Big Coal
The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future
HarperCollins · Print & ebook · April 3, 2007
Long dismissed as a relic of a bygone era, coal is back -- with a vengence.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A clear-eyed look at coal’s place in American power and the costs of depending on it.
- Themes
- Coal and U.S. energy dependence, Coal pollution and public health, Environmental harm from coal mining
- Genres
- Fossil Fuel Energy, Climate Change, Energy Policy
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
Gusher of LiesRobert Bryce, Peter Larkin56% matchShares Energy Policy
Cobalt RedSiddharth Kara50% match
The Heat Will Kill You FirstJeff Goodell52% matchShares Climate Change
Lights OutTed Koppel50% match
Power MetalVince Beiser49% match
Fire WeatherJohn Vaillant48% matchShares Climate Change
Cows Save the PlanetJudith D. Schwartz46% matchShares Climate Change
GarbologyEdward Humes45% match
For younger readers: Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth, Eyes Wide Open: Going Behind the Environmental Headlines, Black Gold
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
Long dismissed as a relic of a bygone era, coal is back -- with a vengence. Coal is one of the nation's biggest and most influential industries -- Big Coal provides more than half the electricity consumed by Americans today -- and its dominance is growing, driven by rising oil prices and calls for energy independence. Is coal the solution to America's energy problems? On close examination, the glowing promise of coal quickly turns to ash.
Continue reading
Coal mining remains a deadly and environmentally destructive industry. Nearly forty percent of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each year comes from coal-fired power plants. In the last two decades, air pollution from coal plants has killed more than half a million Americans. In this eye-opening call to action, Goodell explains the costs and consequences of America's addiction to coal and discusses how we can kick the habit.
Energy’s Hidden Costs
A clear-eyed look at coal’s place in American power and the costs of depending on it.
Come here for
- The uneasy collision of energy independence and coal’s pollution toll
- Coal’s influence on electricity and public health
Expect
- A critical account of coal’s costs and consequences
- Attention to mining dangers, air pollution, and carbon emissions
Where it sits
| Climate Change | 49% |
|---|---|
| Fossil Fuel Energy | 45% |
| Energy Policy | 31% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Energy Industry
- World History
- Environmental Policy
- Energy Policy
Show all 8 publisher categories
- Energy
- Geology
- Climate Change
- Sociology
- Authors
- Jeff Goodell
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- April 3, 2007
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Coal and U.S. energy dependence · Coal pollution and public health · Environmental harm from coal mining
- Reading lane
- Energy Industry