How Things Are Made Audiobook By Tim Minshall cover art

How Things Are Made

A Journey Through the Hidden World of Manufacturing

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How Things Are Made

By: Tim Minshall
Narrated by: Tim Minshall
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About this listen

An illuminating tour through the manufacturing world and its seismic influence on our lives, from internationally renowned expert Tim Minshall

We live in a manufactured world. Unless you are floating naked through space, you are right now in direct contact with multiple manufactured products, including furniture, technology, clothing, and even food. And yet the processes by which these things appear in our lives are virtually invisible. How often do we stop to think: Where do the things we buy actually come from? How are they made, and how do they make their way into our hands?

The answers can be found in How Things Are Made, which traces the surprising paths taken by everyday items to reach consumers, from design to creation to delivery. Innovation expert Tim Minshall takes us on a journey through the manufacturing world, from the smallest job shops to mega-factories, from global shipping hubs to local delivery at your door, revealing the inner workings of the system that runs 24-7-365 to make and deliver the things we need—or want—to live our daily lives, including cars, cakes, phones, planes, drugs, and medical devices. Along the way, he explores how we can improve the fragility of our global manufacturing system and the impact it has on the natural world, presenting a path to a truly sustainable future.

Brimming with energy and lively examples, How Things Are Made maps the awe-inspiring global system of manufacturing that enables virtually every aspect of our existence. By making sense of this surprising and hidden world, we are able to make better choices for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.

©2025 Tim Minshall (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Economics Engineering Industrial & Manufacturing International Innovation Transportation
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All stars
Most relevant  
Positives
Great narration , a couple of amusing anecdotes.
Negatives
He is more interested in pushing the narrative that the world must eliminate production of excess CO2 than providing information on how thigs are made.

The title of the book is How things are made, not What we should all to to limit CO2 production in industrial processes and personal choice.

There were a few interesting bits but the author just glossed over details.
For example he mentions that a clothing factory was repurposed to provide reusable surgical gowns during Covid, replacing single use gowns that were no longer available.
Interesting but that story alone could use a lot more detail ,
Did the hospital stick with the reusable gowns after Covid?
Was there a net CO2 reduction compared to single use ,
Is the cost to the hospital more less or the same?
I would have been a lot more interested in details of how things are actually made and the challenges that go into making them rather than all the CO2 reduction stuff.
Even if he wanted to concentrate on that then more detail on the actual mechanics challenges and results would be interesting.
He talks about a sugar plant that has gone to zero waste and does provide a bit of detail but never mentions the bottom line , Does it save money?
He talked about a brief tour of some government digital robotic centre and it sounds impressive but no examples how how it has actually helped increase productivity in the real world.
His is a generals birds eye view of industry but if you are looking for the actual hand to hand combat of facing off against the reality of making things you will be left feeling unsatisfied.


Those that can do, those that can't teach

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Excellent overview of manufacturing, past, present, and future…and the problems and solutions inherent in the processes involved. Read by the author, (who has an exceptionally good voice).

Engrossing and Informative

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