Book of the Week: Stuff Matters (Mark Miodownik)

Quick Overview

Author: Mark Miodownik
Publisher: Mariner Books (2014)
Reading Level: General audience / STEM students
Cost: Approximately $12–18 (paperback or eBook)
Why it’s worth reading: Blends science and storytelling to show how materials, from steel to chocolate, shaped modern civilization.

What It’s About

Mark Miodownik explores the hidden science of the materials that make up our daily world. Each chapter focuses on a single substance, weaving together personal anecdotes, chemistry, and cultural history. He explains how innovations in materials have driven architecture, technology, and even art.

The book’s strength lies in its ability to make abstract science deeply personal. By connecting materials to human experience, Miodownik turns the physical world into a story of creativity and discovery. It is a perfect introduction for readers interested in how science shapes design and everyday life.

Memorable Moment or Quote

"We rarely notice the materials that make up our world, until they fail."
This observation reminds us that progress depends on invisible foundations, and that only when things break do we realize how essential they are.

Where to Find It

Available through major booksellers and libraries.

If You Liked This Book...

• Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down by J.E. Gordon

• The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

• The Science of Cooking by Stuart Farrimond
  
  

If You Want to Go Deeper

Read Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart for a deeper look at material science and sustainability.