Gold: The Race for the World's Most Seductive Metal
The financial crisis of 2008 pushed the price of gold to more than $1,000 an ounce, giving new allure to a commodity long considered precious, even sacred. Veteran journalist Hart begins with an astonishing chronicle of the arduous work of miners and thieves in a South African gold mine miles under the earth in a feverish hunt for the metal that seems to inevitably tie wealth to corruption. It’s an old story Hart traces, from the Spanish conquest of Incan gold to the American gold rush of the 1800s to ­modern-day speculation in the face of financial uncertainty. Gold has figured prominently in international market booms and busts, monetary policy within nations, and debate about the virtues and drawbacks of the gold standard. Even as the U.S. dollar has come to dominate the global financial system, gold has never lost its glittering appeal. From deep within the gold mines of South Africa and China to corporate boardrooms, from miners and thieves to body guards and gold traders, Hart (Diamond, 2001) offers a fascinating look at the geology, geopolitics, and economics of gold. --Vanessa Bush