASAs own space program, which ultimately led to the landing on the moon in 1969.
The Future of Geography, however, doesn’t just explore the future of space exploration but explores our earliest expeditions and the growing competition between the USA and USSR who based their own expeditions on the pioneering engineer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, whose equations helped the USSR dominate space throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
However, author Tim Marshall, does not stop there, and highlighting the now three dominant nations in a modern ‘Space Race’ (China, Russia and the USA) we explore the modern pioneers of not just these nations, but also the growing private enterprises of space exploration led by Richard Branson and Elon Musk and the developing countries eager to take their place in this new frontier. What we see in The Future of Geography is that our world geography is certainly expanding beyond the realms of our tiny planet.
The Future of Geography breathes a fresh and invigorating life into a subject that remains constant in the eye of many people, and Tim Marshall certainly provides an easily accessible and entertaining narrative that not only gives the reader a glimpse into this sphere which has dominated over the past half-century but also a glimpse into humanity’s place in the Final Frontier.
In The Future of Geography, the latest and fascinating book by foreign affairs expert and author, Tim Marshall sets the scene for mankind’s futuristic ventures into geopolitical space ventures and our exploitation of not just the world around, us but also the final frontier, space.
The Space Age has existed throughout the majority of our recent history, being a predominant factor in our world since the 1950s, but Marshall takes us back to its earliest roots in the early twentieth century and its development through the Nazi missile program during World War Two under such auspices of Werner Von Braun, who became instrumental in the development of NASAs own space program, which ultimately led to the landing on the moon in 1969.
The Future of Geography, however, doesn’t just explore the future of space exploration but explores our earliest expeditions and the growing competition between the USA and USSR who based their own expeditions on the pioneering engineer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, whose equations helped the USSR dominate space throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
However, author Tim Marshall, does not stop there, and highlighting the now three dominant nations in a modern ‘Space Race’ (China, Russia and the USA) we explore the modern pioneers of not just these nations, but also the growing private enterprises of space exploration led by Richard Branson and Elon Musk and the developing countries eager to take their place in this new frontier. What we see in The Future of Geography is that our world geography is certainly expanding beyond the realms of our tiny planet.
The Future of Geography breathes a fresh and invigorating life into a subject that remains constant in the eye of many people, and Tim Marshall certainly provides an easily accessible and entertaining narrative that not only gives the reader a glimpse into this sphere which has dominated over the past half-century but also a glimpse into humanity’s place in the Final Frontier.
December 19, 2023
I enjoyed this book because it offered an interesting perspective on the future potentials of space, but at times felt more like a history of space exploration than one of Marshall’s usual geopolitics books.
Compared to previous works like Prisoners/Power of Geography, I have to say I was slightly disappointed by this book. Perhaps that is because this is very speculative stuff, but this is still overall an interesting read which offers much food for thought.
Compared to previous works like Prisoners/Power of Geography, I have to say I was slightly disappointed by this book. Perhaps that is because this is very speculative stuff, but this is still overall an interesting read which offers much food for thought.
July 5, 2023
The dullest book I have ever read
November 7, 2023
An interesting and informative look at the race to claim the future y way of geography. Tim Marshall does a great job of charting the course of history in space by the human race. He takes us through to the present and the countries jockeying upfront in the race to put a stake in the ground in space, while grappling with the challenges of sustaining life there. He speculates and imagines future challenges grounded in science, politics, and the human propensity to dominant. This is a well written and easily digestible book about the future of geography in space. I leaned a lot and it’ll be interesting to see how the next five to ten years unfold. I definitely recommend this book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 29, 2024
Wasn’t in the mood for this when I started. I was a bit wary of this, since his chapters on space in his previous book were kinda boring. I didn’t want an extension of that.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked how it built up from the history of astronomy to make it clear that fighting over the heavens was inevitable.
The discussions on space law were engaging, since his use of examples made them a lot less opaque. Probably the clearest picture of what the current human landscape and capabilities in space look like.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked how it built up from the history of astronomy to make it clear that fighting over the heavens was inevitable.
The discussions on space law were engaging, since his use of examples made them a lot less opaque. Probably the clearest picture of what the current human landscape and capabilities in space look like.
January 27, 2024
This is the third book of 'Geography' series written by Tim Marshall and kudos to his vision.In this book,he ventures out of this planet into space;more specifically to Artificial Satellites,Moon,Mars and ISS.Though,the book is more about cooperation in space,space wars and astropolitics(geopolitics played in space by USA and allies with China/Russia and allies);the author also writes about new space technologies,colonisation of Mars etc.Forget Star trek and Star wars,read this book if you are interested in astropolitics.
