The Silk Routes by Peter Frankopan

The title proclaims it's a 'New history of the world'.
After reading the book, one wonders what is new in the book.

The book is Euro-centric,  despite disclaimers.Or it is a book with a  perspective as to how the European powers shaped the region between China and the Mediterranean over the ages - the silk routes.

There's scant reference to China or the Americas, the Ottoman empire etc however. And India gets just about touched upon while   covering the rise of the East India Company in the subcontinent.

The author has however strong views on the imperial powers. Indeed he even cites the invasion of Iraq by US in 2003 as a continuation of the imperial policies as had been followed in another age. So maybe Europe and US bashing is what is probably new in the book.

He is critical of the polices of the imperial powers, firstly British and then the US, pursued relentlessly  for their self interests and which has created an area torn with strife from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean.

An interesting read however, even though it falls short of expectations.