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Title: Diamond

Subtitle: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession

Author: Matthew Hart

Narrator: Daniel Gerroll

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-07-01

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 126 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

The geology of diamonds explains how hard it is to find them. Diamonds are accidents of nature, carbon crystals compressed deep underground billions of years ago; parts of them, it is even thought, may predate the Earth itself. They are also elusive, carried to the surface only in slender volcanoes known as "pipes," most of which are actually barren.

Weaving science and history throughout his story, Hart follows the diamond trail around the globe - from the basement room where Gabi Tolkowsky, the world's greatest cutter, faced the 599-carat Centenary diamond, to the fog-bound smugglers' paradise of Africa's Diamond Coast, to the London sales rooms of De Beers, which manages the longest-running cartel in modern business history - encountering characters as memorable as the stones they seek.

By revealing the layers and inner workings of the diamond industry, and the inherent excitement and human drama that sustain it, Matthew Hart has captured the essence of an exotic substance and its world as surely as a diamond captures light: bending it, reflecting it, and returning it in a blaze of color.

Critic Reviews:

"Hart tells a great, great story while explaining one of the world's most mysterious industries. The book is first-rate and immensely readable." - (Sebastian Junger, author of Fire and The Perfect Storm

"Every chapter opened my eyes to another intriguing nook of this hidden world. Next to the diamond hunters, Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs and Wall Street's traders seem cautious and small time." - (Po Bronson, author of The Nudist on the Late Shift)

Members Reviews:

One of the best...

A documentary with the pace and appeal of a novel, this book delves into the history and detail of the diamond industry. De Beers' control of the diamond trade remains one of the most complete monopolies in the world, yet it also remains one of the most secretive groups in the world. This work takes you on a journey, tracing some of the famous diamonds through history as well as explaining the process that creates the diamonds we see today in jewelry stores. Terrific listening material!

Informative and Entertaining

This audio book was wonderful. It is exciting, informative, and dramatic. It is more like a novel than anything else, with villians, good guys, and even a heroine. The science and engineering involved are clearly explained without useless jargon. And the narrator is perfect for the role. One of the best audio books I have ever heard. Highest rating.

a

Great story about diamonds. Where they come from, how to find them, the development of the modern diamond industry...composed of third world countries, rich companies, flamboyant characters and sleight of hand. Story keeps moving along, not a boring moment.

Spectacular Story

I saw the female geologist (age 25) interviewed in 2000 after the big discovery in Canada, and a discussion of this book. I was happy to find it on audible. It does not disappoint. For the negative reviews, remember most of us know nothing about that 2K ring on our finger. The real stories ranging from the infancy of African pipe to Brazil, Australia and Canada, together with the known, unknown, legal and illict tales of jewels and those whose hands they slipped through is wonderful. I especially like the knowledgeable details the author provides...