The Ends of the Earth: From Togo to Turkmenistan, from Iran to Cambodia, a Journey to the Frontiers of Anarchy

no finer travelogue exists. my favorite author

A must read...a very compelling story on the corruption around the world....Journalist Robert Kaplan makes a very interesting exploration into the reasons and aftermath of corruption in most third world countries

Another great travel history from Kaplan. Although Balkan Ghosts is his most popular work, The Ends of the Earth was probably much more challenging. Themes that Kaplan provides not only include the decline of the classical nation-state outside of the West but also mankind's current and future struggles with nature, be it rising malaria rates in West Africa or falling water tables in Western...more

Another great travel history from Kaplan. Although Balkan Ghosts is his most popular work, The Ends of the Earth was probably much more challenging. Themes that Kaplan provides not only include the decline of the classical nation-state outside of the West but also mankind's current and future struggles with nature, be it rising malaria rates in West Africa or falling water tables in Western China. This is a very well researched work with a good bibliography. Kaplan draws out the bifurcation of the modern world, an important theme that he revisits in other texts.   hide

Ignored and important parts of the world in all their complex glory.

This is unlike any other travel book I've read. Kaplan goes on a journey to some of the world's most turbulent countries - Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Turkmenistan - and other less turbulent ones but with pressing problems nevertheless - Iran, India, China and Turkey. His writing is engaging - all the time he looks for parallels with other countries, but he comes to few conclusions, except that the...more

This is unlike any other travel book I've read. Kaplan goes on a journey to some of the world's most turbulent countries - Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Turkmenistan - and other less turbulent ones but with pressing problems nevertheless - Iran, India, China and Turkey. His writing is engaging - all the time he looks for parallels with other countries, but he comes to few conclusions, except that the nation-state in many parts of the world is an artificial concept.   hide

Stunning book.

amazing book. he travelled to places no one would ever want to go. he combines travel journalism with thorough research, making links between countries and their developmental stages that you never imagined yourself. captivating. definitely want to read more from him!

jury is still out on this one...