Material World is the story of six fundamental materials—sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium— and their importance for the contemporary world. At first glance, this might not sound like a thrilling topic. Yet, by uncovering the invisible uses, processes, consequences, and geopolitics of using these seemingly mundane materials, this is one of those books that will change the way you see the world.
This is an immensely ambitious book, in which West discusses some of the fundamental principles that govern the behavior of complex systems, from cells and organisms to cities and companies. He argues that the life, growth, and death, of these systems all follow predictable power scaling laws, which can have major implications for our understanding of the world as well as our policies. As all grand theories, it may at times be overreaching, but even then it does so in a thought-provoking way.
"This is science writing as wonder and as inspiration." —The Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal
From one of the most influential scientists of our time, a dazzling exploration of the hidden laws that govern the life cycle of everything from plants and animals to the cities we live in.
Visionary physicist Geoffrey West is a pioneer in the field of complexity science, the science of emergent systems and networks. The term “complexity” can be misleading, however, because what makes West’s discoveries so beautiful is that he has found an underlying simplicity that unites the seemingly complex and diverse phenomena…
This book resonated with many thoughts I've had after immigrating to the USA over a decade ago. It is a story of how, when it comes to policy, good intentions can often lead to bad outcomes, from work shortage to the housing crisis, and from infrastructure to clean air. It is an engaging and insightful discussion, from which both liberals and conservatives can learn a lot.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2025
“A must-read for progressives who want a blueprint for reforming government so it can deliver for working people.” —Barack Obama • “A terrific book...Powerful and persuasive.” —Fareed Zakaria • “Spectacular...Offers a comprehensive indictment of the current problems and a clear path forward...Klein and Thompson usher in a mood shift. They inspire hope and enlarge the imagination.” —David Brooks, The New York Times
From bestselling authors and journalistic titans Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Abundance is a once-in-a-generation, paradigm-shifting call to renew a politics of plenty, face…
Ritual is perhaps the oldest, and certainly the most enigmatic, thread in human culture. Apparently pointless ceremonies pervade every documented society: from handshakes to hexes, hazings to parades. Before we learned to farm, we were gathering in giant stone temples. And yet, though rituals exist in every culture and can persist nearly unchanged for centuries, their logic has remained a mystery until now. Today, a fearless new generation of anthropologists is venturing into this shadowy realm. Armed with cutting-edge technology and drawing on discoveries from a huge range of disciplines, they emerge with a powerful new perspective on our place in the world. Join the pathfinding scientist Dimitris Xygalatas on a tour of human culture at its strangest. In coronations, in silent prayer, in fire-walks and in all the bewildering variety of humanity's ritual life, Xygalatas reveals the deep and subtle mechanisms that bind us together.
