Steel
From Mine to Mill, the Metal that Made America
Published on 30. July 2015
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-0-7603-4742-3 (ISBN)
Description
Steel provides the backbone for modern civilization - read all about its history, journey, and place in the world.
What is steel? How does it work? Why has it been so important? Who are the people who make it? How do they make it? Steel: From Mine to Mill, the Metal that Made America answers these questions.
Improperly understood until about 150 years ago and available until then only in small quantities, the metal itself is a delicate dance of iron crystals interspersed with carbon and - depending on intended service - other elements such as nickel, chromium, and molybdenum. Once deciphered, steel began to flow from hearths in increasing amounts for the building of railroads, steel ships, skyscrapers, and bridges, in the process raising to world economic dominance Great Britain, Germany, the United States, Japan, and the Soviet Union. The world's current largest producer is China.
While researching this book, author Brooke C. Stoddard descended into Mesabi Iron Range open-pit iron mines, rode with 58,000 tons of iron ore on a 1,000-foot ore boat from Duluth to Cleveland, climbed to the top of the hemisphere's largest blast furnace, interviewed men as they toiled next to their furnaces of liquid steel, and walked the immense rolling mills where steel is pressed into finished products.
Along the way, he wrote a narrative of iron and steel from pre-history through the Industrial Revolution and into the present age.
Steel is the sinew of modern civilization.
What is steel? How does it work? Why has it been so important? Who are the people who make it? How do they make it? Steel: From Mine to Mill, the Metal that Made America answers these questions.
Improperly understood until about 150 years ago and available until then only in small quantities, the metal itself is a delicate dance of iron crystals interspersed with carbon and - depending on intended service - other elements such as nickel, chromium, and molybdenum. Once deciphered, steel began to flow from hearths in increasing amounts for the building of railroads, steel ships, skyscrapers, and bridges, in the process raising to world economic dominance Great Britain, Germany, the United States, Japan, and the Soviet Union. The world's current largest producer is China.
While researching this book, author Brooke C. Stoddard descended into Mesabi Iron Range open-pit iron mines, rode with 58,000 tons of iron ore on a 1,000-foot ore boat from Duluth to Cleveland, climbed to the top of the hemisphere's largest blast furnace, interviewed men as they toiled next to their furnaces of liquid steel, and walked the immense rolling mills where steel is pressed into finished products.
Along the way, he wrote a narrative of iron and steel from pre-history through the Industrial Revolution and into the present age.
Steel is the sinew of modern civilization.
Reviews / Votes
"Stoddard writes vividly about the history of steel from antiquity to the 21st century, there are dozens of spectacular photographs, and he profiles a score of the tough, knowledgable men who worked on Great Lakes ore boats and at Baltimore's famous Sparrows Point steelworks. His fine book honors the American industry that once symbolized this nation's strength and glory." * Washington Post * "Offering a satisfying mixture of history, science, and technology, Steel is a worthy book, and its up-close and-gritty look at this indispensable building block of modernity is sure to be appealing." * Civil Engineering * "Brooke C. Stoddard has written an exceptional book that highlights the captivating history of steel and its use to create industries, generate wealth, and build nations. STEEL - From Mine to Mill, the Metal that made America is a fascinating and riveting read." * Structure Magazine * "The story in "Steel" is that what goes up, must come down. Steel is permanent. Paper fortunes come and go." * MinnesotaBrown.com * "Read this fascinating story of iron and steel from pre-history through the Industrial Revolution and into the present age. Combining historical research with engaging firsthand reporting, this book dives into the world of modern steelmaking." * New Equipment Digest * "Mr. Stoddard's narrative ventures into the mills and the ships and beside the workers. Combined with the historical and modern contexts for steel, the result is a deep dive that remains accessible and relatable to the casual reader. It humanizes the subject." * GW Magazine *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc
Illustrations
62 color & 60 b-w photos
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7603-4742-3 (9780760347423)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brooke C. Stoddard is the author of World in the Balance: The Perilous Months of June-October 1940 (Potomac, 2011). He is a lifelong professional writer.
He worked as a writer and editor at Time-Life Books from 1977 to 1983 and as a book project manager at National Geographic from 2007 to 2009. Between and since, he has worked independently writing stories for the Washington Post, Smithsonian magazine's website, Historic Preservation, and many other periodicals. Some of his more technology and manufacturing stories have appeared in Electric Perspectives, American Gas, Chemical Process Safety Report, McGraw-Hill's Federal Technology Report, and Cutting Tool Engineering. He is the former editor of Military Heritage magazine.
He worked as a writer and editor at Time-Life Books from 1977 to 1983 and as a book project manager at National Geographic from 2007 to 2009. Between and since, he has worked independently writing stories for the Washington Post, Smithsonian magazine's website, Historic Preservation, and many other periodicals. Some of his more technology and manufacturing stories have appeared in Electric Perspectives, American Gas, Chemical Process Safety Report, McGraw-Hill's Federal Technology Report, and Cutting Tool Engineering. He is the former editor of Military Heritage magazine.