Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization - Ed Conway

Our book for July is Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway. Moving to the first Sunday of July due to a travel conflict.

For those who are interested, here is the link to the detailed results from the voting.

Here is a summary of the book:

In Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization, Ed Conway explores how six fundamental substances—sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium—form the backbone of our modern world. Conway delves into the historical and contemporary significance of these materials, illustrating how they have been instrumental in building empires, fueling economies, and shaping societies. For instance, sand is not only essential for construction but also for producing silicon chips that power our digital devices, while lithium has become crucial for the batteries that drive the renewable energy revolution.

Conway's narrative takes readers on a global journey, from the depths of European mines to the high-tech factories of Taiwan, revealing the complex supply chains and geopolitical dynamics involved in extracting and utilizing these resources. He highlights the environmental and social costs associated with material extraction, such as the ecological impact of sand mining and the water-intensive processes of lithium extraction in Chile's Salar de Atacama. By examining these materials, Conway underscores the paradox of our reliance on them: while they enable technological advancement and economic growth, they also pose significant sustainability challenges.

Ultimately, Material World serves as a compelling reminder of the tangible elements that underpin our seemingly intangible digital age. Conway argues that despite the perception of living in an "ethereal world" dominated by information and services, our existence remains deeply rooted in physical materials. He calls for a greater awareness of the origins and implications of the resources we depend on, emphasizing the need for responsible consumption and sustainable practices to ensure the longevity of our civilization.

This event will be hybrid. I will host the meeting in person at my house in Berkeley which is near the intersection of College Ave and Woolsey St. I will email people the address the Saturday before the meeting. Here are the Google Meet details:

Meeting ID
meet.google.com/bzk-pzzc-wfc
Phone Numbers
(‪US‬)
‪+1 405-489-2040‬
PIN: ‪761 954 569#‬