good book, insights into EU, China, why it is so super power as view by others, how their manufacturing power is influencing the world economy. the former Soviet republics. the various stans of central asia. the end of monroe doctrine and the changing focus of latin america. the railroad and tibet. china and its satellites in asia. the author is from central asia but educated in england and US. he has a very different view of the world than what i thought the world was. such an eye opener