Book Review • Non-fiction • Economics • Global Systems
Some books give you information. Others change the way you look at the world around you.
Material World by Ed Conway definitely belongs to the second category. This book is about the SIX MOST IMPORTANT RAW MATERIALS THAT SHAPE THE MODERN CIVILISATION.
For thousands of years, these basic materials have built empires, destroyed nations, and fueled both human brilliance and human greed. They are the foundation of everything we call modern life — and the struggle to control them will shape the world to come.
Finalist — Financial Times & Schroders Business Book of the Year Award.
What the Book Is Really About
We live in a time where everything feels digital — apps, cloud storage, streaming, automation.
It’s easy to believe the world is moving away from physical things. But Ed Conway reminds us, page by page, that the modern world still runs on something very basic: materials pulled from the earth.
He takes six materials — Sand, Salt, Iron, Copper, Oil and Lithium — and shows how they quietly power every part of our lives. Not in a textbook way. In a very human way. He connects history, geopolitics, economics, engineering and everyday life — and somehow makes it all read like a story.
What Stuck With Me
The world isn’t becoming less physical — it’s becoming more physical than ever.
That was the biggest realisation for me.
Every app, every data centre, every electric car, every plane, every “digital” experience — all of it depends on materials dug from the earth. The clean transitions we celebrate — Electric Vehicles, renewable power, smart tech — still rely on massive mining, extraction and manufacturing. The cost isn’t always visible. But it exists. Conway doesn’t shout, preach or guilt-trip. He explains — clearly, patiently — and lets you form your own opinion.
What I Loved
- Complex topics turned into simple, engaging storytelling.
- No dry “textbook” tone — it feels like travelling with a curious guide.
- Real human stories behind supply chains and infrastructure.
- The book makes you reflect without pushing a loud agenda.
You come away feeling smarter, but never like you were “taught a lesson.”
What Didn’t Work for Me
It’s not a fast or breezy read. There’s a lot of information, a lot of detail and sometimes you need to pause
and let it sink in. If you prefer light, snackable non-fiction, this may feel dense in parts. But if you’re genuinely curious about how the world works under the surface, you’ll appreciate the depth.
Why You Should Read It
Many of us like to think we’re “aware” — we follow news, tech, climate and global trends.
Material World is a reminder that true awareness starts with noticing the things right in front of us. The materials around us shape our comforts, careers, lifestyles and even our conflicts — yet most of us rarely think about them. After this book, you will.
Final Thoughts
Material World isn’t dramatic or emotional in the usual sense. But it leaves a mark. It changes the way you look at your phone, your car, your home, your city… and the bigger systems holding everything together.
It makes you realise that progress isn’t magic — it’s material.