The New Silk Roads

This isn't so much a book in its own right as an updated addendum to Frankopan's The Silk Roads. Essentially a long essay or thought piece, it reviews recent developments to 2018 in the sphere of global politics and broadly argues that whereas the old Silk Road nations are moving towards collaboration and constructive partnerships, the west is fragmenting and isolating: think Brexit or Trump's America First war cries. Of course, Frankopan is more nuanced than that... Worth a read for a top-level view of what's driving the world today.

I think this is one of the most important books that I have had the pleasure in reading for a long time. Very informative - a bit like reading the Economist but on a far larger scale. The book is about the latest developments in the East. I mean in the 'stans' - Pakistan, Turkistan, Turkmenistan, etc. India too and of course China. Mr Frankopan has written a fascinating narrative of what is actually happening in this part of the world. Living in the West I rarely hear what is happening on the larger scale- news tends to be about single incidents rather than overviews but reading The New Silk Roads has been eye-opening and invaluable. I don't think I could recommend this book more highly. I shall reread it immediately so as not to miss anything. I was sent this book to review.

In his previous book 'The Silk Roads' Frankopane looked at the historical importance of the links between East and West and how society developed along these trade routes. In this follow up he looks at the changes in the world order that involve the middle and far east and their relationships to the west. The so-called 'Belt and Road' that defines China's influence and domination, the way that rich Asian nations and their people are buying western culture and reaction of the west (particularly Trump) is fascinating. This is a complex and erudite book which shows history merely repeats itself.