Praise for The Carbon Age

"In order to understand the issue of climate change—or for that matter almost any issue relating to energy and life—it's necessary to understand carbon. Fortunately, it's an absolutely fascinating element, as Eric Roston shows in this delightful book. His narrative is a wonderful way to relish some basic science as well as understand some of the most profound policy issues we face."
— Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of Einstein: His Life and Universe.

"The story of carbon is our story, of course. It's an exciting journey — from cyanobacteria through the old and new gingko tree, to the intellectual wonder of organic synthesis, and our dangerous romance with the internal combustion engine. Eric Roston is a super storyteller!"
— Roald Hoffmann, Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters, Cornell University, and 1981 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

"With delightful verve and zest, Roston explores the awesomely cornucopian roles of carbon, ranging from cosmic to cellular, from climate to cancer. He also makes a compelling case that human destiny and carbon are now inextricably coupled."
— Dudley Herschbach, Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science, Harvard University, and 1986 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

"If you thought oxygen was important wait 'til you read this brilliantly researched tale of carbon: the element that makes possible diamonds, the 'lead' in your pencil, even 'you'... and is likely to occupy many headlines in the years ahead because we can't live without it and we may not be able to live with it."
— Norman R. Augustine, former Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation and chairman of the study, Rising Above the Gathering Storm.

"Carbon, the citizen king of elements, governs who we are and what life is — but the king is going mad! Citizens, revolt against the despots, or all may be lost!"
— James E. Hansen, director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

"Roston's fascinating excursion into the many lives of the carbon atom is a most accessible and thoroughly enjoyable way to gain real insight into a series of profoundly important subjects including, notably, the hellish risks we now face with climate change. I liked this book and plan to read it again."
— James Gustave Speth, dean, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

"Eric Roston provides an unparalleled tour of carbon's role — it is generated in the stars and cycles through earth's systems, providing the building blocks for life itself. Roston breaks out of the silos of the scientific disciplines, demonstrating that understanding carbon requires a wide range of modern science — from evolution and climate change to human biology. It is a journey that every reader will find surprising and thoroughly enjoy."
— Richard A. Meserve, President of the Carnegie Institution for Science