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Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America: Climate Change, the Rise of China, and Global Terrorism
Three Challenges Facing America: Climate Change, the Rise of China, and Global Terrorism
Preparing for climate change, averting a cold war with China, defeating terrorism: all of this requires geographic knowledge. In Why Geography Matters, Harm de Blij makes an urgent call to restore geography to America's educational curriculum. He shows how and why the United States has become the world's most geographically illiterate society of consequence - and demonstrates that this geographic illiteracy is a direct risk to America's national security.
Preparing for climate change, averting a cold war with China, defeating terrorism: all of this requires geographic knowledge. In Why Geography Matters, Harm de Blij makes an urgent call to restore geography to America's educational curriculum. He shows how and why the United States has become the world's most geographically illiterate society of consequence - and demonstrates that this geographic illiteracy is a direct risk to America's national security.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2005
41 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
H.J. de Blij
253 books23 followersHarm J. de Blij (see IJ (digraph); closest pronunciation: "duh blay") is a geographer. He is a former geography editor on ABC's Good Morning America. He is a former editor of National Geographic magazine and the author of several books, including Why Geography Matters.
Dr. de Blij is a Distinguished Professor of Geography at Michigan State University. He has held the George Landegger Chair in Georgetown University's school of Foreign Service and the John Deaver Drinko chair of geography at Marshall University and has also taught at the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Miami.
Dr. de Blij is a Distinguished Professor of Geography at Michigan State University. He has held the George Landegger Chair in Georgetown University's school of Foreign Service and the John Deaver Drinko chair of geography at Marshall University and has also taught at the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Miami.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 21, 2008
I would describe this book as the incoherent—but occasionally insightful—musings of a thoughtful scholar. Unfortunately, many, if not most, of Blij’s arguments are not made from a geographic perspective. For instance, his chapter on the European Union rambles on for page after page about the history of the EU from the European Coal and Steel Community, to the European Economic Community, to the European Community, and, finally, to the European Union. That’s not to say that’s not and interesting and important history lesson for people who are unfamiliar with EU history, but its not geographic! I was hoping for a book of theories explaining human events using reasoning built on spatial orientations or location. Why Geography Matters had some of that, but Blij could have, in my view, omitted much of the voluminous background information. Doing some would have made his book more concise and allowing his genuine insights to be featured more prominently. Perhaps, I would be more positive about this book if its last chapter hadn't been the low point. The chapter on Africa had absolutely nothing original to say (AIDS is bad, we need to do more to stop it; colonization and slavery were bad too; Africa has been plagued by bad leadership; etc.).
February 3, 2008
Review of chapter one:
In the first chapter of Why Geography Matters, Harm de Blij asserts his thesis in favor of geography education in public schools and universities. Because geography is constantly changing, de Blij outlines the importance of appreciating and understanding the science.
For many Americans, the study of geography was left behind in high school. Our cars have GPS navigation. Our computers allow us to find directions. The Internet takes us to Google Maps where we can find our house on our street in our neighborhood. This egocentric view of our place in the world prevents Americans from understanding how our tiny piece of the globe may be affected by the rest of the world. The study of geography allows us to understand how human activities, climate, and even terrorism affect the world’s landscape.
Sadly, American schools fail in geography education. Surveys show that many educated people do not know how to use a map. de Blij makes a valid point; geography is typically lumped within the social studies context and is not a required class in universities. America is at a disadvantage when compared to countries that emphasize the study of geography.
Not only is America’s lack of geographic knowledge unfortunate, de Blij points out that this ignorance may be dangerous. Without formal study of geography, how are Americans to understand the affects of global warming or how the position of countries can affect the political climate?
Most discomforting for Americans is the ignorance of some of the country’s leaders when it comes to geographic matters. While the everyday man may not have a firm understanding of the world’s layout, certainly Americans assume that the country’s leaders have a grip on geography. That is not the case.
de Blij anecdotally relates several instances where a leader’s ignorance has caused embarrassment. President Nixon’s geographic confusion was a cause for humiliation when the Prime Minister of Mauritius visited, and his country was confused with Mauritania, a country with a much different climate both in terms of weather and politics.
