Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, another favorite for this year! I was surprised by how much I loved this!!! I thought it would be kinda dry, but it was such a fun read and super quick because the author's style really pulls you in. It was fascinating to learn about phosphorus (hear me out!!!) and the different ways it either occurs or was made/used.

It felt like this book was eerily exactly targeted to me as a reader lol- Hamburg (where I live), amber hunting on the Baltic Sea coast (recently did that), Mary Anning (historical fossil-finder and paleontologist, played by Kate Winslet in the iconic lesbian drama Ammonite (2020)), algal blooms in the ocean (relevant to my field), wastewater treatment (I read a great book about toilets leave me alone), the history of laundry detergent (okay not a special interest of mine but it was freaking cool), etc. etc. etc., this book truly has it all!

This was particularly interesting for me as someone who lives in Hamburg and recently vacationed on Usedom, because both places are particularly prominent in this book. The fire that burned through Hamburg during the second World War was caused by phosphorus bombs, and that is the reason you can still find phosphorus chunks along the Elbe River today. Usedom was also similarly bombed, and beachcombers hunting for amber on the Baltic Sea coast there can also have an unfortunate mix-up of finding phosphorus, which when exposed to the warmth of your pocket instead of the cold of the sea will burst into flames (the author recounts a very scary first-hand account of someone to whom that happened). Andddd phosphorus as a chemical element was discovered in Hamburg in the 1600s, andddd Hamburg has one of the first water treatment plants that is attempting to recover phosphorus from waste! *mind-blown emoji*

So yea aside from the hype about north Germany, there is a lot of interesting information about phosphorus mining in Florida and Morocco, both of which I did not know anything about. The author also covers the history of laundry detergents and artificial fertilizers (initially made from chunks of fossilized poo!), both of which contribute to the overdosing of our waterways with phosphorus, which leads to harmful algal blooms in both fresh and saltwater. There are also some interesting bits about the agriculture industry in general.

Overall I adored this book, so far probably my favorite of the year! Would definitely recommend as this is the farthest thing from the dry chemistry book that I initially imagined it to be!

Dan Egan does a masterful job outlining what phosphorus is, how utterly dependent we are on it, and the horrors that have resulted from its overuse and overreliance in agriculture. The fact that this book is as accessible as it is while also being quite detailed is a minor miracle.

The most haunting fact in this book is that, of everything that is needed for crops to grow, phosphorus is the one element that we cannot find apart from itself. This is why there is always a rush to claim and mine sources of phosphorus like guano islands and the phosphorus rock deposits of Florida. There is a massive ecological impact to these mining operations, and, as a cherry on top, the overuse of phosphorus has led to toxic algae blooms and overreliance on it has left the world unprepared for when phosphorus reserves are depleted.

Everyone is impacted by this so I cannot recommend it enough to all readers.

A well-researched look into the the importance of phosphorus in food production while also addressing the danger it has on water resources. As the earth's population grows, so does the need for increased food production, leading to mismanagement of phosphorus as a fertilizer without considering the resulting environmental effects. In particular, the runoff of phosphorus in agriculture into the surrounding watersheds leads to toxic algal blooms affecting marine creatures and human health. Egan explores the way past and current methods of farming have led to this crisis and makes a case for improving phosphorus management to prevent overuse and further damage to the ecosystem. Overall, an engaging and informative read that tackles a subject many may not be familiar with but should begin to think about.

I loved this book. The storytelling is great and Egan makes his points clearly through his own journey and through real-life situations. The science is very clearly explained and there is a lot of history discussed. There is even some humor. Best of all, the book shows the danger of phosphates in a lucid way, with the right amount of gravitas without being preachy. Overall this is a great read. Even the acknowledgements had a couple of pearls. Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the digital review copy.

This is perhaps the best ARC that I've ever had the opportunity to read, and it will be on my list of top books from the year. I requested this book as it so closely aligns with my PhD research about nutrient cycling in midwestern lakes (especially the contributions of consumers), and I flew through the book in about two days! Many science books lack a "narrative arc", but Dan Egan definitely delivered! The book starts with a modern issue and clearly explained the importance of phosphorus to all living things, and I think this will help "hook" readers from outside the sciences. Then, the book is chronologically organized examining phosphorus uses/mining over the years along with the cultural and scientific issues that were caused by these advancements.

As a scientist, I am already well aware of the issues caused to environments due to phosphorus loading. However, I was unaware of much of the history that was presented as well as the global conflicts that have been caused (and are likely to occur in the future). Dan Egan has provided us with a gem of a book that will expand the knowledge of nearly every reader. Furthermore, I was in awe as a reader that Egan conducted extensive research on phosphorus yet wrote the book to be approachable for non-experts. Seriously, a feat in science communication! Personally, I could see myself using this book in a college ecology or environmental science course in the future. I've also recommended it to all of my fellow graduate students.

Thank you so much WW Norton for this ARC!