Coal

A Human History

By: Barbara Freese

Narrated by: Shelly Frasier

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The fascinating, often surprising story of how a simple black rock altered the course of history. 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.

©2003 Barbara Freese (P)2003 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Engrossing and sometimes stunning...[a] strongly argued and thoroughly researched book... Coal, to borrow a phrase, is king." (New York Times Book Review)
"Freese's writing is a bit like coal: smooth and glinting, burning with a steady warmth...An intriguing, cautionary tale." (Kirkus Reviews)

A Review

VERY INTERESTING! Enjoyed the history, but I fast-forwarded through dinosaur period. Found the Middle Ages and the history of London to be wonderful. Amazing detail of mechanical & hydrological engineering. Mining, child labor, social and health consequences,

Did get a little preach-y near the end. But would recommend to another history lover!

Written by a non-expert, and it shows

I should start saying this is an enjoyable and informative book. It covers a variety of aspects of the history of coal concetrating on the human story: those who made relevant discoveries, fortunes, lost their lifes, worked under extreme conditions to get it, etc.

My major concern with the book is that almost every statement in it is supported by sources such as "one observer", "one letter to the newspaper", "one poet once said", "one factory in Pennsylvania was said to"...

If you dig through 500 years of history, I am sure you can find accounts of individuals to tell ANY story. Perhaps I was influenced by having just read "Collapse" (a must read), or by the fact that I am an academic, but the research here was really superficial and doesn't give you the impression the author is letting the facts speak for themselves. My guess, however, is that there isn't a better audiobook outthere about coal, so if the topic interests you, this is it.

I feel, however, that if you spend 8 hours listening about coal, you should feel like you really know what you should know about coal, this book was written by a lawyer, so afer 8 hours you can say "oh, that's intersting", and wish a coal expert wrote a book on the topic...

The sordid history of modernity

This is a global trip that takes us first to England, then to India and finally America. All the while sowing the seeds of why coal came to be used so frequently and why we would not be enjoying the use of our computers, wearing our colorful clothes or simply being fat and satisfied. This is the history of Industrialization itself. It made me realize that bigger countries or countries with the right resources have an unfair advantage. Coal is not the cleanest of fuels, but it is cheap and abundant in some places and after the English cut down trees to build house and simply keep warm they needed an alternate source of heat. Perhaps America became such a revered place after the discovery of what coal could do for it. A combination of things occurred to position the country for greatness. Coal was certainly the fuel for that abundance.

Good, but more than a hint of bias

A fascinating subject, and while not as captivating as "Salt" or "Cod" by Mark Kurlansky, the author still holds your interest while describing the history of coal.
Unfortunately, her bias is clear - coal is and was a force of evil. The book dwells on the negatives from coal. While clearly the fuel has major environmental implications in the present world, even the historical discussion focuses almost solely on pollution, mining danger, etc. References to the historical positives are turned negative (i.e., coal permitted the rise of cities, but the book focuses on slums. Coal permitted improved production, the book talks about it's use in making weapons of war...)
When the author turns to modern times, that bias makes it a little hard to fully trust her claims. Discouraging, because there's a lot of intriguing information here on global warming and particulates.

It's still worth a listen, but I'd have preferred the work of a balanced scientist instead of a lawyer that reached a conclusion before starting her research.

The narration is excellent - clear and well paced.

Excellent look at the history of coal

Contrary to some negative reviews, the author doesn't spend too much time dwelling on the politics of coal, but more so on its social and economic impacts. While most of the effect of coal burning was old news to me, the author expanded on the developing world history of coal, all of which was new information. Narration by Shelly Frasier was spot on; golden voice and measured inflection. I would listen again.

Coal: A Human History

Interesting, but heavy on the environmental impact of coal use. Also weighted towards the social and cultural impact of coal on western civilization in the industrial and post-industrial age. Lighter on the technical and mechanical impact and uses. Pretty good overall, but not compelling.

worth reading

As can be expected, Freese sees coal as the single most important substance humans have ever used. While she does make a cogent argument, she overdoes it at times.

I was a little bored with the description of the formation of coal in human prehistory, but the rest of the book really cooked, at least in my opinion. Some of the hightlights include: a discussion of the UMW (a once mighty union that has lost most of its members) and its history including the Molly McGuires, a discussion of why coal in this country is now increasingly mined in the West rather than in Appalachia, a description of the role of coal in helping the British Empire become supreme, descriptions of the giant Chinese coal industry, the revelation that the United States continues to be one of the heaviest coal using countries on the planet -- far more than other industrialized countries, a description of how British homes were changed as they moved from wood-burning stoves to coal-burning furnaces.

While most would, at first sight, consider petroleum to be a more important fossil fuel, Freese shows that coal has been and continues to be a significant sourese of fuel as we become increasingly dependent on cheap electricity in the United States.

Amazing, Fast Paced..Well Done..

I have done much work on Coal and Co2 emmissions.
This book was fast paced, moved through history, showed child cruelities, and put Coal in Historical perspective against Wood and Oil.
Very well done, soothing voice..I would highly reccomend this book.

Fuller Picture

I worked for a company that was a major supplier of the coal industry, not one of my prouder moments after reading this book. Good job providing a complete picture of this vital part of our energy consumption and the toll it collects from others for us to have this lifestyle. Good compliment to the book "Big Coal", by Jeff Goodell. Hopefully, Audio will arrange to add this one to their collection.

Excellent on many levels

From the Carboniferous to the present. A thoughtful look at our relationship with the substance that brought us into the modern age but has a potentially disastrous downside. A wonderful social, scientific, and technological history. Great book for young adults too.