Power Metal

The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future

By: Vince Beiser

Narrated by: Vince Beiser

The powerful ways the metals we need to fuel technology and energy are spawning environmental havoc, political upheaval, and rising violence — and how we can do better.

An Australian millionaire’s plan to mine the ocean floor. Nigerian garbage pickers risking their lives to salvage e-waste. A Bill Gates-backed entrepreneur harnessing AI to find metals in the Arctic.

These people and millions more are part of the intensifying competition to find and extract the minerals essential for two crucial technologies: the internet and renewable energy. In Power Metal, Vince Beiser explores the Achilles’ heel of “green power” and digital technology – that manufacturing computers, cell phones, electric cars, and other technologies demand skyrocketing amounts of lithium, copper, cobalt, and other materials. Around the world, businesses and governments are scrambling for new places and new ways to get those metals, at enormous cost to people and the planet.

Beiser crisscrossed the world to talk to the people involved and report on the damage this race is inflicting, the ways it could get worse, and how we can minimize the damage. Power Metal is a compelling glimpse into this disturbing yet potentially promising new world.

The scope and scale of the metal issue

That the author travelled as much as he did in pursuit of the story speaks to his passion for pursuit of the full story.

Informative, depressing

I learned a lot about the mining downside of our green and electronic present and future. It was a bit depressing to learn the shadow side of living paperless and "green". But it was fascinating and held my attention. Would be great for a road trip to fuel discussion.

The author gave a great reading of his book - unusual for authors to do such a good job.

Great book!

A clear and overall view on the importance of metals in the upcoming electro-digital age.

Misleading title

I purchased this book in the hopes of learning more about the metals and their use. However, this book doesn’t contain much about that. It should be something along the lines of «Mining - and how it is destroying the life for everyone and everything close to one»

Don’t missunderstand. The reader reads well, the content is somewhat interesting, but I don’t know which rock you have lived under if you think the working conditions in a Congolese mine is fine. So not really much new information for those that have paid attention

So the book if fine if you want to dig deeper into the problematic sides of metals. If you on the other hand wants to learn about metals and their use or importance; look elsewhere

Nice Outline for Dangers and Opportunities

Details about recycling process and opportunities were good. Balance opportunities are better discussed in a follow up work rather than by 15 mins at end.