Overview

A global expos of the business of mining-a flashpoint for crucial questions around climate change, the clean energy transition, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights. Author takes an insightful and fair approach that acknowledges realities and trade-offs-not a defense of mining or an anti-mining screed, it can be read by everyone from environmental activists to those in the mining business. Told through engaging storytelling; a rare book on the subject written for general readers, not experts (most books about mining are academic or technical). Author has reported on mining for decades. He has doggedly covered the global mining beat for most of his career.

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9781771649124

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Reviews

"""An important account: the world badly needs to replace fossil fuel mining with the production of minerals necessary for energy that won’t destroy the climate. Christopher Pollon argues eloquently for reducing consumption, recycling materials, and trying to make sure mining actually benefits communities—it's a chance to get things right, or at least better, as we enter a new era."" —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature ""Christopher Pollon is a rare journalistic voice writing about mining through the perspective of what humanity actually needs versus the financial imperatives of large firms and their investors. A crucial book for understanding the industry at the center of the world's clean energy revolution and how to make it less destructive."" —Geoff Dembicki, author of The Petroleum Papers"

"“Mind-boggling descriptions rely on facts, not sensationalism, for effect but are altogether chilling... Pitfall indicates that intensified reuse, recycling and other social changes cannot come too soon.” —Winnipeg Free Press ""Pitfall provides an eloquent, clear-eyed warning that, absent a radical U-turn, the well-intentioned road to green energy alternatives could very well be paved with devastating ecological and social impacts."" —Quill & Quire STARRED review ""Few realize that our current solution to climate change—renewable energy—threatens to create an environmental catastrophe of its own. Christopher Pollon’s deeply researched, powerfully written book is just the primer we need to truly imagine a better future."" —J. B. MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping ""A harrowing and ruthlessly honest account that serves as a moral reckoning for our industrial age."" —Wade Davis, author of The Wayfinders and Magdalena: River of Dreams ""Christopher Pollon has scoured the planet to reveal the dark side of our consumer paradise, and the light at the end of the tunnel. Pitfall delivers a planetary investigation of the world's wildest industry—mining—and connects it straight to us."" —Arno Kopecky, author of The Environmentalist’s Dilemma ""An important account: the world badly needs to replace fossil fuel mining with the production of minerals necessary for energy that won’t destroy the climate. Christopher Pollon argues eloquently for reducing consumption, recycling materials, and trying to make sure mining actually benefits communities—it's a chance to get things right, or at least better, as we enter a new era."" —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature ""Christopher Pollon is a rare journalistic voice writing about mining through the perspective of what humanity actually needs versus the financial imperatives of large firms and their investors. A crucial book for understanding the industry at the center of the world's clean energy revolution and how to make it less destructive."" —Geoff Dembicki, author of The Petroleum Papers ""A deeply reported and devastating critique of a seldom-examined business at the heart of the global economy... [Pollon's] forecast is grim—unless the world's richest nations consume less. His book may help persuade us."" —Chris Wood, award-winning journalist and author of Dry Spring ""In this timely and compelling account, Christopher Pollon makes it abundantly clear that we should think twice before trusting the mining industry to provide the materials—including cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth metals—needed to build a more sustainable economy."" —Stuart Kirsch, author of Mining Capitalism ""Chilling, arresting—lifts the lid on just how murky getting the metals and minerals we take for granted can be."" —Peter Hain, Former anti-apartheid leader and UK Cabinet Minister"

"""Few realize that our current solution to climate change—renewable energy—threatens to create an environmental catastrophe of its own. Christopher Pollon’s deeply researched, powerfully written book is just the primer we need to truly imagine a better future."" —J. B. MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping ""A harrowing and ruthlessly honest account that serves as a moral reckoning for our industrial age."" —Wade Davis, author of The Wayfinders and Magdalena: River of Dreams ""Christopher Pollon has scoured the planet to reveal the dark side of our consumer paradise, and the light at the end of the tunnel. Pitfall delivers a planetary investigation of the world's wildest industry—mining—and connects it straight to us."" —Arno Kopecky, author of The Environmentalist’s Dilemma ""An important account: the world badly needs to replace fossil fuel mining with the production of minerals necessary for energy that won’t destroy the climate. Christopher Pollon argues eloquently for reducing consumption, recycling materials, and trying to make sure mining actually benefits communities—it's a chance to get things right, or at least better, as we enter a new era."" —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature ""Christopher Pollon is a rare journalistic voice writing about mining through the perspective of what humanity actually needs versus the financial imperatives of large firms and their investors. A crucial book for understanding the industry at the center of the world's clean energy revolution and how to make it less destructive."" —Geoff Dembicki, author of The Petroleum Papers ""A deeply reported and devastating critique of a seldom-examined business at the heart of the global economy... [Pollon's] forecast is grim—unless the world's richest nations consume less. His book may help persuade us."" —Chris Wood, award-winning journalist and author of Dry Spring ""In this timely and compelling account, Christopher Pollon makes it abundantly clear that we should think twice before trusting the mining industry to provide the materials—including cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth metals—needed to build a more sustainable economy."" —Stuart Kirsch, author of Mining Capitalism ""Chilling, arresting—lifts the lid on just how murky getting the metals and minerals we take for granted can be."" —Peter Hain, Former anti-apartheid leader and UK Cabinet Minister"

"""Few realize that our current solution to climate change—renewable energy—threatens to create an environmental catastrophe of its own. Christopher Pollon’s deeply researched, powerfully written book is just the primer we need to truly imagine a better future.""J. B. MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping ""A harrowing and ruthlessly honest account that serves as a moral reckoning for our industrial age.""— Wade Davis, author of The Wayfinders and Magdalena: River of Dreams ""Christopher Pollon has scoured the planet to reveal the dark side of our consumer paradise, and the light at the end of the tunnel. Pitfall delivers a planetary investigation of the world's wildest industry—mining*38212;and connects it straight to us.""—Arno Kopecky, author of The Environmentalist’s Dilemma ""An important account: the world badly needs to replace fossil fuel mining with the production of minerals necessary for energy that won’t destroy the climate. Christopher Pollon argues eloquently for reducing consumption, recycling materials, and trying to make sure mining actually benefits communities—it's a chance to get things right, or at least better, as we enter a new era."" —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature ""Christopher Pollon is a rare journalistic voice writing about mining through the perspective of what humanity actually needs versus the financial imperatives of large firms and their investors. A crucial book for understanding the industry at the center of the world's clean energy revolution and how to make it less destructive."" —Geoff Dembicki, author of The Petroleum Papers ""A deeply reported and devastating critique of a seldom-examined business at the heart of the global economy... [Pollon's] forecast is grim—unless the world's richest nations consume less. His book may help persuade us."" —Chris Wood, award-winning journalist and author of Dry Spring ""In this timely and compelling account, Christopher Pollon makes it abundantly clear that we should think twice before trusting the mining industry to provide the materials—including cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth metals—needed to build a more sustainable economy."" —Stuart Kirsch, author of Mining Capitalism"

Author Information

Christopher Pollon is an independent journalist who reports on the politics of natural resources, focusing on mining, oceans, and energy. His work has appeared in dozens of publications, including National Geographic, VICE, the Walrus, the Tyee, and the Globe and Mail. He is also the author of The Peace in Peril: The Real Cost of the Site C Dam. He lives in Vancouver, BC.

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