Geographical

Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Andrew Brooks

Andrew is a regular columnist and book reviewer for Geographical. He is a reader in uneven development and deputy head of the geography department at King’s College London.

His books include Clothing Poverty: The Hidden World of Fast Fashion and Second-hand Clothes, and Bullsh*t Comparisons: A Field Guide to
Thinking Critically.

The word 'boycott' written on a typewriter

Do boycotts work in a post-political age?

Feb 28, 2025
Andrew Brooks looks at how consumer boycotts and celebrity activism reflect our changing, complex times around the world
Landscaping of the yard with artificial turf.

The divisive art of lawns: lawn people versus fake lawn people

Dec 27, 2024
Andrew Brooks ponders on what exactly makes lawns so divisive
LISBON, PORTUGAL - AUGUST 09, 2017: Everyday Life In Busy Downtown Lisbon City Of Portugal.

Packing in the tourists in the ‘Sardine City’ of Lisbon

Dec 3, 2024
As tourism to Lisbon booms, Andrew Brooks looks at how the city must balance globalisation alongside its local communities
Review: A Flat Place by Noreen Masud

Review: A Flat Place by Noreen Masud

Nov 30, 2024
Noreen Masud's latest book uses the power of landscapes to conjure a compelling memoir on personal histories and trauma
London, UK. 22nd June 2024. Environmental protesters with banner at the Restore Nature Now protest demonstration in London, calling for urgent political action on the nature and climate emergencies.

Can we learn from environmental protests – then and now?

Oct 28, 2024
Andrew Brooks asks whether the lessons learned from a mass 1930s trespass should be applied to today’s environmental protests.
The entrance to the old Bristol Zoo

Empire to extinction: The legacy of Bristol Zoo

Sep 25, 2024
Andrew Brooks on the passing of Bristol Zoo and the ongoing debate about its role in the 21st century
A proper geography conference

A proper geography conference

Sep 23, 2024
Discover the exciting world of contemporary geography at the Royal Geographical Society's conference. Andrew Brooks shares his experiences and insights.
Tom Heap book review.

Review: Land Smart by Tom Heap

Sep 22, 2024

Tom Heap offers a fascinating insight into how we can effectively manage land for both people and the planet in…

Group of avocados hanging on a tree

Should our growing taste for avocados be a cause for concern?

Sep 3, 2024
Andrew Brooks on why our growing taste for avocados has complex consequences for international trade & global markets.
Comparisons can get in the way of geographical understanding

Comparisons can get in the way of geographical understanding

Aug 8, 2024
Andrew Brooks on how reductive comparisons can get in the way of true understanding
Concept art of spaceman playing basketball with earth

Does comparing tackling climate change to the space race make any sense?

Jun 6, 2024
Andrew Brooks on why comparisons between the space race and the global environmental crisis are both misleading and counter-productive
entrance to Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone

African hospitals are not stuck in the past, they’re struggling in the present

Apr 26, 2024
Andrew Brooks examines the false comparisons that distort our understanding of developing countries and their healthcare