Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World
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The third chapter explains how and why our societies are sustained by materials created by human ingenuity, focusing on what I call the four pillars of modern civilization: ammonia, steel, concrete, and plastics.
Vaclav Smil • How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
