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Sellout: How Washington Gave Away America's Technological Soul, and One Man's Fight to Bring It Home
The story of one citizen's fight to preserve a US stake in the future of clean energy and the elements essential to high tech industries and national defense.
American technological prowess used to be unrivaled. But because of globalization, and with the blessing of the U.S. government, once proprietary materials, components and technologies are increasingly commercialized outside the U.S. Nowhere is this more dangerous than in China's monopoly of rare earth elements-materials that are essential for nearly all modern consumer goods, gadgets and weapons systems.
Jim Kennedy is a retired securities portfolio manager who bought a bankrupt mining operation. The mine was rich in rare earth elements, but he soon discovered that China owned the entire global supply and manufacturing chain. Worse, no one in the federal government cared. Dismayed by this discovery, Jim made a plan to restore America's rare earth industry. His plan also allowed technology companies to manufacture rare earth dependent technologies in the United States again and develop safe, clean nuclear energy. For years, Jim lobbied Congress, the Pentagon, the White House Office of Science and Technology, and traveled the globe to gain support. Exhausted, down hundreds of thousands of dollars, and with his wife at her wits' end, at the start of 2017, Jim sat on the edge of victory, held his breath and bet it all that his government would finally do the right thing.
Like Beth Macy's Factory Man , this is the story of one man's efforts to stem the dehumanizing tide of globalization and Washington's reckless inaction. Jim's is a fight we need to join.
American technological prowess used to be unrivaled. But because of globalization, and with the blessing of the U.S. government, once proprietary materials, components and technologies are increasingly commercialized outside the U.S. Nowhere is this more dangerous than in China's monopoly of rare earth elements-materials that are essential for nearly all modern consumer goods, gadgets and weapons systems.
Jim Kennedy is a retired securities portfolio manager who bought a bankrupt mining operation. The mine was rich in rare earth elements, but he soon discovered that China owned the entire global supply and manufacturing chain. Worse, no one in the federal government cared. Dismayed by this discovery, Jim made a plan to restore America's rare earth industry. His plan also allowed technology companies to manufacture rare earth dependent technologies in the United States again and develop safe, clean nuclear energy. For years, Jim lobbied Congress, the Pentagon, the White House Office of Science and Technology, and traveled the globe to gain support. Exhausted, down hundreds of thousands of dollars, and with his wife at her wits' end, at the start of 2017, Jim sat on the edge of victory, held his breath and bet it all that his government would finally do the right thing.
Like Beth Macy's Factory Man , this is the story of one man's efforts to stem the dehumanizing tide of globalization and Washington's reckless inaction. Jim's is a fight we need to join.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 6, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 18, 2017
This is a Goodreads win review. This book is about how America used to be unrivaled in technology. But we have been very generous with sharing this information and China has a vast supply rare elements that work our gadgets and weapons. Mr. Kennedy bought a mine but he found out China owned the world supply. It would have been nice if anyone in the government cared about this. He worked for many years to develop clean nuclear energy. This is a pretty inspiring book.
September 5, 2017
An excellent non-fiction book which could almost be a Grisham-style thriller, except that the true events related here just don't resolve quickly enough. But THAT is the whole reason this book needed to be written.
