North is north and south is south. Or is it?Every once in a long while, the Earth's magnetic poles switch places. It's happened many times in deep history, but never since humans walked the planet. After the next big switch, our compasses will point the wrong way and we won't have to travel to Iceland to see the aurora borealis. Not only that but we might just be pushed back into the Stone Age. Beginning with the first investigations into electromagnetism in ancient times, Alanna Mitchell charts a fascinating history of the science. She reveals how Victorian geniuses made their pivotal discoveries and peers into a future where solar radiation storms wipe out power grids and electronic communications across continents. Through a beautifully crafted narrative, The Spinning Magnet explores of one of the most powerful forces in the universe.