Material World
A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future
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Material World
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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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marian Boswall
- 18-06-23
Both important and compelling listening
It’s vital to know how our food is made, but to learn how our other key resources are managed,
mined, gathered and assembled is mind blowing. There is a huge range of fascinating data in this book, but it’s never too much. Beautifully read by the author whose expertise and excitement come through in every chapter. I’ve already ordered more for my family.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 01-12-23
This is the book I have been waiting for
Great overview of our material world and how complex it is. You can see/hear the great effort the author put into researching the book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- ENRICO
- 08-09-24
Fascinating journey
I really wish I could it 5 stars - this book is a fascinating journey through the key materials that shape our world. However, the anglo-bias in many of the chapter did annoy me at multiple times - often portraying the East as the "lesser good".
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Charlotte
- 31-08-23
Extremely insightful and informative
This book provides eye opening, fascinating insights into the fabric that makes up modern living that most take for granted. It is written in a way that is easy to follow, but also highly informative and compelling. A well written, profoundly thought provoking book, everyone should read it.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr. OJ Morris
- 10-10-23
Excellent book, so good you’ll want to read it again
A really excellent book that I’d highly recommend to all. Fascinating journey through our material world through 6 items, from their discovery, to their processing and use. A really well researched, written book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Martin FD Copeland
- 07-04-24
Essential listening for all
A really well told story with sufficient detail but also accessible to all to give a picture of what drives the world we live in but very few spend the time to think about
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr A J McPherson
- 26-10-24
Superb!
Nice one, Ed. This was fantastic and really informative insightful and engaging - addressing such an important and complex subject, yet making it really accessible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Avid Listener
- 19-12-24
Education without judgment
Perfectly narrated by the author, this tells the story of specific items found on our planet that we couldn’t live without. When he starts the book with the story of sand… silica… glass… you start to realise how much we take for granted and don’t really think about.
I loved this book and I’ll definitely listen to this again.
And just for the insomniacs reading: his voice is PERFECT for bedtime! Interesting enough to engage the brain without overthinking and his voice has an even volume and tone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Landy
- 18-08-23
You need to hear this! It's brilliant.
The most interesting and thought provoking book you will hear this year or next.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sequin
- 23-09-23
Deep insight delivered with a light touch
Even for someone who has dabbled in the world of natural resources this has changed my mind and deepened my understanding multiple times. A great read or listen for anyone who cares about history and the future of the global economy and our planet.
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