February 15, 2024
The weakest of the three, probably because it’s necessarily a bit more vague. As it gets speculative it gets really fascinating though.
February 15, 2024
Satisfyingly educated on the history of human space endeavours, militarisation of satellites, moon bases and astro-politics.
I love Tim Marshall.
I love Tim Marshall.
June 27, 2023
Space may be the final frontier but it's made in the Holywood basement - 1998 Californication
Fast forward to 2023, Tim Marshall who used to be my favorite GeoPolitic writer wrote his latest book. Described the history of human space oddisey human in the past 100 years, I supposed to know what I expect.
A Meh. Most of the old articles you can find on wikipedia, and latest update you will hear from Elon Musk's twit.
A Cliche. He also emphasize the space law to govern the balance of power between USA, Russia and China. Well, those key players are law-abiding citizen in earth, what to expect on zero gravity terra incognita.
Save your time, read some other books from Tim.
Fast forward to 2023, Tim Marshall who used to be my favorite GeoPolitic writer wrote his latest book. Described the history of human space oddisey human in the past 100 years, I supposed to know what I expect.
A Meh. Most of the old articles you can find on wikipedia, and latest update you will hear from Elon Musk's twit.
A Cliche. He also emphasize the space law to govern the balance of power between USA, Russia and China. Well, those key players are law-abiding citizen in earth, what to expect on zero gravity terra incognita.
Save your time, read some other books from Tim.
June 30, 2023
I really liked the space chapter of Prisoners of Geography, and this is just that expanded. Starts with 50 pages of the history of astronomy and space travel, which is interesting, but a weird start for a book about the "future of geography". There's a fair bit of interesting stuff in the book, but a lot of repetition about usa vs china vs russia (understandably), and the same few points about whichever gets to space first could control that vantage point and stop others. The writing style keeps it moving though, so I still enjoyed it, I just wish there'd been a bit more to it
August 10, 2023
Clutching at straws
October 12, 2023
After analysing many topics including geographical regions, the nationalism of flags and potential conflicts on terra firma, Tim Marshall extends his predictions beyond Earth with The Future of Geography. It’s another intriguing slice of geopolitics placed against the backdrop of science.
Much like his other books, the author begins with a history lesson that includes all the big names. Aristotle, Galileo, Hawking, Gargarin and Armstrong among others. In a simple yet effective manner, we see the long road travelled to reaching the stars. The three big players: America, Russia and China, have major stakes in this journey with many key events often tied in with the Cold War and other international rivalries. This release is especially good at drawing out their major strengths and weaknesses before moving on to smaller-scale efforts from India and the European Space Agency. The paperback version adds an additional section on various science fiction tales told over many centuries; this emphasises how the space beyond our planet has always captivated our species.
In turn, this historical context leads into the immense potential that lies ahead. Countries and corporations are very interested in space and they have a lot to gain from exploiting this new frontier. Precious resources on the moon, beaming energy from the sun down to Earth, future missions to Mars. All of these new ventures are layered along a timeline with plenty of well-layered references to real-world plans. This section of the book is filled with excitement, but the optimism is balanced out by the onset of a new arms race.
On the other hand, we have future conflicts and geopolitical tensions. Marshall has always been highly adept in this field and he runs through some hypothetical scenarios between the big three. Based on the previous and current history, some of them do feel quite plausible. A narrow fly-past of a western moon-base and a Chinese satellite that sabotages others in its radius. Our push to explore the cosmos will likely bring both new advancements and greater anxiety among the masses.
Recommended?
YES: It is more speculative than previous efforts, but The Future of Geography still delivers a fascinating and well-paced look at our future endeavours. From the old space race to the new, the many uses of celestial travel are laid out across simple yet effective chapters. Mining resources, in-orbit warfare and grand expeditions are all addressed. If nothing else, the book conveys the same sense of wonder that has driven mankind for centuries.
Much like his other books, the author begins with a history lesson that includes all the big names. Aristotle, Galileo, Hawking, Gargarin and Armstrong among others. In a simple yet effective manner, we see the long road travelled to reaching the stars. The three big players: America, Russia and China, have major stakes in this journey with many key events often tied in with the Cold War and other international rivalries. This release is especially good at drawing out their major strengths and weaknesses before moving on to smaller-scale efforts from India and the European Space Agency. The paperback version adds an additional section on various science fiction tales told over many centuries; this emphasises how the space beyond our planet has always captivated our species.
In turn, this historical context leads into the immense potential that lies ahead. Countries and corporations are very interested in space and they have a lot to gain from exploiting this new frontier. Precious resources on the moon, beaming energy from the sun down to Earth, future missions to Mars. All of these new ventures are layered along a timeline with plenty of well-layered references to real-world plans. This section of the book is filled with excitement, but the optimism is balanced out by the onset of a new arms race.
On the other hand, we have future conflicts and geopolitical tensions. Marshall has always been highly adept in this field and he runs through some hypothetical scenarios between the big three. Based on the previous and current history, some of them do feel quite plausible. A narrow fly-past of a western moon-base and a Chinese satellite that sabotages others in its radius. Our push to explore the cosmos will likely bring both new advancements and greater anxiety among the masses.
Recommended?
YES: It is more speculative than previous efforts, but The Future of Geography still delivers a fascinating and well-paced look at our future endeavours. From the old space race to the new, the many uses of celestial travel are laid out across simple yet effective chapters. Mining resources, in-orbit warfare and grand expeditions are all addressed. If nothing else, the book conveys the same sense of wonder that has driven mankind for centuries.
January 16, 2024
If you gave Tim Marshall the task of writing an interesting yet entertaining book about the single most boring subject in the history of the world … he would not only succeed but it would probably also be the best book you’ve ever read.
Personally, I’m not really into the topic of space aside from things Star Wars related, but this book has completely changed that. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read with an abundance of sci-fi references and humour (I genuinely laughed out loud at points) whilst being extremely informative in an easily digestible way. I learnt so much about several topics, for example the technical history of the Cold War, the reliance of the future of medicine on space, the alliances between countries that basically control an extension of their own geopolitical hard/soft power, the list goes on.
Whilst the bulk of focus was on the ‘big three’ space powers (the US, Russia, and China) the fact Marshall included the history and future prospects relating to technological space capabilities of many smaller nations was insightful.
My main takeaway from this book was that in order to maximise the full potential of what space has to offer, governments and global corporations alike need to combine research and resources to put collective technology and capabilities to good use. This issue is perfectly summarised in the quote ‘Each time humanity has ventured into a new domain it has brought war with it (…) Space is no different and the potential battlefield is beginning to take shape’. Every country wants to ‘be the best’, whether that’s in a space race or if it’s to have the most extensive satellite GPS coverage on the planet. Instead of trying to beat each other, wouldn’t it make more sense for more countries to put their resources together since they’re all working toward for the same cause? Although, that would require leaving all geopolitical tension on Earth and I think we have more chance of relocating to Jupiter than doing that.
On another note, the more cynical, climate change oriented side of me would say it is more important to focus on mitigation and adaptation of current issues on our planet than to enter unchartered territory looking for a new habitat to exploit and effectively ruin. Despite this view, The Future of Geography was a compelling and informative read which I highly recommend.
Personally, I’m not really into the topic of space aside from things Star Wars related, but this book has completely changed that. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read with an abundance of sci-fi references and humour (I genuinely laughed out loud at points) whilst being extremely informative in an easily digestible way. I learnt so much about several topics, for example the technical history of the Cold War, the reliance of the future of medicine on space, the alliances between countries that basically control an extension of their own geopolitical hard/soft power, the list goes on.
Whilst the bulk of focus was on the ‘big three’ space powers (the US, Russia, and China) the fact Marshall included the history and future prospects relating to technological space capabilities of many smaller nations was insightful.
My main takeaway from this book was that in order to maximise the full potential of what space has to offer, governments and global corporations alike need to combine research and resources to put collective technology and capabilities to good use. This issue is perfectly summarised in the quote ‘Each time humanity has ventured into a new domain it has brought war with it (…) Space is no different and the potential battlefield is beginning to take shape’. Every country wants to ‘be the best’, whether that’s in a space race or if it’s to have the most extensive satellite GPS coverage on the planet. Instead of trying to beat each other, wouldn’t it make more sense for more countries to put their resources together since they’re all working toward for the same cause? Although, that would require leaving all geopolitical tension on Earth and I think we have more chance of relocating to Jupiter than doing that.
On another note, the more cynical, climate change oriented side of me would say it is more important to focus on mitigation and adaptation of current issues on our planet than to enter unchartered territory looking for a new habitat to exploit and effectively ruin. Despite this view, The Future of Geography was a compelling and informative read which I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews