“Chasing Gold” by George M. Taber – The Golden War Machine

Gold is one of those things that managed to become larger than life in this world. At its essence, gold is simply a chemical element, one with mostly unremarkable characteristics.

No, what makes gold so important in this world is the meaning we have given to it, our incessant yearning to decorate all we own in its glory.

Needless to say, countless have chased gold throughout history, and the amount of stories driven by it is simply untold. However, if one thing can be said for certain upon a quick review of our recent history, it is that during the Second World War gold played an undeniably-crucial role in dictating how things unfolded, much more than most textbooks will discuss.

In his book Chasing Gold, George M. Taber discusses this very aspect of World War II, looking at the economical dynamics behind during that time, and how gold dictated the way things unfolded.

For the most part, the book is dedicated to explaining how and why the Nazis had set their sights on controlling Europe's gold, how it contributed (and perhaps even allowed) to the financing of perhaps the most massive war we have seen yet.

It delves deep into the many events which were directly and indirectly influenced by gold in one way or the other, the people who found themselves affected the Nazis' quest to obtain it, basically seeking to provide picture as clear as possible to what its role in the world was at that time.

It seems that in the end, Taber wants to showcase just how important gold was in the rise and fall of the Third Reich, and how we will continue (for a very long time no doubt) to be slaves to its rarity.

When I picked the book up I actually expected a slower and more factual piece of literature, one that presents events at a slower pace, letting them unfold in great detail, skipping or glossing over nothing, always giving way to logic over emotions.

However, what I got was rather different; it's still a book grounded in facts and history, but it reads like a wartime thriller that is rooted in economics.

There is some very real entertainment to be found here, and whether or not the stories within are embellished, I seriously don't think it's too far of a stretch of the imagination to believe that they actually took place at some point during the war, and perhaps even more than once.

There is also a hefty dose of human drama added to it all, delving into the more human side of it, exploring the minds and bodies of the innocent stuck between it all, just as they are during every war.

With that being said, the pace still remains rather slow and the book seeks to inform the reader before anything else, and if you don't already have a deep interest in the Second World War, then I am afraid that this book probably won't awaken it, unless of course the topic of economics is one you study with great interest.

You are definitely going to learn some things about history, the world, how people think, and just how tight of a grasp this one substance has on all of our lives and destinies.

In the end, I can only recommend this book to those who aren't afraid of a slower read that promises knowledge above entertainment (although, to state it once again, there is certainly some of that to be found here), those looking to learn about the Second World War and perhaps look into some of the more under-explored aspects of the conflict.

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George M. Taber George M. Taber is a journalist and entrepreneur who worked as a reporter and an editor for Time magazine and has been stationed in numerous places around Europe. So far he has authored only one book, and it is titled Chasing Gold.