LONGLISTED AS A FINANCIAL TIMES AND SCHRODERS BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR
THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE An illuminating tour through the manufacturing
world and its seismic influence on our lives from internationally renowned expert Tim Minshall
We live in a manufactured world. Unless you are floating naked through space you are right now
in direct contact with multiple manufactured products including furniture technology
clothing and even food. And yet the manufacturing processes by which these things appear in
our lives are virtually invisible. How often do we stop to think: Where do the things we buy
actually come from? How are they made and how do they make their way into our hands? The
answers can be found in How Things Are Made which traces the surprising paths taken by
everyday items to reach consumers from design to creation to the complex logistics of
delivery. Innovation expert Tim Minshall takes us on a journey through the manufacturing world
from the smallest job shops to mega-factories from global shipping hubs to local delivery at
your door revealing the inner workings of the system that runs 24-7-365 to make and deliver
the things we need—or want—to live our daily lives including cars cakes phones planes
drugs and medical devices. Along the way he explores how we can improve the supply chain
resilience of our global manufacturing system and the impact it has on the natural world
presenting a path to a truly sustainable future. Brimming with energy and lively examples How
Things Are Made maps the awe-inspiring global system of manufacturing that enables virtually
every aspect of our existence. By making sense of this surprising and hidden world we are able
to make better choices for ourselves our communities and the planet. This illuminating tour
of our manufactured world reveals: The Global Supply Chain: The mind-boggling journey of
everyday items revealing how a single sheet of toilet paper can travel thousands of miles
before it reaches your home. Industrial Revolutions & Innovation: A fascinating history of how
we make things from the first industrial revolution to the cutting-edge automation and AI
shaping the factories of the future. Sustainability & The Future: An urgent look at the
environmental impact of manufacturing and a practical roadmap for how we can build a more
resilient and sustainable world. The Circular Economy: A hopeful vision for the future where
waste is eliminated moving from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ system to one that benefits
consumers communities and the planet.
