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Myths of Geography

Eight Ways We Get the World Wrong
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Brief Description
Is geography really destiny? Our maps may no longer be stalked by dragons and monsters, but our perceptions of the world are still shaped by geographic myths. Myths like Europe being the centre of the world. Or that border walls are the solution to migration. Or... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2500
Elsewhere:
$2799
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An expert voice will turn your world upside down-literally-with this bold new international take on the myths created by our global maps and our borders

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Is geography really destiny?

Our maps may no longer be stalked by dragons and monsters, but our perceptions of the world are still shaped by geographic myths. Myths like Europe being the centre of the world. Or that border walls are the solution to migration. Or that Russia is predestined to threaten its neighbours.

In his punchy and authoritative new book, Paul Richardson challenges recent popular accounts of geographical determinism and shows that how the world is represented often isn't how it really is - that the map is not the territory.

Along the way we visit some remarkable places: Iceland's Thingvellir National Park, where you can swim between two continents, and Bir Tawil in North Africa, one of the world's only territories not claimed by any country. We follow the first train that ran across Eurasia between Yiwu in east China and Barking in east London, and scale the US-Mexico border wall to find out why such fortifications don't work.

Written with verve and full of quotable facts, Myths of Geography is a book that will turn your world upside down.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349136332

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 June 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Little, Brown

Illustration: B&W integrated

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 229g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Paul Richardson is Associate Professor in Human Geography at the University of Birmingham in the UK. He is an established scholar in the field of Geography and Russian Studies, and the current President of the Association for Borderland Studies. He has previously held academic positions at Hokkaido University in Japan, the Far Eastern Federal University in Russia. Beyond academic publications, he has also written for the New Statesman and The Hindu newspaper. He has also advised documentary film makers at the BBC and National Geographic TV. Myths of Geography is his first trade book.

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