Book description
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE • AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. These fundamental materials have created empires, razed civilizations, and fed our ingenuity and greed for thousands of years. Without them, our modern world would not exist, and the battle to control them will determine our future. • Finalist for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year AwardThe fiber-optic cables that weave the World Wide Web, the copper veins of our electric grids, the silicon chips and lithium batteries that power our phones and cars: though it can feel like we now live in a weightless world of information—what Ed Conway calls “the ethereal world”—our twenty-first-century lives are still very much rooted in the material.In fact, we dug more stuff out of the earth in 2017 than in all of human history before 1950. For every ton of fossil fuels, we extract six tons of other materials, from sand to stone to wood to metal. And in Material World, Conway embarks on an epic journey across continents, cultures, and epochs to reveal the underpinnings of modern life on Earth—traveling 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.Material World is a celebration of the humans and the human networks, the miraculous processes and the little-known companies, that combine to turn raw materials into things of wonder. This is the story of human civilization from an entirely new perspective: the ground up.
About the Author
ED CONWAY is economics and data editor of Sky News and a columnist for the Times (London). He has won numerous awards for his journalism, including most recently the 2018 Wincott Foundation Journalist of the Year Award. He lives in London.
Admiral Tot
With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day.
CyberScribe
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. The compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch sets ListenBook apart from the rest. With this app, I've found a way to turn every moment into an opportunity for learning and enrichment. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and quick access to chapters enhance my overall listening experience. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
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I'm amazed by ListenBook's versatility in handling different formats – it truly supports all my audio needs. 📱 Carrying my favorite stories with me wherever I go – this app is like a portable library in my pocket. 📚👜 The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion. Adjusting playback speed has given me greater control over my audiobook experience. I can optimize my learning and enjoyment by customizing the pacing.
DreamWeaver
I'm amazed at how this app has brought back the joy of reading into my daily routine – thank you! ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection.
Dora the Destroyer
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection – it's a parenting win! 🎧 Immerse yourself in stories effortlessly – this app's functionality is the gateway to endless audiobook adventures. 📚🌟 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the audio quality and ensures that I can immerse myself fully in the content. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Disco Potato
ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files!
Dancing Madman
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Poptart AK47
ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time. Perfect narration for this genre! The voice actor’s tone matched the atmosphere of the book, enhancing the overall experience. No complaints—just a smooth, enjoyable listen from beginning to end.
MicroStar
ListenBook's support for looping and shuffling playback adds versatility to my audiobook enjoyment. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for my study materials. I can easily revisit important sections.
Trash Sling
I'm impressed by ListenBook's dedication to providing a comfortable listening experience. 🏝️🎧 Escaping to paradise with a beach read – this app is my vacation in audio form! 🏖️📖 The app's performance is nothing short of impressive – smooth, responsive, and designed with audiobook lovers in mind.
VisionVoyager
This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress.
Terror Master
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. 🎧 Immerse yourself in stories effortlessly – this app's functionality is the gateway to endless audiobook adventures. 📚🌟 Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy for me to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts.
The Flying Mouse
With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me. Binaural audio processing really works. Less fatigue during long listening sessions.
Black Firefly
ListenBook's support for a variety of download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. With this app, my audiobook library is organized and accessible, making my reading journey effortless. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph.
Sweet Manhattan
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection – it's a parenting win! ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a game-changer. I can now focus on the story even in noisy environments. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks from various sources has become effortless. I’m so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Sidewalk Enforcer
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. My study sessions are more efficient than ever, thanks to the looping playback and bookmark features.
D-Hog-Day
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Iron Butterfly
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read. Great app for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful!
Cooger
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. 🎉 Making each day a new chapter – this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! 📖🌄 ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is fascinating. I can alter the reader's voice to match my mood—what a creative addition! Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments.
Snapdragon
I've fallen in love with literature all over again, thanks to this incredible app. The selection of classics is a treasure trove for literature enthusiasts. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience