GeekDad: ‘A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders:’ A Book Review

A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders wasn’t quite the book I expected. Most of the other books I’ve reviewed from Experiment books, have had an infographic leaning, and I’m sure the last time I was in the excellent Stanfords Map and Travel Shop, in London, I saw an infographic-style book about borders. Whatever that book was, it wasn’t this one! This one, by Jonn Elledge (a hint of nominative determinism there, perhaps?) is even better. 

What Is A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders?

It’s exactly what its title says. If you’ve ever wondered why certain areas of the world are like they are, it’s likely something to do with the way the borders were drawn up. A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders looks at borders created throughout history, modern and not-so-modern, and examines the impact it had on subsequent world history. Some implications are serious, some considerably less so. 

An inevitable question when picking up this book is “Does the book cover Israel/Palestine” and the answer is, “Yes.” Written just after the October 7th attacks, Elledge sensitively explains the years of history of the troubled region. I’m sure not everyone will be happy with his analysis, but as a primer for those with little understanding of the region’s complexities, it is an excellent place to start. 

There are plenty of other less contentious issues, such as why the US border with Canada isn’t straight. (Introducing me to the wonderful pene-exclave of Northwest Angle). There’s a great section on the partition of Berlin, a city I love, which led me to discover the existence of the European Green Belt, a tract of wilderness, naturalized because it formed the border along the Iron Curtain. 

If that wasn’t enough, you can learn about date lines, Antarctica, why it can be tricky to make online maps, and even whether there are borders in Space. 

Why Read A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders?

If you have an interest in either geography or history, this book is an excellent read. You can either read it straight through from cover to cover or, because it’s delivered in 47 bite-sized chunks, you can dip in and out, with chapters that pique your interest. This is what I have done so far, and it’s a delightful way to consume this smorgasbord of geographical history. I still have a few entries to go, and I can’t wait to devour more. 

This book highlights the importance and seriousness of map-making, looking at some of the terrible decisions made by cartographers sitting miles away from the places they are mapping. The horrors of the British in Africa or Indian Partition, for example. Yet, it also looks at map-making’s lighter side. Whether that be libraries that are in two different countries or why Morocco can enter the European Song Contest! 

All in all, A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders both informs and entertains and is well worth a look. 

If you would like to pick up a copy of A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders you can do so here, in the US, and here, in the UK. (Affiliate Links)

If you enjoyed this review, check out my other book reviews, here. 

I received a copy of this book in order to write this review.

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