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.

• We started tracking this book on November 2, 2024.
• This book was $16.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 2 times in the past 410 days.
• The current price of this book is $16.99 last checked 18 hours ago.
• This book is at its lowest price in the past 90 days.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $2.99.
• The lowest price to date was $2.99 last reached on June 17, 2025.
• This book has been $2.99 one time since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $16.99 last reached on July 12, 2025.
• This book has been $16.99 2 times since we started tracking it.
• This book is currently at its highest price since we started tracking it.

• Business & MoneyEconomicsEnvironmental Economics

• Publication Date: November 19, 2024
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 269 Pages
• File Size: 17 KB