The Stuff Around You — The Astonishing Hidden Stories of Ordinary Things

The ordinary objects around you hold extraordinary stories. The Stuff Around You reveals the astonishing history and hidden genius packed into the everyday things you use without a second thought.

From the materials that make your world and the genius of simple tools to the long journey from idea to object and the objects that changed everything, this book helps you see the accumulated brilliance all around you.

What you’ll discover

• Discover the ingenuity hidden in ordinary things
• Learn about the materials that make your world
• Appreciate the genius of simple, everyday tools
• Follow the long journey from idea to object
• See the objects that quietly changed everything

Inside this book

• The ingenuity hidden in ordinary things
• The long history of everyday objects
• The materials that make your world
• The genius of simple tools
• The containers that hold our world
• The hidden cleverness of everyday things
• The long journey from idea to object
• The many hands behind every object
• How everyday objects evolve + the objects that changed everything
• The accumulated genius around you

Who it’s for

Curious readers, makers and design lovers who want to see the hidden brilliance in the everyday stuff around them.

Why this book

Genius isn't only in famous inventions — it's in your fork, your chair, your pen. This book helps you finally notice it.

More "Hidden Histories" to explore

Fall down another fascinating rabbit hole: The Money Spell · Word Magic · The Bean That Conquered the World. Browse the full Digital Library, or explore our free tools and blog.

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Instant PDF download — read on any device. Explore further at Smithsonian Institution, Encyclopaedia Britannica.