Stuff Matters

Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape Our Man-made World

Mark Miodownik

Genre

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"Stuff Matters" by Mark Miodownik explores the fascinating world of materials and their impact on our lives. From the steel in buildings to the glass in our smartphones, Miodownik takes readers on a journey through the everyday objects that shape our world.

Delving into the science and history behind various materials, Miodownik reveals the incredible stories that lie beneath their surfaces. He explains how Steel, for instance, enabled the Industrial Revolution, transforming society and paving the way for modern architecture.

Using his expertise as a materials scientist, Miodownik discusses glass and its connection to our desire for transparency, from medieval stained glass windows to modern fiber-optic cables. He explores why concrete, although often overlooked, is the most widely used man-made material on the planet and how it has shaped our urban landscapes.

From ceramics to chocolate, Miodownik highlights the unexpected utility and significance of materials that we might take for granted. He examines how the discovery of plastic revolutionized manufacturing, but also created an environmental crisis.

In "Stuff Matters," Miodownik presents complex scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging manner, weaving together personal anecdotes and historical insights. He shares his passion for materials, showing readers how these substances define our lives and continue to shape our future.

Throughout the book, Miodownik encourages readers to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the materials that surround us, prompting a newfound curiosity about the objects we interact with every day. A captivating blend of science, history, and personal storytelling, "Stuff Matters" conveys the profound significance of seemingly ordinary materials and illuminates the world with fresh insight.

Explore More Books

See All
Math, Better Explained
The Unquiet Grave
Diaspora
The Cold Start Problem
Devil Take the Hindmost
The Innovators
The First Conspiracy
The Art of Stillness
I Contain Multitudes
Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
The Internet of Money Volume 1
Thinking and Deciding
A Father First
Blueprint
The Old Way
Think Like a Monk
With the Old Breed
Hunger of Memory
Into The Silence
A Hall of Mirrors
Down to Earth
The Gifts of Imperfection
The Laws of Thermodynamics
The Gallic Wars
Knowledge and The Wealth of Nations
Bowling Alone
Tuxedo Park
How To Live
The Measure of Reality
Memories, Dreams, Reflections
Built To Last
In FED We Trust
The Power Broker
A Cultural History of Physics
With All Due Respect
The Righteous Mind
Work Rules!
Successful Investing is a Process
The Theory of Investment Value
Plowman's Folly
How Google Works
Permanent Record
To Sell is Human
The Peacemaker's Code
What Works on Wall Street
Acid Test
Who
Epic Measures
Surface Detail
The Power of Broke
Into Thin Air
How Buildings Learn
The Piano Tuner
Hyperbole and a Half
Necessary Dreams
Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic
Living Within Limits
Scotland
Six Thinking Hats
Pandemic 1918
Who's In Charge
Trump: America First
Parasite Rex
Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
Tools and Weapons
The Agile Gene
The Fish That Ate The Whale
The Lord of the Rings
The Supermen
Queen of Fashion
Dealing with Darwin
Means Of Ascent
The Craft
Your Symphony of Selves
One of a Kind
Things Never To Tell Children
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Levels of the Game
Red Star Over The Pacific
Hornblower Saga
Water in Plain Sight
Diet for a Small Planet
The Grapes of Wrath
Wild And Crazy Guys
Decrypting Money
The Emotion Code
You
Great Expectations
Biography of the Dollar
I Love Capitalism
Chaos Monkeys
Conscious Business
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
Cradle to Cradle
The Secret of Fatima
Competing in the Age of AI
Jane Eyre
Turtles All The Way Down
Tent Life in Siberia