An Uncorrected Proof/Advanced Reading Copy from the Goodreads.com first reads give away program, to read and review.

Most of us take the materials that make up our world for granted. The plastics, ceramics, concretes, and metals that we use to create the things of everyday life are only interesting to us as finished products and not in-and-of themselves. After all, how interesting is concrete, really?

This book explores the nature of a range of the materials that make up our modern world, and shows just how interesting these materials really can be when we take the time to understand how they work. Even more interesting is what this understanding can mean in terms of future developments in these materials, and the implications for future improvements in technology.

Each chapter focuses on a different material, providing a summary of the history of the material and an analysis of its structure, properties, and uses. These chapters each stand on their own merits, and for the most part do a good job demonstrating the remarkable features of what, on the surface, appear to be unremarkable substances. The only glaring exception is the chapter on paper, which felt out of place next to the other chapters. Perhaps that is because it seems to focus more on the social roles of paper and less on the details of the structure and properties of paper. This chapter would have benefited from a more detailed look at how the structures of different types of paper vary and how these different characteristics are produced. Otherwise, this is a great introduction to the world of material science for a lay reader who wants a deeper appreciation for how various material perform the functions we far to easily take for granted.

Passed along to someone who expressed interest in the book.