Many of the non-fiction books (biographies or climate change) I've read are interesting & certainly worth reading, but can only be read a few pages at a time so that a person can properly absorb the information. Not so with Bruce's Sellout. I would go so far as to call this a page turner, as on a couple of days I read multiple chapters. It's almost like sitting in a cafe and hearing secrets being openly discussed at the next table - you just can't get enough! Now I actually knew a fair amount about the issues discussed in this book; but Victoria Bruce, with her geologist's background, dug deep into the backstory of both the people and places related throughout. I actually only knew portions of the second half and nearly nothing of the first half of this book. I was privileged enough to meet the author recently and was left with the impression that this was more than just a writing assignment for her. This project seems to have fundamentally changed her understanding of the macro-issues facing our civilization in the early 21st century. It is this journey of reassessment through due diligence which she adeptly shares with the reader. [And Ms. Bruce is certainly welcome to keep the gel pen which was inadvertently kept when an autograph line quickly formed behind me ;-)]
Books like this are what great movies are made of. Hopefully this will be picked up by a quality script-writer who stays true to the detailed facts and allows this inane story to reach the widest possible audience. If there's any doubt at this point, I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Here is an interview about the book, Sellout. https://youtu.be/FiUqK2uwAz0
Many of the non-fiction books (biographies or climate change) I've read are interesting & certainly worth reading, but can only be read a few pages at a time so that a person can properly absorb the information. Not so with Bruce's Sellout. I would go so far as to call this a page turner, as on a couple of days I read multiple chapters. It's almost like sitting in a cafe and hearing secrets being openly discussed at the next table - you just can't get enough! Now I actually knew a fair amount about the issues discussed in this book; but Victoria Bruce, with her geologist's background, dug deep into the backstory of both the people and places related throughout. I actually only knew portions of the second half and nearly nothing of the first half of this book. I was privileged enough to meet the author recently and was left with the impression that this was more than just a writing assignment for her. This project seems to have fundamentally changed her understanding of the macro-issues facing our civilization in the early 21st century. It is this journey of reassessment through due diligence which she adeptly shares with the reader. [And Ms. Bruce is certainly welcome to keep the gel pen which was inadvertently kept when an autograph line quickly formed behind me ;-)]
Books like this are what great movies are made of. Hopefully this will be picked up by a quality script-writer who stays true to the detailed facts and allows this inane story to reach the widest possible audience. If there's any doubt at this point, I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Here is an interview about the book, Sellout. https://youtu.be/FiUqK2uwAz0
July 10, 2017
I highly recommend this book to bring you up on one of the most important issues of our time.
This was a stunning book for me to read. Jim Kennedy, the central figure in this book, was my "inside source" from Washington DC, as well as my expert vetter when I wrote Rare Mettle: A Silicon Valley Novel. My premise initially was simply the impact of China on our technological dependence, and the myopia of Silicon Valley executives to ignore the problem from a business perspective. Jim filled me in on the broader issue of our military reliance on China's good graces, the economic fallout in the commodities market when one company/country dominates the supply (and narrative), and the concept of Thorium being the solution for our long-term energy needs.
Victoria Bruce has done a great job chronicling the people involved, the battles they have fought behind the scenes on our behalf, and the inability of our political system to keep pace with technological advances, especially in keeping our supply lines open and reliable in case of war. No one wishes that to happen with China, but we'd be foolish to pretend that we know, unequivocally, what is going on in each Chinese leader's head. As we change leaders every few years, so do they. However, our country needs to be protected regardless of the political climate, otherwise we will lose our freedoms, too.
June 14, 2017
SELLOUT 5 stars
This book, wonderfully written, will shock you. It may be as unbelievable to you as it was to me; to find out that the US government not only didn’t worry about Chinese dominance in a vital technological area, it told the Chinese scientists everything they needed to know.
The result is frightening. Rare earth metals are needed by all industrial countries. They are in everything. China controls them all, and just by stopping or limiting their export, China can bring a nation to its knees.
Bruce is a geologist and investigative journalist who discovered a securities analyst/mine owner, who has spent years to solve this problem. Jim Kennedy, whose horrific childhood would seem to have been impossible to overcome, has a plan: the US, Korea, Japan and Western Europe would form a rare-earth “cooperative”. It would mine, develop and manufacture in each of the member countries. Dependence on China would be over.
This book, wonderfully written, will shock you. It may be as unbelievable to you as it was to me; to find out that the US government not only didn’t worry about Chinese dominance in a vital technological area, it told the Chinese scientists everything they needed to know.
The result is frightening. Rare earth metals are needed by all industrial countries. They are in everything. China controls them all, and just by stopping or limiting their export, China can bring a nation to its knees.
Bruce is a geologist and investigative journalist who discovered a securities analyst/mine owner, who has spent years to solve this problem. Jim Kennedy, whose horrific childhood would seem to have been impossible to overcome, has a plan: the US, Korea, Japan and Western Europe would form a rare-earth “cooperative”. It would mine, develop and manufacture in each of the member countries. Dependence on China would be over.
June 21, 2017
Victoria Bruce's latest book tells how China currently has the monopoly on the production of rare earth elements - the elements needed in missile systems for national defense, as well as elements in your smart phone. They didn't start out with a monopoly though, they bought it from us, the United States of America, where we no longer produce these elements and rely on China to provide them. Why aren't rare earths produced here anymore? Radioactive thorium is a by-product of rare earth mining. The book centers the story around Jim Kennedy, a "cowboy" and mid-western mine owner that hopes to revive his mine. He teams up with John Kutsch, the founder of the Thorium Energy Alliance, in hopes of solving both problems with nuclear energy plants that use thorium instead of uranium --- far safer than our current nuclear plants. An engrossing tale describing the amazing story of how China came to dominate the rare earth market.
