The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age

Our future hinges on a set of elements that few of us have even heard of. In this surprising and revealing book David S. Abraham unveils what rare metals are and why our electronic gadgets the most powerful armies and indeed the fate of our planet depend on them. These metals have become the building blocks of modern society; their properties are now essential for nearly all our electronic military and "green" technologies. But their growing use is not without environmental economic and geopolitical consequences. Abraham traces these elements secreted paths from mines to our living rooms from the remote hills of China to the frozen Gulf of Finland providing vivid accounts of those who produce trade and rely on rare metals. He argues that these materials are increasingly playing a significant role in global affairs conferring strength to countries and companies that can ensure sustainable supplies. Just as oil iron and bronze revolutionized previous eras so too will these metals. The challenges this book reveals and the plans it proposes make it essential reading for our rare metal age.