To create a more informed leadership, de Blij calls for reinstating geography departments in America’s universities, ensuring that geographic scholars are working in the government, especially intelligence agencies.
Several decades ago, after a Good Morning America segment pointed out the ignorance of students at the University of Miami, the country attempted to revive geography education. National Geographic provided maps for schools. But the offering has done little to improve America’s geographic literacy, according to de Blij.
Studying a map during one’s freshman year of high school seems a chore. Retention of the countries, states and capitals appears unlikely past the senior year. According to de Blij, the study of geography needs to be organic – the world changes, its people move, religious and political philosophies evolve. When the world’s future relies on a firm understanding of how the earth and its inhabitants interact and change, geographic study emerges as a course that should be an ongoing requirement – for children as well as adults.
In the first chapter of Why Geography Matters, Harm de Blij asserts his thesis in favor of geography education in public schools and universities. Because geography is constantly changing, de Blij outlines the importance of appreciating and understanding the science.
For many Americans, the study of geography was left behind in high school. Our cars have GPS navigation. Our computers allow us to find directions. The Internet takes us to Google Maps where we can find our house on our street in our neighborhood. This egocentric view of our place in the world prevents Americans from understanding how our tiny piece of the globe may be affected by the rest of the world. The study of geography allows us to understand how human activities, climate, and even terrorism affect the world’s landscape.
Sadly, American schools fail in geography education. Surveys show that many educated people do not know how to use a map. de Blij makes a valid point; geography is typically lumped within the social studies context and is not a required class in universities. America is at a disadvantage when compared to countries that emphasize the study of geography.
Not only is America’s lack of geographic knowledge unfortunate, de Blij points out that this ignorance may be dangerous. Without formal study of geography, how are Americans to understand the affects of global warming or how the position of countries can affect the political climate?
Most discomforting for Americans is the ignorance of some of the country’s leaders when it comes to geographic matters. While the everyday man may not have a firm understanding of the world’s layout, certainly Americans assume that the country’s leaders have a grip on geography. That is not the case.
de Blij anecdotally relates several instances where a leader’s ignorance has caused embarrassment. President Nixon’s geographic confusion was a cause for humiliation when the Prime Minister of Mauritius visited, and his country was confused with Mauritania, a country with a much different climate both in terms of weather and politics.
To create a more informed leadership, de Blij calls for reinstating geography departments in America’s universities, ensuring that geographic scholars are working in the government, especially intelligence agencies.
Several decades ago, after a Good Morning America segment pointed out the ignorance of students at the University of Miami, the country attempted to revive geography education. National Geographic provided maps for schools. But the offering has done little to improve America’s geographic literacy, according to de Blij.
Studying a map during one’s freshman year of high school seems a chore. Retention of the countries, states and capitals appears unlikely past the senior year. According to de Blij, the study of geography needs to be organic – the world changes, its people move, religious and political philosophies evolve. When the world’s future relies on a firm understanding of how the earth and its inhabitants interact and change, geographic study emerges as a course that should be an ongoing requirement – for children as well as adults.
April 26, 2020
This is a fascinating book so far! The first book of the book provided a (very accessible and interesting) introduction to the main themes of geography - how maps are drawn, how geographical boundaries are established, how climate changes on a long-term scale, etc. The second part of the book dives into relevant issues in the modern world, such as China, global terrorism, and climate change.
This is an older book (published in 2005), but many of the issues are still relevant today. I am really enjoying it, and it has made me more interested in learning more about geography than I think I have ever been before! (which makes Scott happy, who is a natural geography nut :)) I certainly don't agree with everything the author says, and sometimes I vehemently disagree with him, but I'm learning a lot from reading his perspectives and opinions. It has certainly shifted my perspective on how I view certain global events.
This is part of the series of "read all the books in the house I haven't read because we can't go to the library because of Covid-19" :). Scott got this book as a present from his Grandma Fran in middle school after winning the geography bee, and it was lying in our bookshelf, waiting to be read!
This is an older book (published in 2005), but many of the issues are still relevant today. I am really enjoying it, and it has made me more interested in learning more about geography than I think I have ever been before! (which makes Scott happy, who is a natural geography nut :)) I certainly don't agree with everything the author says, and sometimes I vehemently disagree with him, but I'm learning a lot from reading his perspectives and opinions. It has certainly shifted my perspective on how I view certain global events.
This is part of the series of "read all the books in the house I haven't read because we can't go to the library because of Covid-19" :). Scott got this book as a present from his Grandma Fran in middle school after winning the geography bee, and it was lying in our bookshelf, waiting to be read!
February 21, 2010
Harm J. De Blij is one of the world's foremost geographers. In the book you find out that geographers have many different roles in life. If the heads of states consulted more with geographers and their known specialties, there would be less wars, less starvation, and a better understanding of where the terrorists reside in our world of terrorism. In many cases, Harm exposes the idiocy of our own heads of states when they visited countries, not knowing the cultural and historical facts! Talk about respect!
When one reads this books, you will become wiser about deforestation, poverty, population, global natural disasters, failed states, the rise of Chinese nationalism and world power, violating boundaries, above and below the ground, climate change, strained relationships among countries, etc.
Harm explains the world we live in today, its history and its potential future. Everyone would be wiser if they read this book.
When one reads this books, you will become wiser about deforestation, poverty, population, global natural disasters, failed states, the rise of Chinese nationalism and world power, violating boundaries, above and below the ground, climate change, strained relationships among countries, etc.
Harm explains the world we live in today, its history and its potential future. Everyone would be wiser if they read this book.
August 23, 2008
saw de Blij speaking on one of the CSPAN channels a while back and decided to read his latest book. The book isn't as interesting as the talk he was giving, but it is still pretty good. He begins by recounting the decline in the teaching of geography in American schools (it was replaced by "Social Studies") and the marginalization of geography in academia as well. Then he demonstrates through examples how a poor understanding of geography has lead to multiple foreign policy blunders in the part of the US - you can guess what some of those are. The remainder of the book focuses on the geography of many looming problems, including the notable three in the subtitle, "climate change, the rise of China, and global terrorism." Not a great book, but good, and there is a lot of information in it, so you will learn something.
August 9, 2016
Excellent read. Author has an extremely persuasive thesis about the role of geography is the formation of nations and the likelihood of conflict. The majority of the wars and conflicts around the globe have usually fallen on Human-Geographic fault lines where certain geographic features meet. This is crucial due to the high predictive power of conflict based on geography. The better one understands it the easier one can see coming conflicts as well which ones to avoid.
July 5, 2007
So so good. Obviously there are flaws to some arguments, but what argument is perfect? Harm de Blij emphasizes how geographically illiterate Americans are, and proves why geography is absolutely crucial to the major challenges facing the world.
August 1, 2018
I'd give this a 3.5. I wanted to read this book when it first came out, but I didn't read it until now. It was interesting how some things changed and others stayed the same. Geography has a lot more to do than the where things are physically located and the author showed how it's all related.
December 10, 2017
Extremely Boring.
July 6, 2018
I think it’s worth reading and provides new insights through the eyes of a geographer. However, it was a bit disjointed and there seemed to be a lot of opinions rather than just scientific insights.
June 9, 2019
This is a little outdated, but a very good book about the world and how things impact the entire globe. This book was ahead of its time and is still very relevant.
July 25, 2025
Because geography touches almost everything! 🌎
February 26, 2014
This book was very informative. However, I think he could have tied in the importance of geography a bit better throughout the book.
He starts off by doing a great job, explaining why geography matters and why it's much, much more than just "mountains and rivers" on a map. As a geographer myself, I was happy to read such a thorough explanation. Geography ceased to be important in the United States, and that is reflected through our schools curricula, our general understanding of the subject and our general ignorance of the world. Harm de Blij explains very well why geography is more important than ever in today's world and why we should be paying close attention to it.
However, as he delves into other subjects (climate, terrorism, etc.), he gets carried away and forgets to tie it back into geography. Although very informative, many of the chapters could have been written by a political scientist or any other international affairs enthusiast. As a geographer, he could have done a bit more to keep pointing out how geography studies and explains all that he presented in the book. After all, geography is a holistic science.
Either way, it's a great book and it is very informative.
He starts off by doing a great job, explaining why geography matters and why it's much, much more than just "mountains and rivers" on a map. As a geographer myself, I was happy to read such a thorough explanation. Geography ceased to be important in the United States, and that is reflected through our schools curricula, our general understanding of the subject and our general ignorance of the world. Harm de Blij explains very well why geography is more important than ever in today's world and why we should be paying close attention to it.
However, as he delves into other subjects (climate, terrorism, etc.), he gets carried away and forgets to tie it back into geography. Although very informative, many of the chapters could have been written by a political scientist or any other international affairs enthusiast. As a geographer, he could have done a bit more to keep pointing out how geography studies and explains all that he presented in the book. After all, geography is a holistic science.
Either way, it's a great book and it is very informative.
October 13, 2013
Although it had some interesting points, I found this book to be lacking a single, coherent argument or theme. Naturally, the author means for the theme to be that geography is an important part of analyzing these complicated situations. However, I did not find that theme to be overly compelling.
After a long chapter arguing for more geography in the classroom and the university, de Blij gives a long historical perspective on climate change. I found this historical review to be the most interesting part of the book. As he detailed tens of thousands of years of climate change, it became clear that climate change, be it global warming or global cooling, happens and will continue to take place with or without human interference. It is therefore incumbent upon us to be adaptive. He describes the “Little Ice Age”, which was really a minor glaciation, that took place from post-1300 to the mid-nineteenth century, with the worst starting in the late 1600s. It was apparently devastating to Europe and China.
After a long chapter arguing for more geography in the classroom and the university, de Blij gives a long historical perspective on climate change. I found this historical review to be the most interesting part of the book. As he detailed tens of thousands of years of climate change, it became clear that climate change, be it global warming or global cooling, happens and will continue to take place with or without human interference. It is therefore incumbent upon us to be adaptive. He describes the “Little Ice Age”, which was really a minor glaciation, that took place from post-1300 to the mid-nineteenth century, with the worst starting in the late 1600s. It was apparently devastating to Europe and China.
January 19, 2017
Consider this book as a COSMO by Carl Sagan type of book. Harm presents geography in a way that its true importance is revealed for those who might think the otherwise. Among many points he makes in his narrative, the problem of illiteracy in the realm of geography in politics as well as many other fields become obvious in many of the examples ranging from the war in Vietnam to the Iraq war and more recent conflicts in which the lack of understanding of the geography of those places were seen and continue to be seen in the United Sates. On the other hand, where the author falls short, is in the absence of the United States geographically speaking, given his influence over the world (economic and military). Rather, he talks about more about China and Russia within a right wing stand point. Also, most of the sources he cite or the only one to support his case in regard to China's presence in Africa comes from the ECONOMIST. Overall, the global subjects he covers give us a pretty good illustration with the help of his maps of the current world that is always geographically changing.
July 8, 2012
I am enjoying this tremendously. It updates my background understanding of world affairs.
As a former elementary school teacher, I loved teaching geography, and agree that it is so fundamental to a well rounded education. Apparently, it is now seldom really taught in public schools, and therefore, many political decision makers have inadequate understandings as a basis for policy decisions.
The sections on the "three challenges" facing the current world is a great combination of political/social issues bringing in the importance of the geographic locations of various current events.
This author brings out the various components of geography understanding: physical (land locations), social, political, cultural and religious, and economic. The physical understanding includes resources, e.g. minerals etc.
As a former elementary school teacher, I loved teaching geography, and agree that it is so fundamental to a well rounded education. Apparently, it is now seldom really taught in public schools, and therefore, many political decision makers have inadequate understandings as a basis for policy decisions.
The sections on the "three challenges" facing the current world is a great combination of political/social issues bringing in the importance of the geographic locations of various current events.
This author brings out the various components of geography understanding: physical (land locations), social, political, cultural and religious, and economic. The physical understanding includes resources, e.g. minerals etc.
March 26, 2010
This introductory level book attempts to cover a wide spectrum of global issues. This is (and I believe the intent of the book succeeds) a great book for someone with minimal geographic experience in terms of politics, culture and history and spatial relations as related to the aforementioned topics. It's a quick read, a good refresher for those who may already think of these relationships, and a very important book that addresses the importance for us as a culture (North Americans in particular) to expand our geographic knowledge so that global issues and concepts are more accurately understood (and therefore responded to more appropriately) at home.
August 8, 2012
Good points about how voters need to be educated about basic geography if they are to make wise choices and understand foreign policy. i sent the author an email suggesting this could be taught through videogames where the player would learn that choosing a mountainous border has its tradeoffs. ditto for access to the sea, being landlocked, having abundant natural resources versus limited ones. good stuff that should get more attention than it does. i feel my lack of knowledge about geography all the time and it's on my to-do list to learn more. we just have to learn to teach it so it's not stuffy and boring.
September 9, 2016
This book has just gone to the top of my list tied with my favorite book, The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. There is so much excellent information in this book, that I feel all politicians and educators should read it.
Harm de Blij also makes people realize that geography and history are inextricably linked for all time.
Even if you just read the first chapter and the epilogue, I highly suggest that you pick up this book.
Harm de Blij also makes people realize that geography and history are inextricably linked for all time.
Even if you just read the first chapter and the epilogue, I highly suggest that you pick up this book.
November 10, 2013
This took a while to get started. I think pages were wasted on trying to establish the writer's credibility, which could have easily been satisfied in the colophon.
That said, Mr. de Blij posits some interesting theorems. If you're a geography buff (and especially one at novice level), you'll appreciate his patient explanations and backgrounding. Mr. de Blij doesn't hold anything back, and whether you can believe his conclusions or not, he did his work, and you can respect that.
I'd look for another one from him, if he's up for it.
That said, Mr. de Blij posits some interesting theorems. If you're a geography buff (and especially one at novice level), you'll appreciate his patient explanations and backgrounding. Mr. de Blij doesn't hold anything back, and whether you can believe his conclusions or not, he did his work, and you can respect that.
I'd look for another one from him, if he's up for it.
May 24, 2016
interesting review of the many aspects of geography and the many aspects it affects our lives.
The review of human and physical history, migration of civilizations and the powers they exerted on others and the future, to the current regional political, cultural, economic, climatic and other influences is intriguing. The author argues outcomes and influences which need to be investigated further, not just taken as fact....but bringing the arguments to the forefront of our thought is vital to our understanding of the world around us.
The review of human and physical history, migration of civilizations and the powers they exerted on others and the future, to the current regional political, cultural, economic, climatic and other influences is intriguing. The author argues outcomes and influences which need to be investigated further, not just taken as fact....but bringing the arguments to the forefront of our thought is vital to our understanding of the world around us.
August 16, 2011
As a geography teacher, I am biased, but I think this is not only a very interesting book, but also a very important one. It's often assigned to geography students, but I don't think I would have appreciated that in high school, and it may have turned me from the subject. But if geography and globalization interests you, check it out.
July 11, 2008
Fascinating tidbits that enhanced my understanding of global history, climate change and terrorism. deBlij writes with humor and an understanding of history as well as geography's relevance to current affairs.
July 20, 2008
This feels like a really important book to read right now. While the author may have some interesting ideas on occasion, the simple wake-up call this book provides is devastating.
Pick it up if you have a long flight.
Pick it up if you have a long flight.
July 29, 2011
The climate change chapters gave extremely interesting historical context to climate change and the need for humanity to be adaptive to certain changes in climate. However, the book as a whole lacked a unifying idea or argument.
July 28, 2012
Really an interesting history of our planet from the view of geography. The author explains how geography influenced so many developments as our history unfolded. He discusses recent fears of global warming and also reminds us of some serious global cooling that took place in the 1800's.
April 6, 2014
It brought up some good points and ideas, but herbed ally didn't interest me at all. I had to read for an AP Human Geography class my freshman year of high school and absolutely hated it. It was probably good if you are into that type of stuff.
March 25, 2014
An interesting look at how geography influences history. By now, this is a bit dated (bin Laden has been killed) but still relevant for many aspects of today's world. This book (or an updated version) should be read by every State Department employee and anyone stationed overseas.
Read
September 17, 2007the title speaks for itself. geography just might be the most important, most comprehensive study ever.
Read
February 13, 2016Read it. Then you'll know.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews