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Brahm's Reviews > Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World
Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World
by
by
When you search "uranium" in Saskatoon Public Library, this is what comes up. Expectations were low (as they should be for a "shaped the world" book title), but they were exceeded!
More weapons-focused than energy, Zoellner does a job job of explaining uranium as an element, its early mining discoveries, mining operations through the 20th century, and more. He covers WW2 but doesn't over-do it: the better history, up to and including WW2, is Richard Rhodes' The Making of the Atomic Bomb which is referenced several times. There is a bit of a travelogue component as the author visits mine and plant sites all over the world.
The main takeaway I got from this book was great insights into the geopolitics of uranium as a commodity. In Canada (and in particular, in SK) there are publicly-traded companies in the industry, but the vast majority of participants in mining, energy production, and commodity trade are nation-states.
Some minor complaints. Some numerical facts were repeated multiple times - poor editing. Some sections exaggerated risks and hazards for dramatic purposes ("this eerie mineral," "the most deadly material," etc.) or provided no quantitative framework for understanding levels of relative risk (like radiation hazards).
Overall, well-written and a page turner. Good commodity history as I get started in the industry, but the drama factor in the writing needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
More weapons-focused than energy, Zoellner does a job job of explaining uranium as an element, its early mining discoveries, mining operations through the 20th century, and more. He covers WW2 but doesn't over-do it: the better history, up to and including WW2, is Richard Rhodes' The Making of the Atomic Bomb which is referenced several times. There is a bit of a travelogue component as the author visits mine and plant sites all over the world.
The main takeaway I got from this book was great insights into the geopolitics of uranium as a commodity. In Canada (and in particular, in SK) there are publicly-traded companies in the industry, but the vast majority of participants in mining, energy production, and commodity trade are nation-states.
Some minor complaints. Some numerical facts were repeated multiple times - poor editing. Some sections exaggerated risks and hazards for dramatic purposes ("this eerie mineral," "the most deadly material," etc.) or provided no quantitative framework for understanding levels of relative risk (like radiation hazards).
Overall, well-written and a page turner. Good commodity history as I get started in the industry, but the drama factor in the writing needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
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Reading Progress
January 23, 2022
– Shelved
February 18, 2022
–
Started Reading
February 24, 2022
–
Finished Reading
