The Elements of Power

“This book is not just a business story about power generation – the supply chain for lithium batteries – but about the abuse of power that goes into their creation. Niarchos’s forensic journalism exposes the path these vital elements take around the world, skilfully weaving the commercial, political and human implications. He reports on impoverished people in the Congo digging for cobalt with their bare hands, paying the price with their health and its use by some of the world’s wealthiest companies in the US and China, who turn a blind eye to how it is sourced. While the electrification of vehicles may further the green agenda, this book shines an important light on the trade-off humanity is making by using these metals.” Read more...

The Best Politics Books of 2026: The Orwell Prize for Political Writing

The judges of the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Writing