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Blending history, science and geopolitics, Tom Zoellner’s Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World delivers a gripping look at one of the most amazing and poorly misunderstood substances in all of creation. “The history of uranium is one of greed and scientific genius and paranoia and fear of the apocalypse,” Zoellner says. “All of the best and worst of humanity, you can see it in this sort of otherworldly substance.”
Zoellner traces the material from its discovery through its role in modern-day politics, with stops along the way at the Manhattan Project, the uranium rush of the 1950s and other fascinating points. The picture he paints is of a material that is both intriguing in its potential to help humanity and terrifying in its potential to destroy it. “This is the material that put the United States at the top of the geopolitical order in 1945,” explains Zoellner. “This is the mineral that is going to be a major national security question well into the 21st century.”
Zoellner will appear to discuss and sign his book tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Tattered Cover, 2526 East Colfax Avenue. For more information, call the store at 303-322-7727 or visit www.tatteredcover.com.
Wed., March 25, 7:30 p.m., 2009
