Material World cover art

Material World

A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future

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Material World

By: Ed Conway
Narrated by: Ed Conway
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. They built our world, and they will transform our future.

These are the six most crucial substances in human history. They took us from the Dark Ages to the present day. They power our computers and phones, build our homes and offices, and create life-saving medicines. But most of us take them completely for granted.

In Material World, Ed Conway travels the globe - 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 - to uncover a secret world we rarely see. Revealing the true marvel of these substances, he follows the mind-boggling journeys, miraculous processes and little-known companies that turn the raw materials we all need into products of astonishing complexity.

As we wrestle with climate change, energy crises and the threat of new global conflict, Conway shows why these substances matter more than ever before, and how the hidden battle to control them will shape our geopolitical future. This is the story of civilisation - our ambitions and glory, innovations and appetites - from a new perspective: literally from the ground up.

'A compelling narrative of the human story' TIM MARSHALL, author of Prisoners of Geography

'Lively, rich and exciting... full of surprises' PETER FRANKOPAN, author of The Silk Roads

©2023 Ed Conway (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Economic History Economics Nature & Ecology Science Natural History Natural Resource

Critic Reviews

An eye-opening celebration of human ingenuity (Andrew Hill)
Lively, rich and exciting ... full of surprises. Underlines that to understand global geopolitics, you need to understand natural resources and geology (Peter Frankopan, author of THE SILK ROADS)
All stars
Most relevant  
Very important topic, relevant to my work. It was interesting to learn about the stories of these materials. I wish there was a pdf file accompanying the audiobook with numbers and graphs of all of these materials, like tons per year, distribution around the world, maps with the materials journeys, etc.

Very important topic

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Incredible insights into what is making our world turn, whilst making you challenge our insatiable appetite for ‘progress’

Fascinating and Frightening!

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Such a brilliant book so interesting and so well read.

The world of materials is superbly interesting.

Curious Worldview Approved!

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Very clearly presented overview of 6 substances that are key to humanity . Lots of interesting stories tying together different production processes and making the case to pay more attention to the material world and the challenges that lie ahead .

Excellent overview of materials key for humanity

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there is so much information and history
in this book. Ed Conway has done an amazing job.

learn stuff.

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Ed Conway's 'Material World' is a triumph in the realm of economic history, masterfully illustrating the evolution of society through six pivotal materials. Excellently researched and compellingly written, the book not only educates but also engages, making the complex interplay of economics and materials accessible and intriguing. It does not shy away from the daunting realities we face, particularly in the realm of global warming. Conway's narrative is a poignant reminder of the significant, yet arduous, path humanity must embark upon to ensure a sustainable future. A confronting yet vital read, 'Material World' puts the monumental task ahead into stark perspective, urging society to reflect on its past actions and future responsibilities.

Material World: A Lens on Our Past and a Magnifying Glass on Our Future

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Everybody should read this and it should be compulsory reading in school. Vital for us to know how our world operates.

Essential read

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Huge amount of information and very well put together, clarified many of my preconceived beliefs.

Thought provoking and fascinating.

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Through stories of people doing, creating stuff, I got to understand the world so much better. Thanks Ed

Understand more

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