THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK
*An Economist, Financial Times, Times and New Statesman Book of the Year*
Shortlisted for the FT Business Book of the Year Award and the British Academy Book Prize, Longlisted for the Wainwright Conservation Writing Prize
'Compelling' TIM MARSHALL
'Lively, rich and exciting' PETER FRANKOPAN
'Vitally important' TIM HARFORD
_____________
Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. They built our world, and they will transform our future.
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 these six crucial materials completely for granted.
In Material World, Ed Conway travels the globe to uncover a secret world we rarely see. 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.
- Book Day 2025
- Earth Day
- English Language Day
- 2025 UK Summer Reading Challenge
- British Science Fiction Association awards
- Book of the Year
- International Booker Prize
- 2025 Women's Prize for Nonfiction
- The Arthur C. Clarke Award
- Uplifting Reads to Kickstart Your Year
- Bestsellers of 2024
- Nero Book Awards
- Great Reads from Around the World
- See all ebooks collections
- World Cancer Day
- International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- Magazines
- World Photography Day
- See all magazines collections