July 17, 2017
I really loved this book! It is horrifying though! Everyone should read it in order to acquaint themselves with the actual status of rare earth minerals in the US. Once they do, I think a lot of people should take the time to sue Molycorp for deceiving the American people and the US government. This will bring press attention the ACTUAL absence of rare earth processing capabilities in the US.
I really appreciated learning about Thorium energy as well! Even if we have to buy our own technology back from the Chinese at this point I think it's worth it to get Thorium energy up and running for a sustainable future.
If no part of this review made sense to you, read Sellout to learn more!
I really appreciated learning about Thorium energy as well! Even if we have to buy our own technology back from the Chinese at this point I think it's worth it to get Thorium energy up and running for a sustainable future.
If no part of this review made sense to you, read Sellout to learn more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2017
Extraordinary Kafkian ground view of what it's like to get the government to hear an important message when there are too many 'good' reasons to not listen. "Rare earths are a great example of, first of all, denying that there's a problem, and second, being unwilling to do anything about it because it's too hard." -Brigadier General John Adams.
November 19, 2017
This is such a wonderful book. Well written and interesting. I truly enjoyed reading it. I would recommend everyone to read it.
I received a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for sending me this wonderful book.
I received a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for sending me this wonderful book.
June 25, 2018
Fantastic read! I found this story to unravel in such an unbelievable way. So impressed by the research that went into telling this story. Quite eye opening how little we seem to care, and how little I understood the big picture problem. Thanks for writing such an informative tale!
September 11, 2017
This is a story about how the US, and indeed, the entire world, has lost control of the mining and refining of rare earth elements, with China left holding all the cards. REEs, which are necessary for virtually all high-tech devices, and many low-tech ones as well, are now exclusively mined and processed in China. On a whim, that nation could essentially stop production ability of all but the lowest-tech devices in the defense industry, and virtually all consumer electronics, so strong is this chokehold. Victoria Bruce tells this story in an eminently readable way, and I found this to be as much of a page-turner as any well-written novel.
That the story has not been told more widely is very concerning for those of us that care about our country’s ability to assure our security, and compete in the global marketplace. Bruce makes the compelling case, though, so I hope this book is seen and read by those in positions of making our national decisions about these things, and those advising them.
The narrative here covers not only just the issue of rare earth elements (and the related nuclear technology that goes along with it), but also the incredibly interesting lives of Jim Kennedy, who has spent untold years and dollars to get this issue addressed, John Kutsch, and others. It was riveting to follow along as these folks work with politicians, military top brass, huge corporations, national labs and foreign governments to find a way to clear the roadblocks and secure funding to unlock the REE monopoly held by China, and at the same time help usher in a new era of thorium-based nuclear energy with the potential to change the world.
Anyone with an interest in national security and/or national energy policy should read this book.
That the story has not been told more widely is very concerning for those of us that care about our country’s ability to assure our security, and compete in the global marketplace. Bruce makes the compelling case, though, so I hope this book is seen and read by those in positions of making our national decisions about these things, and those advising them.
The narrative here covers not only just the issue of rare earth elements (and the related nuclear technology that goes along with it), but also the incredibly interesting lives of Jim Kennedy, who has spent untold years and dollars to get this issue addressed, John Kutsch, and others. It was riveting to follow along as these folks work with politicians, military top brass, huge corporations, national labs and foreign governments to find a way to clear the roadblocks and secure funding to unlock the REE monopoly held by China, and at the same time help usher in a new era of thorium-based nuclear energy with the potential to change the world.
Anyone with an interest in national security and/or national energy policy should read this book.
July 28, 2017
Overall a good read. As a physicist, some explanations were a little less than they could have been but I understand the need to keep it readable for everyone. As someone who has worked in DoD and DOE his entire career, I could understand the inertia and frustration Victoria found say at ORNL and/or the DoD. Many times it is necessary to find a sponsor or patron on the inside who can adopt their version of the vision and implement it in order to make progress. The same is true on the Hill. The book seems to suggest adopting a thorium fuel cycle would be easy -- it would be decidedly difficult -- and very expensive. I think you would have benefited from a more balanced view about why nuclear power is now hard to do. I am a nuclear engineer and believe in this energy source - but it has many true challenges to address. I would have shortened Jim's history - very interesting - but many key players today have had equally 'interesting beginnings' and the amount of detail I think provides a drag on Jim's credibility later in the book. I would welcome meeting the author as I currently work in an area of DoD where rare earth elements are quite relevant and I live in Alexandria VA - not far from AA County MD. I have visited ORNL many times having worked substantial collaborations with them while at LLNL.
