This book could be considered a “materials science crash course”—a concise, semi-technical review of 50 materials of significance to mankind. A combination of metals, plastics, and various naturally occurring materials such as stone and wood are included, and the decision on what to include must have been a difficult one for the author. Surprisingly, materials such as water, air, and soil are left out. The pre-set limit of 50 materials and perhaps the historical context spanning many centuries are the two factors that likely precluded the inclusion of many more recently developed modern materials such as high-temperature superconductors, high-entropy alloys, semiconductors, nanomaterials, and various energy-storage materials, which already greatly influence our lives.

The book contains numerous references for those wanting to dig deeper, including many Internet links as footnotes. The coverage focuses on applications and the practical impact of various materials on our lives, including tidbits of descriptive information and interesting historical context, uncovering little-known background information about the discovery and development of various materials. Also included are basic economics information (production scale by country) and geography data on the occurrence of specific material resources. The reader will learn facts that are often less known yet significant (e.g., that most of the gold is found in seawater or that platinum is about 10 times more common in the earth’s crust than gold).

The technical value of the book would be enhanced if, in the case of elements, the description included more details on the atomic structure and known isotopes. On the other hand, the text can be useful in designing thematic travel itineraries, such as a visit to the subterranean London Silver Vaults, to learn about and purchase the largest variety of silver goods not found anywhere else.

The book briefly touches on the subject of “rapid prototyping” (additive manufacturing, AM) in connection with polymers. As materials play a key role in this emerging technology, more detailed coverage of this topic (especially that of metal AM) would further enhance the next edition of this book.

Reviewer: Vlad Paserin, Research associate, Faculty of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada.