A History of the World in 47 Borders cover art

A History of the World in 47 Borders

The Stories Behind the Lines on Our Maps

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A History of the World in 47 Borders

By: Jonn Elledge
Narrated by: Jonn Elledge
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About this listen

'Fascinating' TOM HOLLAND

'A delight from start to finish' MIRANDA SAWYER
'A novel and fascinating perspective on world history' BILL BRYSON
'By turns surprising, funny, bleak, ridiculous, or all four of those at once' GIDEON DEFOE

People have been drawing lines on maps for as long as there have been maps to draw on. Sometimes rooted in physical geography, sometimes entirely arbitrary, these lines might often have looked very different if a war or treaty or the decisions of a handful of tired Europeans had gone a different way. By telling the stories of these borders, we can learn a lot about how political identities are shaped, why the world looks the way it does - and about the scale of human folly.

From the Roman attempts to define the boundaries of civilisation, to the secret British-French agreement to carve up the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, to the reason why landlocked Bolivia still maintains a navy, this is a fascinating, witty and surprising look at the history of the world told through its borders.

©2024 Jonn Elledge (P)2024 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Earth Sciences Human Geography Science Social Sciences World Imperialism Funny Witty War Ottoman Empire France

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All stars
Most relevant  
It's a breezy fascinating look at the world thru a powerful lens, works perfectly as thought provoking conversation. The quick chapters make for nice bite sized chunks to digest

Pithy and informative

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Fabulous to listen to, really interesting and thought provoking. I did have to slow the author down as he speaks very fast and my brain couldn’t keep up.

Excellent

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I laughed a lot while listening to this, and so will you if you enjoy the sight of puffed up, red-faced politicians, dictators and generals thumping the table while pointing at a map. Slightly sobering to remember how many people die as a result of the table-thumping.

Entertaining and informative book about a ridiculous subject

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Engrossed from the beginning, a great delivery by a passionate writer and delivered with a good dose of humour.

A fascinating journey across the borders of the world and time.

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a very informative and enjoyable listen breaks things down into manageable chunks. please do more!

thoroughly entertaining

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Really interesting and lots of fascinating details. Lots of history, geography & geopolitics. Definitely recommended.

Absolutely Fascinating!

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occasionally amusing, thought provoking and very enjoyable ramble through the daftness of things that we don't often think about.

thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking

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Really interesting content, well researched and written. But the huffing and puffing of the author’s reading style makes this almost unlistenable on headphones or in the car. Strongly makes the argument for hiring professional voice performers.

Great content, distracting reading

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Interesting subject delivered with a deft touch and the understated charm of John's voice. Pertinent observations that ring true with the developments since the book was complete.

A great listen

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The World in 47 Borders is a rare and remarkable journey—not just across geographical boundaries, but through the emotional terrain of identity, absurdity, resilience, and hope. What sets this book apart is the author’s extraordinary ability to navigate difficult, sometimes deeply uncomfortable realities with humour, humility, and a quiet dignity that never seeks pity, only connection.

From border crossings that feel like theatre of the absurd to encounters that reveal the best and worst of humanity, the author balances keen observation with a lightness of touch that makes even the heaviest moments feel bearable. There’s laughter where you don’t expect it, beauty in hardship, and a persistent thread of humanity running through every page.

I’m deeply grateful for the honesty and wit woven into this book. The stories don’t shy away from the pain or injustice of displacement, but neither do they strip those affected of their agency or complexity. The author manages a feat few can: to write with compassion without condescension, and to find joy without denying sorrow.

The World in 47 Borders is more than a travelogue—it’s a deeply humane portrait of what it means to belong, to move, and to survive with your sense of self—and your sense of humour—intact.

Nominal lines in the sand!

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