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.
Drift
I'm blown away by how this app has made my workouts more enjoyable and my mind more active. Simplifying audiobook adventures – this app's ease of use is a delight. ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.
High Beam
This app has turned even my mundane tasks into exciting learning opportunities. I'm amazed by the variety of genres available – there's something for everyone. 📱 Carrying my favorite stories with me wherever I go – this app is like a portable library in my pocket. 📚👜 Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide. The customizable controls and playback options cater perfectly to different audiobook preferences.
Frosty Snazz
I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, all thanks to this app. ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an indispensable part of my routine. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, becoming an indispensable companion for various activities. Its user-friendly interface, features, and performance make it a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time. I was thoroughly impressed by this audiobook. The combination of engaging content and skilled narration made my daily commute something to look forward to. The narrator's timing and intonation were spot-on, enhancing rather than distracting from the material. Definitely worth a credit!
Lady Peach
ListenBook has transformed my mundane activities into enjoyable moments of learning and entertainment. ListenBook's tone adjustment feature in the Pro version is a creative tool that adds a fun twist to my audiobook journey. ListenBook’s design is sleek and modern. The app is a pleasure to use.
Steel
This app has transformed my long flights into productive and enjoyable experiences. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Chicago Blackout
ListenBook has transformed my mundane activities into enjoyable moments of learning and entertainment. ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions.
Cabbie
This app's efficient downloading process ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks whenever and wherever. ListenBook's commitment to user experience shines through its thoughtful design and seamless functionality. Tone adjustment adds a personalized touch to the narration, making the audiobook experience even more immersive.
King Panther
This app makes traffic jams a breeze – time flies by while I'm engrossed in a story. 🎙️ This app's user-friendly interface has transformed my daily walks into immersive storytelling sessions. Kudos to the developers! 🚶♀️📖 Finally, an app that values usability – navigating and listening is a breeze!
QuestQuill
I can't believe how easy it is to dive into a new world with this app. Audiobooks made simple – this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. Audiobook immersion simplified – this app's ease of use is a true asset.
Jetta Talent
This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback. Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach. 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!
Trash Pocky
With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous. 💼 Making work hours enjoyable – audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. 💻📖 Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is a marvel.
Gold Dahlia
I can't imagine my daily rituals without this app – it's a constant source of joy. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. Thanks to this app, I can enjoy the world of literature without missing a beat in my fast-paced life. 🚗📖 Road trips have never been this entertaining – this app keeps me engaged on the highway! 🚙🎉 📚 Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions – audiobooks make it a breeze! 👗🎧
Charms
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. ListenBook has become an indispensable part of my daily routine – it's my ultimate audio companion. This app's simplicity has made me fall in love with books all over again.
Bazooka Har-de-har
I've become the go-to storyteller at bedtime with the help of this magical app. I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive controls – it's the perfect way to indulge in audiobooks.
Show Boat
No more fighting over the radio during family trips – we're all hooked on audiobooks now. The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection – this app's functionality is a winner.
Electric Player
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! With ListenBook, I can now enjoy my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. ListenBook's tone adjustment feature in the Pro version is a creative tool that adds a fun twist to my audiobook journey.
General Broomdog
The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption – a fantastic way to measure my progress. Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 – it shows their dedication to excellence. 🏡 Embracing audiobooks while tidying up the house – it's like having a helper! 🏠📚 ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, becoming an indispensable companion for various activities. Its user-friendly interface, features, and performance make it a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts.
MrOnsTr
Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. ListenBook has all the features I need in an audiobook app. My top choice! The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Backstreet
ListenBook is my daily companion, turning mundane tasks into exciting audio adventures. 🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 ListenBook’s playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality. The equalizer is a great addition. It really enhances the audio quality. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
MindfulMingle
ListenBook's compatibility with a wide range of audio formats ensures that no audiobook is off-limits. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my audiobook experience, ensuring I catch every detail. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options. The audio quality is superb. ListenBook enhances my audiobook experience. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
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