Science, Technology & IdeasBook note
Material World
Description. A short description of a book from my bookshelf, not a review.
Conway argues that the modern world rests on six materials: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. He visits mines, factories and laboratories to show how these materials are extracted and transformed, and how much effort lies behind everyday objects such as microchips and batteries.
The book is a vivid reminder that the digital economy depends on physical resources, and it explains why supply chains for critical minerals have become a strategic issue. It connects well with Chip War, reviewed on this site.
From the bookshelf · read 2024