Seven Elements That Have Changed the World: An Adventure of ingenuity and Discovery Author: John Browne | Language: English | ISBN:
B00HVPI18A | Format: EPUB
Seven Elements That Have Changed the World: An Adventure of ingenuity and Discovery Description
With carbon we access heat, light and mobility at the flick of a switch, while silicon enables us to communicate across the globe in an instant.
Yet our use of the Earth’s mineral resources is not always for the benefit of humankind—our relationship with the elements is one of great ambivalence. Uranium is both productive (nuclear power) and destructive (nuclear bombs); iron is the bloody weapon of war, but also the economic tool of peace; our desire for alluring gold is the foundation of global trade, but has also led to the death of millions. John Browne, CEO of BP for twelve years, vividly describes how seven elements are shaping the world around us, for better and for worse.
Combining history, science and politics, Seven Elements takes you on a present-day adventure of human passion, ingenuity and discovery. This journey is far from over: We continue to find surprising new uses for these seven elements. Discover how titanium pervades modern consumer society, how natural gas is transforming the global energy sector, and how an innovative new form of carbon could be starting a technology revolution.
- File Size: 3261 KB
- Print Length: 288 pages
- Publisher: Pegasus Books; 1 edition (February 4, 2014)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00HVPI18A
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,730 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #4
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Science > Nature & Ecology > Natural Resources - #17
in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Natural Resources - #25
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Ancient > Early Civilization
- #4
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Science > Nature & Ecology > Natural Resources - #17
in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Natural Resources - #25
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Ancient > Early Civilization
This is a great book written by a very unique and interesting man: Author John Browne. Browne was the CEO for British Petroleum during the turn off this century, and moved the company into a direction of growth and public accountability until his abrupt departure in 2007. I believe his book has changed my outlook on a few things that I take for granted and paid little thought to - like the origin of understanding for carbon. He starts in 16th century Venice and explains how an atom considered black dust was an important source for fossil fuels, gunpowder, and the beginning of modern energy. He covers Silver and explains the role it played in the early Spanish domination of the 16th century world. Also, he covers the role of other elements such as iron, gold, uranium, titanium, and silicon as it relates to history and their ever present need for today.
Mr. Browne will take you behind the scenes of the global oil industry, and give you a very unique perspective with regard to trade and limits on its expansion due to politics and mistrust among nations. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those interested in history, science, business, and politics.
By BookVodney
This is a fascinating book. Written by John Browne, a former CEO of British Petroleum (BP), it is a story of seven elements and their science and the surrounding history, politics and finance. Interestingly, because of Browne’s global perspective, he also writes about Asia, South America and Africa, not just about Europe and North America. The book is also part memoir and at times reads like BP propaganda. But overall this is a great book and should be read by anyone interested in the science or the history of science.
By Steve G
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