Customer Reviews

An English Translation and Analysis of Major General Karl Ernst Haushofer's Geopolitics of the Pacific Ocean: Studies on the Relationship Between Geography and History (Studies in Geography, 7)

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Not knowing this book's history, one would never guess that its author was a harbinger of the greatest evil ever to plague the modern world. Karl Haushofer, for those who study him and his disciples, is the man single-handedly responsible for the second World War. The text itself is actually some of the dryest material ever printed... until one realizes that it is a thinly-veiled plan for global domination.

Despite the book's age, the astute reader is struck by the author's vast knowledge of history and geopolitics. This single volume contains more knowledge on this subject than I could hope to learn in a dozzen lifetimes. All throughout the book, Haushofer is a constant advocate of Germany using his knowledge to rise from the ashes of World War I and emerge as a superpower. He would almost succeed. Why he did not try to take the reins of power and lead his country himself will forever remain a mystery to me, as he instead chose to leave the keys to an empire in the hands of a lunitic, sitting in a Munich prison cell.

Haushofer's book is still worth reading today, providing insight into the future as well as many hints to the true origins of past conflicts. The sheer amount of knowledge contained is staggering, as Haushofer displays more intelligence than I have ever seen from any author, with the possible exception of Machiavelli. Even with all I know about the author, I cannot help being awestruck by his brilliance.