February 11, 2018
"Capturing the rare earth value chain was just a part of China's far-reaching strategy. The ultimate plan was to get a tight grip on the beating heart of American enterprise." [p186] Republican politicians, seemingly oblivious and enamored with Milton Friedman's free market ideology, for 30 years aided China's objectives. Rare earths (neodymium, serium, lanthamum, etc.) are essential to the viability of many high-tech applications, including military. By outwitting U.S. officials, China now has a virtual monopoly on many rare earths, so for access the U.S. (especially military) must now kowtow to China's whim. Another sell out relates to nuclear energy. By infiltrating poorly secured U.S. labs, China has co-opted thorium salt-melt technology, touted as superior to and safer than current high-pressure water core cooling methods. Thank you Virginia Bruce for this informative book. I learn much and appreciate your thoroughgoing research and straightforward narrative .
July 15, 2017
Very interesting book about how America is slowly giving away our intellectual property to China in the name of corporate greed. Our dependence on China for rare earth elements (needed to produce most electronics, defense weaponry and national security satellite systems) is staggering. This dependency on China could endanger our national security at its core. This book should be extremely interesting to those interested in science, research, energy, politics, and defense issues. Learned a lot reading this book. Victoria Bruce writes in easy to understand lingo, so that even non scientists can follow the narrative. "He who controls the resources controls the conversation." Scary to think how governmental action (or non action) will influence the history of our world. Thought provoking book.
July 1, 2017
Looking for summer reading? Sellout is a true story that reads like a thriller. From page one, Victoria Bruce engages the reader in Jim Kennedy's mission to convince the US government that we have given away an industrial and economic opportunity to China -- the processing of rare earth elements. If you're not familiar with rare earths, they are part of our everyday technology: cell phones, car starters, military devices. Allowing China to control the development of all rare earths is a huge national security risk. Follow Jim and his compatriots as they fight to get a major technological and economical development back on American soil.
September 6, 2017
Highly important and topical material. As a reader with little to no background in physics or geology, the book offers not only concrete explanations of the functioning of rare earths and how they're used, but also the policy implications that are jeopardizing the technological future of America.
July 25, 2017
Well written and worth knowing - a must read for those who wonder what's happening to America's role in the world...
February 8, 2021
If you think about the future of America, capitalism, and democracy, this is a must read.
September 30, 2019
This is an interesting and informative update on world events, as such things have indeed happened in the recent past. I need to return it to a library near where I'd go to visit my grandmother, or else I'd keep it longer.
The discussion of what damage Chernobyl and Fukushima have wrought on the Earth is worth plenty of appreciation, beyond the "technological" aspect of the book. I have only in the past looked at those recent disasters from a vantage point of what they've done to the people, to us, to the Ukrainians and to the Japanese. But it is true that the climate has been changing more and more rapidly over the years... It is difficult to foresee what will happen next. We'll have to see...
The nation-states of the world need to come together regardless of minor differences and agree to protect what we have left before it withers away for good!
The discussion of what damage Chernobyl and Fukushima have wrought on the Earth is worth plenty of appreciation, beyond the "technological" aspect of the book. I have only in the past looked at those recent disasters from a vantage point of what they've done to the people, to us, to the Ukrainians and to the Japanese. But it is true that the climate has been changing more and more rapidly over the years... It is difficult to foresee what will happen next. We'll have to see...
The nation-states of the world need to come together regardless of minor differences and agree to protect what we have left before it withers away for good!
September 1, 2017
Would have liked this a lot more if it had more science. Too much bio information on the guys involved, the ending felt like a repeat of the beginning just in chronological order, and if I'd seen someone described as 'patriotic' one more time, I would have puked. That said, I now care a lot more about Thorium, molten salt reactors, and rare earths than I thought possible.
December 24, 2019
A must read.
April 6, 2025
This is a book that everyone needs to read !!
January 31, 2026
Extremely interesting topic. Got bogged down in details at times.
So what's happened since the book was written?!?!
So what's happened since the book was written?!?!
March 15, 2026
This was a really important book
That every legislator should read to protect our rare earth materials! It’s beautifully written .. she is a true inspiration
That every legislator should read to protect our rare earth materials! It’s beautifully written .. she is a true inspiration
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews