Etikett: book-review

Three Battery Books You Should Read

Publicerat i OkategoriseradeMärkt , , , Lämna en kommentar

1.  Charged – A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future by James Morton Turner (2022)

Summary

Charged by James Morton Turner explores the history of batteries and their importance in modern society. Turner explains that batteries are not only scientific inventions but also political and environmental tools that shape economies and daily life.

The book follows the development of batteries from early experiments in electricity to today’s lithium-ion technology. It describes how scientists and engineers worked to improve energy storage so that devices could become smaller, lighter, and more powerful. Turner also explains the growing demand for rechargeable batteries in mobile phones, laptops, and especially electric vehicles.

A major theme of the book is the environmental cost of battery production. Mining for battery materials can damage ecosystems and create social problems in poorer countries. He also discusses recycling and the need for better systems to reuse battery materials in the future.

Overall, Charged helps readers understand that batteries are essential for the transition to renewable energy, but they also bring difficult challenges. The book encourages a balanced view: batteries can support a greener future, but only if they are developed and managed responsibly.

Why I liked it

Charged is highly readable and does more than simply focus on lithium-ion batteries. Instead, it guides the reader through a range of battery technologies, from lead-acid batteries to smaller portable types such as nickel-cadmium and nickel–metal hydride, before arriving at lithium-ion batteries and the rise of electric vehicles.

Particular attention is given to the recycling of each battery technology. The recycling of lead-acid batteries is presented as a success story, while the challenges associated with recycling and disposing of other battery types are clearly highlighted. It is evident that establishing an effective system for recycling lithium-ion batteries will be crucial going forward.

The book explores the technology, industrialisation, and impact of various battery types, making it an excellent introduction for those new to the field who wish to learn more. At the same time, it offers valuable insights even for those with more experience. This is largely because the author, Turner, is a historian who places batteries in a broader context, illustrating their significant influence over time. For instance, he explains how the first commercially produced batteries enabled early telephone and telegraph systems. In addition, the book examines the human and environmental costs associated with the production and recycling of lead-acid batteries.

Generally, this book is an excellent choice for battery beginners as well as old foxes in the field.

E-Books (Sweden): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/charged-9780295750262

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Charged-History-Batteries-Weyerhaeuser-Environmental/dp/0295750243

2.  Volt Rush – The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green by Henry Sanderson (2022)

Summary

Volt Rush by Henry Sanderson discusses the global race to secure the materials needed for batteries and electric vehicles. The book focuses on lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other critical minerals that are essential for the transition to clean energy. Sanderson explains how the rapid growth of electric cars and renewable energy systems has created intense competition between companies and countries.

A major theme of the book is China’s dominant position in the battery supply chain. Sanderson describes how Chinese companies invested early in mining, battery production, and electric vehicle technology, giving China a strong advantage over Western countries by securing the entire supply chain. He also explores the role of major car manufacturers and technology companies that are competing for access to raw materials.

The book highlights the environmental and ethical challenges connected to mining, especially in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cobalt production has raised concerns about pollution and labour conditions. Sanderson argues that the clean energy transition depends not only on technology but also on stable and responsible supply chains.

Generally, Volt Rush provides a clear overview of the political, economic, and environmental issues behind the battery industry. It shows that the future of clean energy will depend heavily on access to critical minerals and global cooperation in managing these resources responsiblyTop of Form.Bottom of Form

Why I liked it

Volt Rush can make for a brutally honest read. Like Charged, it is very well written, with each chapter opening by recounting a key moment in the battery industry and its value chain—particularly the mining and procurement of the raw materials required for battery production.

One episode that stands out is Volkswagen’s 2017 invitation to cobalt traders to its headquarters in Wolfsburg. The company appeared to assume that suppliers would be eager—if not desperate—to sell cobalt simply because the buyer was Volkswagen. The episode starkly exposes the arrogance the company displayed at the time (an attitude that was likely shared by other legacy car manufacturers). Unsurprisingly, none of the traders agreed to supply Volkswagen.

