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Ivan Amato

Stuff: Materials World Paperback – September 1, 1998

by Ivan Amato (Author)

5 customer reviews

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The way our world is, how it got there and where it's going, is a direct result of the stuff we make other stuff out of: the metals, composites, ceramics, plastics and semi-conductors found in every man-made thing around us. From antique china to airplanes, transistor radios and supercomputers--from the Stone Age to the Electronics Age and far beyond--science writer Ivan Amato takes us ona remarkable journey through a breathtaking universe of enlightenment and challenge; revealing the secrets, exploring the astounding histories, introducing us to the genius personalities behind the discoveries, and unveiling the glorious future and possibilities of Stuff.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

...his lively writing style keeps his descriptions of even the subtleties of semiconductor physics and steel metallurgy enjoyable.

Review

"Fascinating...No one has done a better job in conveying the importance and excitement of the science of materials." -- David Voss, Senior Editor, Science Magazine

"From atoms to buckyballs to diamonds to steel, Ivan Amato takes readers on a lively, engrossing tour of the fascinating, though often unappreciated world at our fingertips." -- Ivars Peterson, Editor, Science News and author of A Mathematical Tourist

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Product details

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial (September 1, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0380731533
ISBN-13: 978-0380731534
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
Average Customer Review: 5 customer reviews

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BNC

Great layman's overview of MSE!

September 15, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It's so great to find a layman's overview to the influence of materials science and engineering. The author covers the breakthroughs of ancient times, the birth of the discipline in the last century, and it's future directions. Great book for anyone who works even marginally with engineered materials! As a doctoral student in the field myself, it was fun to see how the author made complex concepts understandable to a wider audience.

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Joel M. Kauffman

Materials Science Made Simple

November 5, 2002

Format: Hardcover

Optimistic, easy-to-read, this charming history of the effect of new materials on society is filled with brilliant analogies. From the ceramics and bronze of prehistoric times through iron, steel, aluminum, polymers, transistors, silicon microchips and solid-state lasers, using personal interviews and a number of diagrams, Amato takes the reader on a joyful tour of what became Materials Science. This fount of good (but not excellent) explanations of many things is marred by a number of technical errors, and a Green Party stance on all of the current environmental issues. These flaws drag down what would have been a 5-star rating to 3 stars. The generally delicious writing style is marred by some problems with transitive verbs and a few slang expressions that may be hard to translate. Citation of sources is adequate.
...

5 people found this helpful

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Humberto Mejia

This is the way to go for a primer in material Science

June 5, 2006

Format: Paperback

As a mechanical engineer, I was exposed to a rather dry subject of material science limiting to a choise of performance curves that satisfied the load requirements. I bought this book some years ago and I was amazed on the explanation and depth of the coverage. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask about materials is somehow reflected here, the history, the facts the whys.. As a special bonus there is a graph (page 243)that shows the interplay of factors that influence steel behaviour, just this is worth the reading... I wonder why is out of stock?..

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Justin F. Gaynor

Nothing great

May 21, 2009

Format: Paperback

There's nothing terribly wrong with this book, but unfortunately it came out at about the same time as Phillip Ball's vastly superior "Made to Measure," which covered the same ground, at least as regards technology. Mr. Amato must be one of the few people on Earth who can be so awestruck by a technical conference -- he devotes at least an entire chapter to the thrill and wonder of a Materials Research Society meeting, which is, well, just a technical conference.

3 people found this helpful

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N. B.

GREAT

December 10, 2001

Format: Hardcover

He manages to explain complicated things in a way me and you can understand them,and me makes you even more interested in the subjects he covers.

One person found this helpful

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Stuff: Materials World Paperback – September 1, 1998