Book · 2023 · Political Science
Cobalt Red
How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives
Why people recommend it
Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara is a harrowing investigation into the human and environmental costs of mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan repeatedly brought up the book during different episodes, including conversations with guests RZA and Louis CK, to expose the dark realities of the global technology supply chain. Rogan emphasized the chilling subtitle, noting how the blood of the Congo powers the modern world. He described the conditions documented in the book as utterly horrific, detailing how vulnerable populations, including young women and slave laborers, are exploited to extract the cobalt necessary for modern electronics and electric vehicles. Rogan used the book to underscore the severe humanitarian crisis hidden behind corporate success and consumer convenience. The text serves as a stark warning and a thorough journalistic exposure of modern slavery, corporate negligence, and the devastating local consequences of global economic demands for green energy transition materials.
Who recommended it
- Joe Rogan Discussed
Joe Rogan — 2 mentions
“And uh that is cobalt red. The blood of the Congo powers our lives.”
“he wrote this is it called Cobalt red is that what it's called it's out uh a new it's out at the end of this month it's not even oh what they do to get the it's horrific yeah I mean horrific it's all it's all slaves it's slaves it's women who are 19 years old with Cobalt red how”