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Freese, Barbara Coal: A Human History ISBN 13: 9780738204000

Coal: A Human History - Hardcover

 
9780738204000: Coal: A Human History
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Prized as "the best stone in Britain" by Roman invaders who carved jewelry out of it, coal has transformed societies, powered navies, fueled economies, and expanded frontiers. It made China a twelfth-century superpower, inspired the writing of the Communist Manifesto, and helped the northern states win the American Civil War. Yet the mundane mineral that built our global economy -and even today powers our electrical plants-has also caused death, disease, and environmental destruction. As early as 1306, King Edward I tried to ban coal (unsuccessfully) because its smoke became so obnoxious. Its recent identification as a primary cause of global warming has made it a cause celebre of a new kind.In this remarkable book, Barbara Freese takes us on a rich historical journey that begins three hundred million years ago and spans the globe. From the "Great Stinking Fogs" of London to the rat-infested coal mines of Pennsylvania, from the impoverished slums of Manchester to the toxic city streets of Beijing, Coal is a captivating narrative about an ordinary substance that has done extraordinary things-a simple black rock that could well determine our fate as a species.

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Review:
A "New York Times" Notable Book
An absorbing book that never loses its grip. Barbara Freese is a splendid writer and takes the coal of the whole world into her compass. "New Scientist"
A magnificent and plaintive ballad to the black stone that radically altered the path our lives have taken. "Providence Journal"
Freese makes her points convincingly and eloquently.... Freese paints a fascinatingly wide swath. "Philadelphia Inquirer"
A thoroughly absorbing history. "Boston Herald"
An engrossing account of the comparatively cheap, usually dirty fuel that supported the Industrial Revolution, inspired the building of canals and railroads to move it, and once made London and Pittsburgh famous for their air. "New York Times"
Freese s passion for coal is born out of her work.... Freese s book is as much about the growing scientific evidence of the damage coal causes to the environment as it is about the social history of the Industrial Revolution. "Financial Times"
Freese has a deft style and a knack for explanatory metaphors. And she enlivens her meticulously researched history with anecdotes and surprising facts.... Above all, Freese is a strong storyteller who captivates with detail. "Minneapolis Star-Tribune"
A rich social, environmental, and political history that ends on a note of warning about the continued use of coal despite detrimental effects on the environment. "Oregonian"
Ms. Freese writes her story well.... This, then, is a history of coal, an unglamorous substance that Ms. Freese makes glow like its namesake s embers. "Richmond Times-Dispatch"
A masterful piece of research and writing by...a talented author. "Roanoke Times"
Fascinating.... It lingers hauntingly in the mind. "New Statesman" (UK)
"

A New York Times Notable Book
"An absorbing book that never loses its grip. Barbara Freese is a splendid writer and takes the coal of the whole world into her compass." --New Scientist
"A magnificent and plaintive ballad to the black stone that radically altered the path our lives have taken." --Providence Journal
"Freese makes her points convincingly and eloquently.... Freese paints a fascinatingly wide swath." --Philadelphia Inquirer
"A thoroughly absorbing history." --Boston Herald
"An engrossing account of the comparatively cheap, usually dirty fuel that supported the Industrial Revolution, inspired the building of canals and railroads to move it, and once made London and Pittsburgh famous for their air." --New York Times
"Freese's passion for coal is born out of her work.... Freese's book is as much about the growing scientific evidence of the damage coal causes to the environment as it is about the social history of the Industrial Revolution." --Financial Times
"Freese has a deft style and a knack for explanatory metaphors. And she enlivens her meticulously researched history with anecdotes and surprising facts.... Above all, Freese is a strong storyteller who captivates with detail." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune

A New York Times Notable Book

"An absorbing book that never loses its grip. Barbara Freese is a splendid writer and takes the coal of the whole world into her compass." --New Scientist

"A magnificent and plaintive ballad to the black stone that radically altered the path our lives have taken." --Providence Journal

"Freese makes her points convincingly and eloquently.... Freese paints a fascinatingly wide swath." --Philadelphia Inquirer

"A thoroughly absorbing history." --Boston Herald

"An engrossing account of the comparatively cheap, usually dirty fuel that supported the Industrial Revolution, inspired the building of canals and railroads to move it, and once made London and Pittsburgh famous for their air." --New York Times

"Freese's passion for coal is born out of her work.... Freese's book is as much about the growing scientific evidence of the damage coal causes to the environment as it is about the social history of the Industrial Revolution." --Financial Times

"Freese has a deft style and a knack for explanatory metaphors. And she enlivens her meticulously researched history with anecdotes and surprising facts.... Above all, Freese is a strong storyteller who captivates with detail." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune

A New York Times Notable Book

"An absorbing book that never loses its grip. Barbara Freese is a splendid writer and takes the coal of the whole world into her compass."--New Scientist

"A magnificent and plaintive ballad to the black stone that radically altered the path our lives have taken."--Providence Journal

"Freese makes her points convincingly and eloquently.... Freese paints a fascinatingly wide swath."--Philadelphia Inquirer

A thoroughly absorbing history."--Boston Herald

"An engrossing account of the comparatively cheap, usually dirty fuel that supported the Industrial Revolution, inspired the building of canals and railroads to move it, and once made London and Pittsburgh famous for their air."--New York Times

"Freese's passion for coal is born out of her work.... Freese's book is as much about the growing scientific evidence of the damage coal causes to the environment as it is about the social history of the Industrial Revolution."--Financial Times
From the Publisher:
A brilliant gem of a book on the small black stone that fuelled the industrial revolution and still powers the world. For fans of Cod and books like Guns, Germs and Steel.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherPerseus Books
  • Publication date2003
  • ISBN 10 0738204005
  • ISBN 13 9780738204000
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages320
  • Rating

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