Zoellner uranium talk at AGS meeting

Author and Tucson native, Tom Zoellner, will give a lecture titled "Uranium Since the Middle Ages and the Atomic Legacy of the West" at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, September 1 at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel on the southeast corner of Campbell and Speedway. This lecture is based on his recent book Uranium, War, Energy and the Rock that Reshaped the World, published by Viking Penguin.

Antigone Books on 4th St. has arranged for a book signing before and after the lecture. He will also be signing copies of "The Heartless Stone: a Journey through the world of diamonds, deceit and desire."

Mr. Zoellner has discussed his books on numerous national TV shows, including The Daily Show.

The lecture will be part of a dinner meeting of the Arizona Geological Society. There is no cost to attend the talk, but if you wish to join the Society for dinner, reservations must be made at (520) 663-5295 before August 28. The cost for dinner for non-members is $27.

Mr. Zoellner will be signing books from 6 to 7 PM and after 9 PM.

A few reviews of Mr. Zoellner's recent books:

"Part history and part travel narrative, the book presents the atomic age not through its scientists or grand strategists, but through its raw material..." - New York Times

"Zoellner vividly conveys both the potential benefits and the harm that uranium holds for human civilization...Policymakers and citizens alike need to read Uranium." - The Washington Post

"In this fine piece of journalism, Zoellner does for uranium what he did for diamonds in The Heartless Stone­he delves into the complex science, politics and history of this radioactive mineral, which presents the best and worst of mankind." - ­Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Tom Zoellner has written a stunning book about he calls the "apocalyptic pull of uranium." His reportage reads like a detective story with a cast of characters ranging from H.G. Wells to Robert Oppenheimer to A. Q. Khan. His writing is at once lyrical, historically informative and deeply investigative. Zoellner's engrossing history of uranium is a formidable achievement."
­Kai Bird, co-author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2006

[this post is taken from the announcement by Bob Kamilli, Program Chair for AGS]