Black Gold

Coals central role in Americas history and its ongoing threats in the climate crisis. For decades coal has been crucial to Americas culture, society, and environment, an essential ingredient in driving out winters cold, cooking meals, and lighting the dark. In the coalfields and beyond, Bob Wyss describes how this magical elixir sparked the Industrial Revolution, powered railroads, and built urban skylines, while providing home comforts for families. Coals history and heritage are fundamental to understanding its legacy of threats to Americas well-being. As industry developed so did clashes between powerful tycoons, coal miners, and innocent families. Exploitation and avarice led to victimization, deadly violence, and ultimately the American labor movement. More recently coal has endangered American lives and safety, brought on by two centuries of carbon combustion, and here the threat remains unresolved. This is coals most enduring legacy, and Black Gold is pivotal in helping us understand how we got to this point.