# Material World by Ed Conway

6 Hacker News commenters recommended Material World by Ed Conway and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for explaining how raw materials and mining shape modern manufacturing and technology, including the semiconductor supply chain.

## Why people recommend it

- Explains how mining and materials work (2 comments): "Truly fascinated story also available on audible. For anyone interested into how "things works" generally is this a must." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46398657)) "Its a great look at how mining and material production works worldwide" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46954930))
- Engaging, enjoyable story (2 comments): "Truly fascinated story also available on audible. For anyone interested into how "things works" generally is this a must." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46398657)) "I have enjoyed ... Material World" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49295955))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter](https://hackerapproved.com/p/g-del-escher-bach.md): 47 recommend
- [Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/thinking-fast-and-slow.md): 17 recommend
- [Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows](https://hackerapproved.com/p/thinking-in-systems.md): 17 recommend
- [The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins](https://hackerapproved.com/p/selfish-gene.md): 14 recommend
- [Cosmos by Carl Sagan](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cosmos.md): 13 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593534344?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780593534342) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Material World by Ed Conway", https://hackerapproved.com/p/material-world/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).