This kind of unflinching account recurs throughout the book. While often shocking, it helps to explain how we arrived at the current situation, in which Western OEMs are largely dependent on Chinese companies for much—if not all—of their battery supply chain.

The book focuses primarily on the procurement of raw materials, examining in particular the challenges of securing nickel and cobalt. However, it also explores other parts of the supply chain.

Published in 2022, the book can at times feel somewhat dated. For instance, one might argue that the emphasis on nickel and cobalt is no longer quite as dominant an issue due to the rise of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cathode chemistry. It also includes a chapter on Northvolt as the great hope of Europe’s battery industry—an assessment that, needless to say, has not aged especially well.

Nevertheless, the book remains highly readable and comes warmly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the global battery supply chain.

Ad libris (Sweden): https://www.adlibris.com/sv-FI/bok/volt-rush-9780861543755

Amazon: https://www.amazon.se/-/en/Henry-Sanderson/dp/0861543750

3.  The New Map – Energy, Climate and the Clash of Nations by Daniel Yergin (2020)

Summary

The New Map by Daniel Yergin investigates how energy, politics, and technology are reshaping the modern world. The book explains how oil and natural gas continue to influence global power, while renewable energy and climate policies are creating major changes in international relations and economies as the world is slowly shifting towards an electrified future. Yergin shows that energy is not only about fuel, but also about security, trade, and political influence.

A large part of the book focuses on the changing balance of power between countries such as the United States, China, Russia, and nations in the Middle East. Yergin describes how the American shale revolution reduced US dependence on imported oil and changed global energy markets. He also examines China’s growing demand for energy and its investment in renewable technologies and electric vehicles.

The book also discusses the global transition towards cleaner energy. Yergin explains both the opportunities and the challenges of moving away from fossil fuels. He argues that the transition will take time because modern economies still depend heavily on oil and gas for transport, industry, and electricity production for some time to come.

In summary, The New Map provides a clear and balanced explanation of how energy shapes the modern world. It combines history, economics, and geopolitics to help readers understand the complex relationship between energy and global power in the twenty-first century.

Why I liked it

Unlike the first two books, The New Map is a somewhat slower read, but it is nonetheless highly informative.

Rather than focusing solely on battery technology and its impact, the book takes a broader view of energy, encompassing oil and gas as well. For instance, it examines the effects of the oil crises of the 1970s alongside the shale gas revolution in the United States. One of the book’s key strengths lies in the way it draws on such historical events to illuminate the present, skilfully weaving together the interdependencies between nations shaped by energy.

Yergin acknowledges that we are in the midst of a major transition away from fossil-based energy sources towards electrification. He also emphasises that the pace of this shift will depend on a range of factors, including government support and policy decisions. Written in 2020, the book predates both Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—which led to Western sanctions on Russian oil and gas—and the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, along with its repercussions for the global oil market. It would have been fascinating to see how the author might have interpreted these developments.

What stands out most is the way the book sheds light on the broader economic and political context of energy, as well as the global connections and interdependencies that underpin the transition to an electrified future.

Ad libris (Sweden): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/new-map-9780141994635

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/The-New-Map/dp/0241472342

Book Review: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte

Publicerat i Biology, dinosaurs, NatureMärkt , , , Lämna en kommentar
Various dinosaurs in a lush valley with waterfalls, forests, and an active volcano background.

Book summary:

In ”The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs”, palaeontologist Steve Brusatte tells the 200-million-year story of dinosaurs: From their small beginnings to their global dominance and sudden extinction. The book brings dinosaurs to life as dynamic, evolving animals rather than slow, primitive reptiles.

Dinosaurs first appeared after a massive extinction about 252 million years ago. At first, they were small and overshadowed by other reptiles, but environmental changes and new opportunities allowed them to diversify. During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, dinosaurs evolved into a stunning variety of forms: From enormous, long-necked herbivores to powerful predators like Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex for the rest of this post).

