The Power of Place by Harm de Blij

This book is an excellent overview of the world situation today in regards to regional differences, religion, cities vs. rural, haves vs. have-nots, and more. It is an excellent book for anyone who cares about the state of the world, and that ought to be everyone. I highly recommend this book.

Geographer Harm de Blij's latest book about the world order, globalization, the haves and have-nots, The Power of Places is a wonderful analysis of the world situation. De Blij begins his look at the world by defining those who have the ability to follow economic dreams and opportunities as the "mobals." The mobals are the movers and shakers, not tied to any specific place.

De Blij covers the ascendancy of English as a global language, the world religions, medical geography and its related issues in the core and periphery, hazards, the rights of women in periphery societies, agglomerations and urban growth, and breakaway provinces.

The book includes 37 two-color maps of essential components of de Blij's geography - the border between core and periphery, population distribution, world regions, world religions, tectonic plates, failed states, and more. Regular readers of de Blij will be quite familiar with most of the maps but they're a good refresher nonetheless.

While other of de Blij's books have somewhat read like a rehash of similar material to previous publications, this is a fresh look at the world with material that is pertinent and important in today's world. I can't recommend this book enough.