The Spinning Magnet

The Electromagnetic Force That Created the Modern World--and Could Destroy It

By: Alanna Mitchell

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

The mystery of Earth's invisible, life-supporting power

Alanna Mitchell's globe-trotting history of the science of electromagnetism and the Earth's magnetic field--right up to the latest indications that the North and South Poles may soon reverse, with apocalyptic results--will soon change the way you think about our planet.

Award-winning journalist Alanna Mitchell's science storytelling introduce intriguing characters--from the thirteenth-century French investigations into magnetism and the Victorian-era discover that electricity and magnetism emerge from the same fundamental force to the latest research. No one has ever told so eloquently how the Earth itself came to be seen as a magnet, spinning in space with two poles, and that those poles have dramatically reversed many time, often coinciding with mass extinctions. The most recent reversal was 780,000 years ago.

Mitchell explores indications that the Earth's magnetic force field is decaying faster than previously thought. When the poles switch, a process that takes many years, the Earth is unprotected from solar radiation storms that would, among other disturbances, wipe out much and possible all of our electromagnetic technology. Navigation for all kinds of animals is disrupted without a stable, magnetic North Pole. But can you imagine no satellites, no Internet, no smartphones--maybe no power grids at all?

Alanna Mitchell offers a beautifully crafted narrative history of surprising ideas and science, illuminating invisible parts of our own planet that are constantly changing around us.

quite interesting take on our modern electronics world 🌎 and how we are influenced by the Suns 🌞 energy

quite interesting take on our modern electronics world 🌎 and how we are influenced by the Suns 🌞 energy

Great read. Makes a complex field comprehensible.

Reall enjoyed listening to this book. I wish there were more like it on Audible. If you're not a physicist or an expert in electromagnets but are generally interested in the field or just plain old enjoy science, this is a great book.

I only wish there was a companion PDF to download as many of the initial descriptions of how the physics work would be better absorbed with illustrations to accompany the descriptions.

Learned quite a bit, narrated nicely...

Information on the EMF field existing in nature and the bodies that be that delved into it's treasury of geographic history. Worth listening to thrice.

informative in an engaging way! 😎

Some terminology a little hard to grasp, but the pace and explanations usually pulled me through to a facinating perception of our World...our lil' Blue Marble in Space! 😉

A lot of physics for non-physicists.

I surprised myself by actually finishing the book. To my surprise, the last three chapters were the most interesting and enjoyable.