One of the book’s most important insights is that birds are living dinosaurs. Fossil discoveries, especially feathered species, show that feathers and flight evolved gradually. This means dinosaurs never fully disappeared. They still exist today in the form of birds.

After ruling Earth for around 150 million years, most dinosaurs were wiped out 66 million years ago when a massive asteroid struck Earth, causing global climate collapse. Small bird-like dinosaurs survived, and their descendants continue to thrive today.

Bottom line: Dinosaurs weren’t just giant extinct creatures. They were adaptable survivors whose legacy still lives above us in the skies.

Why I read the book:

When I was a pre-schooler and primary school student, like many others, I loved dinosaurs and read many books about them. However, after turning twelve I had read nothing about these pre-histori creatures until I came across the book ”The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs” by Steve Brusatte.

To be honest, the main reason I decided to read it is that I now have the next generation of dinosaur-enthusiastic pre-schooler at home. I felt that I wanted to know more about dinosaurs to engage in meaningful and deeper conversations with my daughter about the science behind them. I wanted to talk to her not only about how dinosaurs were very big and cool animals, but also about deeper scientific concepts. This book has really helped me with this.

For example, my daughter and me had a conversation about how dinosaurs evolved into birds that are still around. This concept is today mentioned in most dinosaur books for pre-schoolers. (It was not when I was a child.) When my daughter asked me if T-rex turned into a bird, I could confidently answer that it was not T-rex himself, but a related species of biped, meat-eating dinosaurs, a cousin so to speak.

This turned into a discussion about what features T-rex and other biped, meat-eating dinosaurs had that we still see in birds today. Brusattes book really helped me with some similarities here, which I would not have known to mention to my daughter otherwise.

We came up with:

  • their feet look very similar
  • some biped, meat-eating dinosaurs had feathers
  • they lay eggs with hard shells
  • most biped, meat-eating dinosaurs could run very fast like some birds today (ostrich, emu, nandu, chicken)
  • caring for their young
  • fast growth

What I though if the book:

Despite originally reading it to keep up with my child’s ever-growing dinosaur knowledge, it turned out that I actually enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in science and nature. The following paragraphs describe why that is.

What I really liked about the book is how Brusatte blends his personal experiences foraging for fossils with the evolution of dinosaurs. He tells you about trips he took looking for fossils, trips to labs or even just having discussions with other scientists and fits this into the different periods that dinosaurs were around on Earth. Sometimes, this can feel a bit drawn out and slow, but for the most part it succeeds in bringing palaeontology to life. It also gives you a very good idea about what the work of a palaeontologist is like today and what tools they have at their disposal when researching pre-historic life.

Brusatte also succeeds at bringing scenes from the world of the dinosaurs to live. I will never forget the scene where he describes a T-rex hunting some Edmontosaurus on a riverbank. It really feels like you are there watching it together with the poor Triceratops on the other side of the river. The same goes for the scene describing how a pack of T-rexes would have experienced the asteroid impact that caused their extinction 66 million years ago.

I was first a bit sceptical that a whole chapter was dedicated solely to T-rex. I felt a bit like: ”Have we not heard enough of T-rex? Everyone knows about him.” But I learned a lot of new facts about T-rex (that I can share with my dinosaur-crazy pre-schooler) and am glad now I did not jump this chapter like I first wanted to. For example, I had no idea palaeontologists believe they may have lived in packs. Nor did I know that they are assumed to have been quite smart, about as smart as chimpanzees based on the ratio of their brain size versus body size!

I also loved how Brusatte covers the evolution and changes of ecosystems during the time of the dinosaurs. This is no easy feat considering the number of changes taking place over this time like the supercontinent Pangaea slowly breaking up into the continents we know today. It also reminded me how short the time is that we humans have been around. Our genus ”Homo” has only been around for 2 to 3 million years and our species ”Homo sapiens” only for a meagre 300 000 years. That is nothing compared to how long dinosaurs ruled the Earth from the late Triassic to the late Cretaceous, for more than 150 million years.