When you see your nation’s flag fluttering in the breeze, what do you feel? For thousands of years, flags have represented our hopes and dreams. We wave them, burn them, march under their colors, and even in the 21st century, we die for them. Flags fly at the UN, on streets in the Arab world, and from front porches in Texas. They symbolize both the politics of high power and the passions of the masses. From the resurgence of nationalism in China to troubled identities in Europe and the USA, and the terrifying rise of the Islamic State, the world is a confusing place right now. We need to understand the symbols, old and new, that people rally around. In nine chapters, covering the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America, international flags, and flags of terror, Tim Marshall draws on over twenty-five years of global reporting experience. He reveals the histories, power, and politics of the symbols that unite us—and divide us.