Lockwood (neurology & nuclear medicine, emeritus, SUNY Buffalo) contends that coal-derived pollutants are causing significant disease and death in the United States. About half of the nation's electricity is generated by 600 coal-fired power plants, which burn a billion tons of coal each year. Lockwood discusses some of the hazardous substances these plants release, in spite of pollution-control equipment, and their effects on public health. While coal is called an affordable resource, Lockwood points out that each plant averages $156 million per year in calculated damages. He states that coal mining and burning also play a part in climate change. Carbon dioxide capture and storage could help, he believes, but the industry has not even begun to implement that complex technology. Lockwood, who was the lead author of a 2009 white paper, "Coal's Assault on Human Health," fills the book with references to many other scientific studies and government reports. VERDICT This book is an urgent call for Americans to support a rapid shift to cleaner electric power sources. The evidence provided should be of vital interest to everyone who uses electricity.—David Conn, formerly with Surrey Libs., BC