Stuff Matters
"Why is glass see-through? What makes elastic stretchy? Why does a paperclip bend? Why does any material look and behave the way it does?With clarity and humor, world-leading materials scientist Mark Miodownik answers all the questions you've ever had about your pens, spoons, and razor blades, while also introducing a whole world full of materials you've never even heard of: the diamond five times the size of Earth; concrete cloth that can be molded into any shape; and graphene, the thinnest, strongest, stiffest material in existence--only a single atom thick.Stuff Matters tells enthralling stories that explain the science and history of materials. From the teacup to the jet engine, the silicon chip to the paper clip, the plastic in our appliances to the elastic in our underpants, Miodownik reveals the miracles of engineering that permeate our lives. As engaging as it is incisive, Stuff Matters will make you see the materials that surround you with new eyes"
Stats for nerds
8recommend
10mentions
9people
2014–2025years
90% recommend10% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik might fit the bill? It's about the history and modern use of materials like glass, steel, concrete, etc. in everyday objects. Maybe not for very young kids. Wikipedia has a good summary of the content.
While most of it is pretty relaxing it opens with the author getting stabbed on the subway so watch out for that maybe.
- Not quite chemistry, but “Stuff Matters” by Mark Miodownik is a really good accessible introduction to a lot of foundational materials science ideas
- Materials Science: Stuff Matters, Mark Miodownik
https://archive.org/details/StuffMatters
Very accessible and fun to read, and the book is structured around introducing a lot of fundamental materials science concepts in the context of everyday objects (silverware, chocolate, etc)
- The materials scientist Mark Miodownik discusses this and other miracles of modern, well, materials science in his marvellous book "Stuff matters" (https://books.google.com/books/about/Stuff_Matters.html?id=_...). I found it fascinating—though, fair warning, the material on cement was by far the most fascinating to me.
- For someone who didn't read at all for the longest and started a couple of years back, I'm glad I read 20 books this year. Here are the few that stuck with me -
Bad Blood (John Carreyrou) - Story of Theranos, its founders and the conception of terrible ideas. Great record of their actions based on subjective ethics and morals, how they can lead you to going insane.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (Susan Cain) - Fun read for functional introverts like myself.
Stuff Matters (Mark Miodownik) - I wish every science lesson is taught like this
Em and the Big Hoon (Naresh Fernandes) - Fiction, but based closely on the author's mother, her control over the English language, poetry and the mental illness' control over her and their family here in Bombay.
Born a Crime (Trevor Noah) - A biography of the Daily Show host. He's seen a lot of terrible situations and come out unscathed!
Being Mortal (Atul Gawande) - Hospice care - all its good and bad.
A Man Called Ove - Fictional and funny book about a man with a strict code, who lost his beloved wife and still dislikes everyone.
- 1. Sapiens - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23692271-sapiens
2. The Gene: An Intimate History - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27276428-the-gene
3. I Contain Multitudes - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29083367-i-contain-multi...
4. Stuff Matters - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19553030-stuff-matters
5. Rework - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6732019-rework
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