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.
Station WMD
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Wiccan Thunder
ListenBook's audio filters are a valuable tool for customizing my audiobook playback to perfection. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Classy Dancer
I can't get enough of this app's easy navigation and quick access to chapters and playback controls. Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach.
M8deUp
ListenBook has become my trusted companion, guiding me through the realms of imagination. Simplifying audiobook management – this app's functionality is a true asset. 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! ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Legacy
This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. Looping playback has revolutionized my study sessions. I'm learning faster than ever. I can’t believe how easy it is to manage my audiobook library with ListenBook. Highly recommended! The app is perfect for long walks. It keeps me company the whole time.
Old Orange Eyes
ListenBook's interface is sleek and user-friendly, making navigation a breeze. This app is perfect for audiobook lovers. The interface is beautiful and easy to navigate.
Spider Fuji
My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. 🧘♂️ Finding zen in the art of listening – this app takes mindfulness to a new level! 🧘♂️🎧 Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Toy Town
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience. Audiobook multitasking simplified – this app's functionality is a triumph. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
57 Pixels
ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again – it's a must-have app. 📚 Who needs TV when you have this app? Every moment is a storytelling session! 📺🎧 The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
CloudFrenzy
ListenBook is my go-to companion for immersive audiobook experiences. The ease of use and extensive format support make it a must-have! My study sessions are more efficient than ever, thanks to the looping playback and bookmark features. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
ThoughtTracer
ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fun way to experiment with the audiobook experience. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion.
Delirious Supernova
The app's stability is impressive – it runs smoothly without any glitches. ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features – from chapters to playback controls. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day.
Cabbie
ListenBook's support for binaural audio processing is a thoughtful touch that reduces listening fatigue. This app's user-friendly interface has made audiobook listening a breeze, even for a tech novice like me. With this app, I'm rediscovering the joy of reading in the most convenient way. Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app!
Blizzard Vixen
ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. ListenBook has become my trusted companion, guiding me through the realms of imagination. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a unique touch that adds personalization to my audiobook journey.
Widow Curio
With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my workouts and downtime more engaging and insightful. ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats is impressive. From MP3 to FLAC, it handles them all flawlessly.
PixelPioneer
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. ListenBook's audio filters have transformed the way I experience audio content – it's a real game-changer. Audiobooks made easy – this app's functionality is truly a gift.
AxelRoad
ListenBook has taken my listening pleasure to new heights – it's a true audio marvel. ListenBook's detailed statistics feature helps me keep track of my listening habits. It's amazing to see how much I've learned from all those audiobooks! I've never experienced such a smooth audiobook player. The playback is seamless. The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple.
Bourbon Mirage
ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature streamlines the process of adding new content to my library. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience!
Burn
ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. I'm amazed at how this app has brought back the joy of reading into my daily routine – thank you! ListenBook’s interface is beautiful and functional. It’s my favorite app for audiobooks.
ZenZone
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy of audiobooks. The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional. Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
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