Released: 22nd September 2016
Genre: Geopolitics, History, Society
Number of Pages: 281
Since 2015, journalist and geopolitical analyst Tim Marshall has broken down his field in several highly detailed books. Worth Dying For, the second in his well-received politics of place series, takes a step back for a simpler topic; flags and their corresponding nations.
We see them everywhere we look from government offices to the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup, but why are they held so highly by the masses? Across nine chapters, Marshall answers this question through a combination of historical anecdotes and many references to national spirit. He starts with the most recognisable of all, the Stars and Stripes of the United States. From specific folding instructions to military traditions, we understand why this flag means so much to the world’s biggest superpower. In turn, this is combined with a modern context, generating some comparisons with past centuries and ancient legends. Bit by bit, the exchange of historical events and the resulting piece of cloth extends to a global scale.
The most interesting aspect of Worth Dying For is how it connects colours, aesthetics and creative choices to individual nations. For example, the flags across Africa make heavy use of red, green and gold; this represents their efforts to break free from colonialism and carve out their own path in the world. In this way, the author teases out the greater meaning and why citizens are so passionate about national identity. This delivers a more personable tone that lacks the deeper elements of Prisoners of Geography, but still offers plenty of intrigue. Affiliations, designs and applications are all included with the final chapter delving into alliances and international organisations.
Recommended?
YES: It’s shorter and more compact than his other releases, but Worth Dying For is another interesting slice of history from Tim Marshall. Across every continent, it paints a simple yet effective picture of flags and how they closely tie in to the identity of nations. As a result, the book is the most straightforward in the series. You’ll finish it quickly and easily absorb the details.
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