Book Review: "Material World" by Ed Conway, published WH Allen 2023
Material World is an outstanding book. It takes six materials: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium and explores their role in the world economy. What is especially fascinating about this book is that the author takes both an historical approach and a forward look into the coming transition to a low carbon economy. The author is no scientist or engineer so whilst this can be frustrating at times it allows him to take a wider perspective connecting the past, present and future and considering many aspects of how these materials came to be so important. It is refreshing to share with him as he discovers more about his subject. This is a deeply researched book with an extensive bibliography and many interviews as the author travels the world to visit mines and quarries. A major theme of the book is that this 'material world' of mines, oil refineries and chemical factories is mostly hidden from us and so we take it for granted. We don't need to think about it too much any ...