Coal, oil, and natural gas supply the vast majority of the energy that we use in modern life, whether that means generating electricity for lights and computers or fuelling the engines that power our cars, buses, and airplanes. Readers will learn how these ancient fuels formed, as well as how human beings extract them from the ground for our use. They'll also learn about the downsides of fossil fuels, such as their limited supply and the environmental damage that burning them produces. Photographs from around the world and maps and diagrams from Encyclopedia Britannica add a compelling visual learning element.