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.
Double Eerie
Book groups feature keeps series and related titles together. Neat and tidy! Adjusting the tone of the voice is a novel feature that allows for a personalized listening experience.
Skull Crusher
Being able to customize the listening duration is perfect for quick breaks. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks a seamless and delightful experience.
Mosquit-No
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's a game-changer. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magical spell that transports me into the heart of the story.
Feral Mayhem
With ListenBook, I can now enjoy my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. 📚 Accessing my favorite authors and genres is a breeze with this app's user-friendly functionality. 📱🎧
Tan Stallion
ListenBook has transformed my mundane activities into enjoyable moments of learning and entertainment. This app's library is a treasure trove – I'm always discovering new favorites. ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch.
Z-Boy
I'm in awe of how this app has brought new dimensions to my reading experience. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. The app never crashes. It’s reliable and stable.
NexusNavigator
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. ListenBook's sharing options make it a breeze to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts and share recommendations. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It eliminates distractions and enhances the clarity of recordings, resulting in a more immersive experience. Downloading books over WiFi is quick and hassle-free. Very convenient. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Princess Dove
Listening to audiobooks while gardening has made my outdoor time even more relaxing. This app has enriched my daily routine with the joy of stories and knowledge. With features like auto-rewind, I never lose my place when I pause listening. Downloading audio from network devices is a brilliant feature. It's incredibly convenient.
Fl00d
The app's design is sleek and modern – it's a pleasure to navigate. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook.
RealmRanger
As a visually impaired person, this app has opened up a new world of stories for me. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. 🚗 Long road trips? No problem – this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! 🚙📚 Seamless integration of audiobooks – this app's ease of use is impressive. Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Duchess
🎶📚 The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! 🎵🎧 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to a whole new level.
PP Dubs
I've become a more empathetic listener thanks to the emotional depth of audiobooks. 👀📚 Embarking on literary journeys even with my eyes closed – bedtime stories have taken a new form with this app! 😴🎧
Santa's Little Helper
Binaural audio processing on ListenBook is a thoughtful addition that keeps my ears comfortable during extended listening sessions. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. 🧘♂️ Finding zen through storytelling – this app makes meditation even more calming. 🧘♂️🎧 🎉 Unlocking the door to imagination – this app is my key to endless stories and endless possibilities. 📚🔑
Switch
ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. Chapters make navigation a breeze. I can easily pick up where I left off.
ChatterChampion
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading such a natural part of my day. 🌟 Transforming laundry time into a journey through fantastic stories – thank you, this app! 👚📖 This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text.
EchoEmissary
Listening to books in their original language has improved my foreign language skills. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow. My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
Vortex
Accessing my favorite audiobooks has never been easier – this app's user-centric design and comprehensive features make it an absolute gem. 📱🎧 This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout. As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
Houston
The ability to switch between devices seamlessly is a game-changer for busy readers. ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback.
CodeExia
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. I'm hooked on this app's curated content – it's like having a personal librarian. This app's ease of use has made reading a seamless part of my daily routine. Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. 📱🔊 I love the auto-rewind feature. It’s great for when I zone out.
PixelPathfinder
ListenBook's drag and drop downloads from web browsers are a time-saving feature I can't live without. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
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