The world is for sale; money, power, and traders are bartering the Earth's resources.

Product details

The modern world is governed by commodities, from the oil that powers our cars to the metals that power our smartphones.
Have we ever wondered where these materials come from? We need to start looking for answers.

In this book, two prominent journalists reveal one of the most important and least discussed economic issues: the business dealings of billionaire traders who buy, store, and sell the Earth’s resources.

It is the story of a handful of arrogant businessmen who became indispensable cogs in the global markets, enabling a massive expansion in international trade and linking resource-rich countries, regardless of their corruption and wars, to the world's financial centers.

It is also the story of how some merchants acquired unimaginable political power, in full view of Western observers and politicians, which helped Saddam Hussein sell his oil, fuel the Libyan rebel army during the Arab Spring, and funnel money to the Kremlin under Vladimir Putin despite strict sanctions.

A fascinating journey through the most violent frontiers of the global economy, and a guide that reflects how capitalism really works.