Introduction: alchemy of a material world -- The pleasure of treasure. What lies beneath: the material and mystical origins of mineral wealth -- Creating value: the endurance of precious jewels -- The rush factor: tracing the mineral roots of global power through gold, coal, and oil -- Toil and...

"This volume addresses current concerns about the climate and environmental sustainability by exploring one of the key drivers of contemporary environmental problems: the role of status competition in generating what we consume, and what we throw away, to the detriment of the planet. Across time...