David Abraham receives praise for The Elements of Power
“A compelling, illuminating, and hugely important analysis…a brilliant discussion.” Gen. David H. Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.)
“Abraham makes a complex, hidden but important subject both accessible and fascinating. His warnings…deserve our attention.” Dennis Blair, Former Director of National Intelligence
“Abraham deftly explains why the age of technology is also the age of rare metals…an important discussion we need to have.” Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group
“In this extraordinary book, Abraham shows that the countries that control rare metals will control the future. His exhaustive research and vivid explanations are alarming and compelling.” Robert C. (Bud) McFarlane, former National Security Advisor and cofounder of the United States Energy Security Council
Our future hinges on a set of elements that few of us have even heard of. In this surprising and revealing book, David S. Abraham unveils what rare metals are and why our electronic gadgets, the most powerful armies and indeed the fate of our planet depend on them. These metals have become the building blocks of modern society; their properties are now essential for nearly all our electronic, military, and “green” technologies.
But their growing use is not without environmental, economic, and geopolitical consequences.Abraham traces these elements’ secreted paths from mines to our living rooms, from the remote hills of China to the frozen Gulf of Finland, providing vivid accounts of those who produce, trade, and rely on rare metals. He argues that these materials are increasingly playing a significant role in global affairs, conferring strength to countries and companies that can ensure sustainable supplies.
Just as oil, iron, and bronze revolutionized previous eras, so too will these metals. The challenges this book reveals, and the plans it proposes, make it essential reading for our rare metal age.