Stuff Matters
by Mark Miodownik · first published 2013
89% recommend11% neutral
Why HN recommends it
An accessible, engaging introduction to materials science that ties concepts to everyday objects like glass, steel, and concrete. It is fun, clear, and well suited to curious general readers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"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 st
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2015–2025Language, truth and logic
A. J. Ayer
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 95 recommend · 9 mention5 recommend · 95 recommend
2010–2025The Sixth Extinction
Elizabeth Kolbert, Marcel Blanc
Recommended by 15 · mentioned by 2115 recommend · 21 mention15 recommend · 2115 recommend
2009–2024Philosophy in the flesh
George Lakoff
Recommended by 14 · mentioned by 2014 recommend · 20 mention14 recommend · 2014 recommend
2011–2026The origins of political order
Francis Fukuyama
Recommended by 22 · mentioned by 3222 recommend · 32 mention22 recommend · 3222 recommend
2007–2026A short history of nearly everything
Bill Bryson
Recommended by 102 · mentioned by 123102 recommend · 123 mention102 recommend · 123102 recommend
2014–2026Being Mortal
Atul Gawande
Recommended by 56 · mentioned by 7156 recommend · 71 mention56 recommend · 7156 recommend
2010–2026The Box
Marc Levinson
Recommended by 53 · mentioned by 6353 recommend · 63 mention53 recommend · 6353 recommend
2014–2026The Innovators
Walter Isaacson, Francisco José Ramos Mena, Marcos Pérez Sánchez, Inga Pellisa Díaz
Recommended by 55 · mentioned by 7355 recommend · 73 mention55 recommend · 7355 recommend
…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
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite non-fiction books of all time?” ↗…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…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗The book Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World has a chapter on concrete. The self-healing concrete was completely new to me. Definitely worth a read, and not just for the concrete chapter:…
on “What is Concrete?” ↗Stuff Matters - Mark Miodownik This is a really casual Material Science book. It's sub-title is "Exploring the marvelous materials that shape our man-made world." I am about a quarter of the way through and am really…
on “Ask HN: What books are you reading?” ↗Another interesting book on material science is 'Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World' by Mark Miodownik http://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Matters-Exploring-Marvelous-Mate... actually here is a sample chapter http://www.hmhco.com/~/media/sites/home/educators/webinars/s...…
on “Cooking with Glass: How Pyrex Transformed Every Kitchen into a Home-Ec Lab” ↗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…
on “How to draw construction equipment for kids” ↗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…
on “Ask HN: Which book can attract anyone towards your field of study?” ↗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.
on “Using bacteria to make self-healing cement” ↗Not quite chemistry, but “Stuff Matters” by Mark Miodownik is a really good accessible introduction to a lot of foundational materials science ideas
on “Ask HN: General Chemistry Book Recommendations” ↗…Left Newark For The Ivy League' by Jeff Hobbs 41. 'The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History' by Elizabeth Kolbert 42. 'A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby And The Great Betrayal' by Ben Macintyre 43. 'Stuff Matters: Exploring The Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-made World' by Mark Miodownik 44. 'The Teacher Wars: A History Of America’s Most Embattled Profession' by Dana Goldstein 45. 'Thirteen Days In September:…
on “Notable Books of 2014” ↗