Summary of Ed Conway's Material World

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.

Listen now to get the main key ideas from Ed Conway's Material World.

Our civilization is shaped by six essential materials: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. In Material World (2023), economic journalist Ed Conway delves into both the key role they play in the global economy and the environmental impact of mining them. He explores the history of the six materials, from turning sand into glass to the power of salt and the invention of rechargeable lithium batteries. Conway tracks the increasing demand for the six materials, while also highlighting the need to sustain ourselves without further damaging the earth.