The War Below cover art

The War Below

Lithium, copper, and the global battle to power our lives

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The War Below

By: Ernest Scheyder
Narrated by: John Moraitis
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About this listen

 A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SO FAR FOR 2024
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION, AND THE FT BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

The trillion-dollar battle for the resources to power our future. Oil and gas defined the twentieth century. Now lithium, copper, cobalt, rare earths and nickel will define the twenty-first.

The world is moving towards replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy. But building electric vehicles, solar panels, and millions of other devices requires digging more mines. Critical minerals are vital to many sustainable technologies, and the competition for them is intensifying.

Nations which aspire to energy independence are ever more intertwined: a hedge fund manager's attempt to revive rare earths mining in California needs Chinese expertise, and international reliance on Africa's mining sector persists despite concern over child labour. Meanwhile, ecological dilemmas abound: a proposed lithium mine in Nevada would help global car manufacturers slash their dependence on fossil fuels, but developing that mine could cause the extinction of a flower found nowhere else on the planet.

As investors attempt to predict how the geopolitics of resource extraction will unfold, this is a story of the industry giants, researchers, and policymakers at the forefront of the new energy wars.©2024 Ernest Scheyder (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK International Politics & Government Inspiring Mining Transportation

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All stars
Most relevant  
I bought this because I wanted to understand more about where minerals fit into the global power struggles that are coming our way. It tries to do that, but the author is a donkey not a thoroughbred. It trudges along lifting the heavy weights and dropping facts to show its erudition, but it fails to ignite. I am afraid it is worthy, important but, to this reader, boring, which is ironic given the subject is often mining.

Important but Dreary

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Topic is very interesting and relevant story line makes it a hard listen at times

Relevant but at times hard to follow

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Really interesting book, on a fascinating and essential topic. Book covers lots of detail and a variety of projects. Downside is the reading though. The reader is very very dry and I found that I zoned out on a number of occasions because he’s so dull. Also has a habit of pausing in unnatural places as if he’s lost his place in the text. Spoils a great book sadly.

Fascinating subject. Reading very dry though

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This is not a book on the "war below", it's more a journalistic piece that followed specific mines and issues. I didn't find this engaging, but others might

Gave up half way, too verbose

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