The world in a grain : the story of sand and how it shaped civilisation

Resource Information

The work The world in a grain : the story of sand and how it shaped civilisation represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Randwick City Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

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Label

The world in a grain : the story of sand and how it shaped civilisation

Title remainder

the story of sand and how it shaped civilisation

Statement of responsibility

Vince Beiser

Creator

• trueBeiser, Vince, 1965-

Author

• trueBeiser, Vince, 1965-

Subject

• trueSand
• trueConservation of natural resources
• trueEnvironmental degradation
• trueHistory Writing -- Microhistory
• trueNature Writing -- Environmental issues
• trueTechnology and civilization
• trueSand and gravel industry and trade
• Technology and civilisation
• trueBlack market
• trueNatural resources

Genre

• trueHistory Writing
• trueNature Writing

Language

eng

Summary

The gripping story of the most important overlooked commodity in the world -- sand -- and the crucial role it plays in our lives. After water and air, sand is the natural resource that we consume more than any other -- even more than oil. Every concrete building and paved road on Earth, every computer screen and silicon chip, is made from sand. From Egypt's pyramids to the Hubble telescope, from the world's tallest skyscraper to the footpath below it, from Chartres' stained-glass windows to the smartphone in your hand, sand shelters us, connects us, and inspires us. It's the ingredient that makes possible our cities, our science, our lives -- and our future. And, incredibly, we're running out of it. The World in a Grain is the compelling true story of the hugely important and diminishing natural resource that grows more essential every day, and of the people who mine it, sell it, build with it -- and sometimes, even kill for it. It's also a provocative examination of the little-noticed, but deadly serious human and environmental costs incurred by our dependence on sand

Tone

• trueSobering

Writing style

• trueCompelling
• trueWell-researched
• trueJournalistic
• trueAccessible
• truePersuasive

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

620.191

Index

index present

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Target audience

adult