Material World
The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization
Ratings3
Average rating4.3
15
The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization
Ratings3
Average rating4.3
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE • AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. These fundamental materials have created empires, razed civilizations, and fed our ingenuity and greed for thousands of years. Without them, our modern world would not exist, and the battle to control them will determine our future. • Finalist for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award The fiber-optic cables that weave the World Wide Web, the copper veins of our electric grids, the silicon chips and lithium batteries that power our phones and cars: though it can feel like we now live in a weightless world of information—what Ed Conway calls “the ethereal world”—our twenty-first-century lives are still very much rooted in the material. In fact, we dug more stuff out of the earth in 2017 than in all of human history before 1950. For every ton of fossil fuels, we extract six tons of other materials, from sand to stone to wood to metal. And in Material World, Conway embarks on an epic journey across continents, cultures, and epochs to reveal the underpinnings of modern life on Earth—traveling from the sweltering depths of the deepest mine in Europe to spotless silicon chip factories in Taiwan to the eerie green pools where lithium originates. Material World is a celebration of the humans and the human networks, the miraculous processes and the little-known companies, that combine to turn raw materials into things of wonder. This is the story of human civilization from an entirely new perspective: the ground up.
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“Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization” by Edmund Conway: A Thought-Provoking Exploration of the Building Blocks of Our World
Edmund Conway's “Material World” is a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the fundamental raw materials that underpin our modern civilization. In a world where the supply and demand for resources are critical to global economies, this book sheds light on the importance of six key materials: concrete, steel, oil, gold, food, and water.
Conway's writing style is both accessible and informative, making complex topics like resource economics and geopolitics approachable to a wide audience. Conway carefully dissects each material, explaining its historical significance and its impact on contemporary society.
One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to connect these materials to broader societal and environmental issues. Conway delves into the broader implications of our reliance on these six materials. He addresses environmental concerns, resource scarcity, and the geopolitical consequences of our dependence on these resources.
The book also offers a sobering look at the consequences of our consumption patterns, which is a topic of increasing concern in today's world. It encourages readers to contemplate the sustainability of our lifestyles and the need for responsible resource management.
“Material World” is a well-researched and eye-opening read that invites readers to think critically about the materials that shape our modern lives. It's a reminder that our collective responsibility for the planet's resources is a crucial consideration in our rapidly evolving world. Whether you're involved in the field of resource management or simply interested in understanding the building blocks of modern civilization, this book is a valuable addition to your reading list.
