This book is an adventure tale, a fascinating memoir, a cautionary lesson, and a look at an industry that benefits millions of people yet remains a mystery to most.

Jeremy Thomas Gilmer's career in the mining and dam fields describes in amazing detail his work climbing dams to inspect for cracks, working in -30 degree weather in the Northwest Territories to inspect diamond mines, many times keeping lower-level managers who only want to get the job done as quickly and as cheaply as possible (thank goodness there is still some level of oversight in these industries), and traveling the world to remote places, where most mining is done. There are mines for gold, silver, copper, lithium and diamonds (plus many other valuable minerals).

Since most of the jobs are in places not really suitable for long-term habitation due to weather extremes or lack of necessities -- or in war zones. Gilmer takes the reader to Peru, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Panama, northern Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Angola, Suriname, and even Kings Mountain, N.C. (not far from where I live!). It's no wonder that Gilmer says many of the on-site employees at these mines are ex-military. One of the most harrowing chapters takes place in Bolivia, where fire season is in full swing, and he and a co-worker are literally driving through flames, downed burning trees and extreme heat and smoke to escape.

This memoir easily could have read like a textbook, but Gilmer is a gifted writer, and he asks a very important question in his introduction: "How do we heal our planet while also taking what we need?" There is no easy answer. Many companies do their best to do as little damage as possible to the environment, but it is so obvious that climate change, along with other factors, such as growing populations and lack of resources (jobs, housing, political issues, etc.), all portend for challenges to continue.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Vehicule Press for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this novel. Highly recommend.

I was thrilled to get an ARC from Net Galley. I think this is an incredible book! I hope it get a wide audience, because the topic is only the tip of what is covered in the pages.

Sprinkled with science, geology and history, It’s a memoir, a travel log and environmental awareness all in one book.
I am in a tangent field and appreciated a view into the larger scope and scale to the projects I am familiar with, but I think a novice to the field will find the book informative as well as entertaining. I highly recommend reading This Rare Earth.