Stuff Matters

Our lives are made of stuff...well, in our relationship to stuff.

This very approachable book gives a quick glimpse into some of the stuff that is most prevalent (and largely accepted as background) for modern humans. He helps to connect the dots between the culture and the science with narrative story. Parts of the narrative made me reconsider my own relationship with materials - for example, why do we not celebrate glass and concrete more often? with more exuberance?

I loved Mark's relatable tone - I can see myself in young Mark's lack of interest in the museums, in his fascination with the possibility of a bionic replacement for his broken leg. I can only be thankful that he was taken with a fascination with steel after a traumatic childhood incident, ultimately leading to his study of material science.

A wonderful look into the history and use of modern materials that has shaped human civilization. Miodownik, a materials sciences & society professor starts by showing us a picture of him relaxing on the roof of his London home and then proceeds to dissect various materials in the picture by its origins, history, and its place in our world. Materials that we take for granted like paper, glass, steel, etc. have complex histories and its manufacture has been perfected over time and still continues to be.

Ever wonder why we do not taste the metal when you eat food with a stainless steel spoon? Of the ninety-four different types of atoms that naturally exist in our world, only eight make up 98.8 percent of the mass of earth leaving us with limited options to play with yet, as Miodownik shows us, we have managed to come up with nifty inventions. Whoever thought that by varying temperatures of fire we can drastically alter the nature of materials was a genius. The chapter on concrete was especially enlightening for me given my architecture background but it's impact on modern structures in the past hundred years cannot be understated.

It's a very short read at 228 pages and each chapter stands independent of the others. Highly recommend.

When I first caught wind of this book in the New York Times Book Review some weeks ago, I added it to my wish list. Then I gifted it to myself for my birthday. (It's important to love yourself.) I intended the book as one to dip into when I wanted a break from the huge fantasy tome I'm in the midst of. But then I kept going back to this one and read it fairly quickly.

This is just the sort of science book I enjoy. Not too heavy for a layman, not so dry that it puts you to sleep, and filled with interesting things about the world, in this case, materials science. In eleven breezy chapters, University professor Mark Miodownik, explores some common and some not-so-common materials, from concrete, porcelain, and chocolate, to aerogels and implants. Fascinating stuff and told with witty verve. I wished it was longer.