Material World
A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future
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Narrated by:
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Ed Conway
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By:
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Ed Conway
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
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In his earlier bestselling nonfiction book, How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It, James Wesley, Rawles, outlined the foundations for survivalist living. Now, he details the tools needed to survive anything from a short-term disruption to a long-term, grid-down scenario. Rawles covers tools for every aspect of self sufficient living.
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Lots of tools needed for EOTWAWKI...
- By Jan on 12-31-14
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Organizing for the Rest of Us
- 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control
- By: Dana K. White
- Narrated by: Dana K. White
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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So you want to keep your kitchen counter clean but you aren't ready to toss the toaster? You want to be able to find your kids' socks but aren't looking to spend your 401(k) on clear bins? You long for a little more peace but minimalism isn't sparking joy? Discover 100 practical, do-able tips to organize, declutter and manage your home.
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Helpful book for cleaning and organizing your home in a simple way
- By Angie D. on 01-11-22
By: Dana K. White
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The Fabric of Civilization
- How Textiles Made the World
- By: Virginia I. Postrel
- Narrated by: Caroline Cole
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The story of humanity is the story of textiles - as old as civilization itself. Since the first thread was spun, the need for textiles has driven technology, business, politics, and culture. In The Fabric of Civilization, Virginia Postrel synthesizes groundbreaking research from archaeology, economics, and science to reveal a surprising history. From Minoans exporting wool colored with precious purple dye to Egypt, to Romans arrayed in costly Chinese silk, the cloth trade paved the crossroads of the ancient world.
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Pop journalism article lengthened into a book
- By Anonymous User on 02-05-22
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Victorian Secrets
- What a Corset Taught Me about the Past, the Present, and Myself
- By: Sarah A. Chrisman
- Narrated by: Kristin Kalbli
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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On Sarah A. Chrisman's 29th birthday, her husband, Gabriel, presented her with a corset. The material and the design were breathtakingly beautiful, but her mind immediately filled with unwelcome views. Although she had been in love with the Victorian era all her life, she had specifically asked her husband not to buy her a corset - ever. She'd heard how corsets affected the female body and what they represented, and she wanted none of it.
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Exploration of Vanity
- By Sara on 09-08-14
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101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods
- The Most Effective Wilderness Know-How on Fire-Making, Knife Work, Navigation, Shelter, Food and More
- By: Kevin Estela
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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"Feeder" mindset means being in control of a situation, proactive rather than reactive. It is an optimistic outlook that reframes any situation as a learning experience. Kevin Estela teaches survival skills from this feeder-based perspective, which is what separates his teaching style from other wilderness instructors. Kevin has written the quintessential guide for an outdoor enthusiast's "bucket list" of skills - how to make a fire, build a shelter, gather food, find water, use a knife correctly, and make cordage.
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All great skills
- By Crus458 on 11-09-20
By: Kevin Estela
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What listeners say about Material World
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Paal Skjetne
- 11-15-23
Book of the year!
A Tour de Materiàl of how the world is woven together in its quest to find and prosess earth into raw materials that defines our built world and the devices that our lives revolve around.
I have worked in the field of material processing and industrial effluent research for most of my life,
But this is the book I wish someone wrote 30 years ago. It gives a laymans level window into this facinating foundation of human civilization, it benefits are obvious, the environmental challenges daunting and many of the socio-economic implications disturbing. Yet I feel the book gives a balanced view of all aspects.
I grew up picking copper ore along the rail lines of the Copperbelt in Zambia, then in the litteral shadow of one of those silicon smelters before they installed dust filter that capture the micro silica which is now a valued by-product. In my teens fish was dying from acidification of lakes and rivers. The local silicon plant is now "clean" and close to 80% of the energy is recuperated. Fishstocks in the lakes have returned (thank You Mrs Thatcher).
Humanity has been in tight spots before, and solved the problems. I think some of the stuff on the cost of getting to "net-zero" is especially important in the present partially polarized debate.
This is a book that will engage both scientists (social and technical), environmentalists, politicians and the curious minded layman.
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- Lars Christoffersen
- 01-22-24
Exceptional information which everyone should have
The book is well written and narrated! Important information for the whole of mankind, but all politicians should be forced to read it
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- AOK
- 01-01-24
Good food for thought about the world and material we rely on
Well written and well thought introduction for the layperson to some of the challenges we face in making the world more sustainable. Partly by accepting and evolving our evils, not parting with them.
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- O. Buraimoh
- 10-29-23
Excellent book
Excellently researched and told. An essential book to understand the subject matter. A must for the library
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- Issy Z.
- 08-11-23
Illuminating and rational.
A useful and insightful study that demystifies lithium - white gold - and tempers the contemporary vilification of the petro- chemical industry. Especially enjoy that the author narrates as well. 5 stars.
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- Ahmet
- 06-15-24
shall be a documentary serie
so fluent and enjoyed it very much. I hope there will be a documentary series of this book, maybe a good candidate for you amazon prime ;)
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- Dimitris
- 08-27-23
Well written (and read) and very informative
This incredibly interesting book is packed with information on the history and present of a set of materials of critical importance to human civilization. Topics that might be considered boring to the layman, such as what happens in an oil refinery and what differentiates Soviet-era from modern-day concrete are somehow made intriguing. In so far as I can judge, the author seems to have made an honest effort to offer an objective and optimistic perspective on the issues discussed.
The author reads well and has a pleasant voice that adds to the audiobook quality.
I listened from start to finish with great and undiminished interest and finished the book a bit less ignorant on important topics I used to know embarrassingly little about.
Highly recommended.
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- lams
- 10-25-23
Excellent!
Marvelously written and read - truly enjoyed it. Deserves many listeners- touching on so many key questions and dilemmas in our time, literally grounding us in many material realities!
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