Mark C. Thurber is Associate Director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University.
“Coal pushed the industrial era into existence. Today, with global warming, coal is among the biggest threats. Mark Thurber applies his sharp analytical mind, the balance of an historian, and an elegant pen to this vital subject. Everyone will learn something important from this lovely little book.” David Victor, University of California, San Diego “Thurber presents an overview of coal's role in past and present energy systems as well as key factors affecting its future in both developed and developing countries, offering a clear non-polemical analysis of coal's economic, environmental, and energy security attributes.” Howard Gruenspecht, former Deputy Administrator, US Energy Information Administration