Over the past two centuries, industrial societies have demanded ever-increasing quantities of copper – essential for light, power, and communication. Born with a Copper Spoon examines how the metal has been produced and distributed around the globe. Large-scale production has affected ecologies, states, and companies, while creating and even destroying local communities dependent on volatile commodity markets. Kenneth Kaunda once remarked that Zambians were “born with a copper spoon in our mouths,” but few societies managed to profit from copper’s abundance. From copper cartels to the consequences of resource nationalism, Born with a Copper Spoon delivers a global perspective on one of the world’s most important metals.