Seven Elements that Changed the World
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Seven Elements that Changed the World by John Browne
The fascinating story of how seven elements—iron, carbon, gold, silver, uranium, titanium, and silicon—have changed modern life, for good and ill. 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. 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 British Petroleum (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.
“The human quest for knowledge has led to extraordinary progressThis book forces us to confront these realities and does so in a unique and fascinating way. It weaves science and humanity together in a way that gives us new insight. This is an expertly crafted book by a unique thinker.” -- Tony Blair
“In his first foray into popular-science writing, Browne does an admirable job crafting an informative and engrossing chemistry-based view of history.” -- Booklist
“[Browne] mixes in his travels and anecdotes from an impressive career to produce a lively, educational examination of civilization’s building blocks.” -- Publishers Weekly
“The topics the author chooses to cover, ranging from the use of coal in ancient China to the Bessemer converter and silver photography, unfold in thoughtful detail, and the ample footnotes accompanying the text are as diverting as they are helpful.” -- Kirkus Reviews
“In his first foray into popular-science writing, Browne does an admirable job crafting an informative and engrossing chemistry-based view of history.” -- Booklist
“[Browne] mixes in his travels and anecdotes from an impressive career to produce a lively, educational examination of civilization’s building blocks.” -- Publishers Weekly
“The topics the author chooses to cover, ranging from the use of coal in ancient China to the Bessemer converter and silver photography, unfold in thoughtful detail, and the ample footnotes accompanying the text are as diverting as they are helpful.” -- Kirkus Reviews
John Browne trained as an engineer, was CEO of BP from 1995 to 2007, and remains an influential leader in the energy business. He is chairman of the Crick Institute, a fellow of the Royal Society and the US Academy of Arts and Sciences, former president of the Royal Academy of Engineering and former chairman of Tate. He is a collector of antique books and the author of four previous titles, including The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good Business and Seven Elements that Changed the World, also available from Pegasus Books. John lives in London.
| SKU | Nicht verfügbar |
| ISBN 13 | 9781605986913 |
| ISBN 10 | 1605986917 |
| Titel | Seven Elements that Changed the World |
| Autor | John Browne |
| Buchzustand | Nicht verfügbar |
| Bindungsart | Paperback |
| Verlag | Pegasus Books |
| Erscheinungsjahr | 2015-05-13 |
| Seitenanzahl | 288 |
| Hinweis auf dem Einband | Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden. |
| Hinweis | Nicht verfügbar |