First published 2014
Materials scientist Mark Miodownik takes readers on a journey through the science hidden in everyday objects. He starts with his morning routine, examining each material he encounters. His steel razor, graphite pencil, sneaker foam, and the concrete in nearby buildings all become windows into the fundamental properties of matter. Miodownik asks why glass allows light to pass through, what gives elastic its ability to stretch and return to shape, and why paper clips bend the way they do. He reveals the surprising stories behind familiar materials and explains how their atomic structures determine their behavior. The book transforms ordinary moments into opportunities to understand the physical world. Readers discover the science that makes modern life possible, from the metals in their kitchen to the polymers in their clothing. Miodownik shows how materials science shapes everything we touch and use.
Genres: science, art, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: educational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: educational, informative
252 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt