Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans

From one of the most admired admirals of his generation--and the only admiral to serve as Supreme Allied Commander at NATO--comes a remarkable voyage through all of the world's most important bodies of water, providing the story of naval power as a driver of human history and a crucial element in our current geopolitical path.

From the time of the Greeks and the Persians clashing in the Mediterranean, sea power has determined world power. To an extent that is often underappreciated, it still does. No one understands this better than Admiral Jim Stavridis. In Sea Power, Admiral Stavridis takes us with him on a tour of the world's oceans from the admiral's chair, showing us how the geography of the oceans has shaped the destiny of nations, and how naval power has in a real sense made the world we live in today, and will shape the world we live in tomorrow.

Not least, Sea Power is marvelous naval history, giving us insights into great naval engagements from the battles of Salamis and Lepanto through to Trafalgar, the Battle of the Atlantic, and submarine conflicts of the Cold War. It also considers the likely sites of future major naval conflicts, especially the Arctic Ocean, Eastern Mediterranean, and the South China Sea. Finally, Sea Power reflects on the threats to our oceans, from piracy to pollution.

When most of us look at a globe, we focus on the shape of the seven continents. Admiral Stavridis sees the shapes of the seven seas. After reading Sea Power, you will too. Not since Alfred Thayer Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power upon History have we had such a powerful analysis of this vital subject.