'Essential reading' Rory Sutherland author of Alchemy 'Possibly the best-timed book ever'
Merryn Somerset Webb Bloomberg Gold (noun): A precious yellow metal prized for its
beauty. Inert immune to corrosion highly malleable though with little utility. Seen as pure
wealth. The definitive biography of the metal that has shaped our world - and may yet
determine its fate. The Secret History of Gold tells the epic tale of the world's oldest
and most treasured currency. From its origins in the formation of the solar system to its
pivotal role in both ancient myth and modern finance Dominic Frisby explores with wit and
brevity how gold has defined the entire course of human civilisation. Gold has inspired men
to do the most brilliant - and terrible - things. The most stolen metal in history it has
lured explorers conquerors and thieves. It has sparked wars it has built empires it has
empowered leaders - from Alexander the Great to Adolf Hitler - good and bad. As nations today
such as China and Russia mine and hoard gold at record rates Frisby examines its enduring
significance in the digital age and its potential to influence global peace and power. This
is the untold story of gold: its past its present and its future. ' A fabulous fascinating
fantastical tale' Matt Ridley author of How Innovation Works 'Well-researched and
razor-sharp' Al Murray comedian and historian
