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A Journey Through The World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire
by Tom Zoellner
Book Reviewed by:A journey across six continents to uncover the secrets behind one of our most luxurious and costly status symbols. Diamonds are not particularly rare in nature. Nor do they have any intrinsic value. So how did they become the birdcages for our deepest feelings of romantic love and commitment? The answers will surprise you, as this book takes a probing journey around the globe and into the human heart.
The first book to offer a panoramic and unflinching look at the modern
diamond industry, The Heartless Stone is a journey across six continents to uncover the secrets behind one of our
most luxurious and costly status symbols.
The book takes you inside illegal mines in Brazil, diamond smuggling rings in
Africa, exploration rigs above the Arctic Circle, the sweltering polishing shops
of India. You will meet De Beers executives in London, high-tech tunnel drillers
in Australia, advertising gurus in Japan, starving soldiers in Angola, chemists
in Siberia, dealers in Belgium. They are all part of a vast economy which
supports the most sustained, expensive and successful advertising campaign in
history.
Diamonds are not particularly rare in nature. Nor do they have any intrinsic
value. So how did they become the birdcages for our deepest feelings of romantic
love and commitment? The answers will surprise you, as this book takes a probing
journey around the globe and into the human heart.
Diamonds are not particularly rare in nature, nor do they have any intrinsic value, so how did they become the symbol of our deepest feelings of romantic love and commitment? Tom Zoellner ably answers this question by taking the reader on a fascinating journey around the world to reveal the bloody story behind the shiny gem found in the jewelry collections of 7 out of 10 American women...continued
Full Review
(405 words)
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Tom Zoellner has worked as a
contributing editor for Men's Health
magazine and as a reporter for the
San Francisco Chronicle. He is also
the co-author of
An Ordinary Man, the
autobiography of Paul Rusesabagina,
whose actions during the 1994 Rwandan
genocide were portrayed in the movie
Hotel Rwanda. Zoellner lives in New
York City and is at work on a third
book.
More about diamonds:
Global Witness is an NGO that works
to expose the link between natural
resource exploitation and human rights
abuses. Their website ...
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If you liked The Heartless Stone, try these:
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by Richard Fortey
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Fortey introduces the reader to the extraordinary people, meticulous research and driving passions that helped to create the timeless experiences of wonder that is London’s Natural History Museum.
Charles Bowden, Contributing editor of Esquire, and author of fourteen books including Blood Orchid: An Unnatural History of America.
This wonderful book takes us to the heart of the meaning of life and for many of us this heart beats in a cold gem that can slow the speed of light and whisper love with dollar signs. Diamonds mean so much because they are empty of any meaning save our hungers. My God, I would do nothing but read if all books were this honest and clean and true.
