The Loom of Time

Between Empire and Anarchy, from the Mediterranean to China

By: Robert D. Kaplan

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

A stunning exploration of the Greater Middle East, where lasting stability has often seemed just out of reach but may hold the key to the shifting world order of the twenty-first century

“Engaging . . . Even those who resist Kaplan’s tragic sensibility have much to learn from his look at the emerging Middle East and its recent history.”—National Review

The Greater Middle East, which Robert D. Kaplan defines as the vast region between the Mediterranean and China, encompassing much of the Arab world, parts of northern Africa, and Asia, existed for millennia as the crossroads of empire: Macedonian, Roman, Persian, Mongol, Ottoman, British, Soviet, American. But with the dissolution of empires in the twentieth century, postcolonial states have endeavored to maintain stability in the face of power struggles between factions, leadership vacuums, and the arbitrary borders drawn by exiting imperial rulers with little regard for geography or political groups on the ground. In the Loom of Time, Kaplan explores this broad, fraught space through reporting and travel writing to reveal deeper truths about the impacts of history on the present and how the requirements of stability over anarchy are often in conflict with the ideals of democratic governance.

In The Loom of Time, Kaplan makes the case for realism as an approach to the Greater Middle East. Just as Western attempts at democracy promotion across the Middle East have failed, a new form of economic imperialism is emerging today as China's ambitions fall squarely within the region as the key link between Europe and East Asia. As in the past, the Greater Middle East will be a register of future great power struggles across the globe. And like in the past, thousands of years of imperial rule will continue to cast a long shadow on politics as it is practiced today.

To piece together the history of this remarkable place and what it suggests for the future, Kaplan weaves together classic texts, immersive travel writing, and a great variety of voices from every country that all compel the reader to look closely at the realities on the ground and to prioritize these facts over ideals on paper. The Loom of Time is a challenging, clear-eyed book that promises to reframe our vision of the global twenty-first century.

©2023 Robert D. Kaplan (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A lively and provocative new study explores the powerful forces influencing the region in a disorderly, multipolar world.” —Financial Times

“The Loom of Time is Robert D. Kaplan’s latest, characteristically magisterial book, and . . . holds the key to his enduring importance.” —UnHerd

“Continuing Robert D. Kaplan’s work as the premier American scholar of geopolitics, The Loom of Time is a book that everyone who wants to understand the real forces that decide war and peace should read.” —John Gray, author of The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism

the loom of time

I read with great interest and concluded that Kaplan was not only a reasonable observer, but he was also good at putting the pieces together. I can see his biases and his limitations. I respect those based on who he is and how he was raised. It is a book I strongly recommend. I learned a great deal from several chapters I read twice and probably go back to read again in the future. These days, we often hear that the map of the Middle East will be redrawn; I am sure whoever is on the drawing table all of them have read this book several times.

Phenomenal Book

A poweehouse summary of Mr Kaplans’ intensive study of this complex region. A fantastic read

Outstanding

The books I love best are those which challenge and change my perspectives and hard-held beliefs. Wow, this book did that and more. Kaplan's wtiting, as usual, is beautiful.

Understandable without requiring prior knowledge

The narration could be a bit dry at parts, but I still found the substance of the material to be engaging regardless.

Changed view of that part of the world!

Lots of good details from a person experience. Wish it covered Israel and Tunis as well,

detailed primer on the greater 'Middle East'

First time author for me. To me the greater Middle East has been a lot of unknowns, troublesome, seem to hate Americans, live a different way of life, lots of things. The author, a journalist, has traveled the area much of his adult life.

If anything the book was more detailed and in-depth than suited me. It was like a book for academics or those really needing and in-depth understanding of the whole region and how each of the regions evolved as they did. It was good in that instead of lumping the countries all together it did give a good understanding how each of the regions came to be and how it is all tied together. I do feel more knowledgeable on the subject.

The story encompasses the Byzantine empire, the Ottoman empire, the Arabs, the Persians, the 'stans' and points in between.

Really a great read

The book gives you incites into the nations spoken about and I loved that and did an interesting view of these nations