Probably not a lot of people will pick up a book on concrete. They should. I read this book to my husband on long trips and we bought a physical copy for our shelves. Concrete is everywhere you look but you've probably never considered its origins, history, or why its the most utilized building material in the world. Courland goes deep starting with what we can learn from archaeology about the origins of concrete. Then he walks us through the history of concrete in buildings, bridges, aqueducts, and tunnels, sharing stories of competition, patent wars, and mad races to complete projects before time ran out. The book is full of fun factoids including Edison's quest to build concrete furniture. But what's most important about this book is understanding what's happening with today's concrete and why much of it may be at risk to environmental changes.

I must admit I didn't know what to expect. The title gave a hint, but was thinking it was more about man's overuse of the natural resources. Surprisingly an interesting story about concrete, both history and usage. With a bit of humor and good writing it is an enjoyable read. Would recommend.

I was quite surprised how enjoyable and readable this book was when the topic of the book could have been quite boring. I enjoyed how concrete was accidently discovered and the book only grew in fascination from there. Concrete is easy to make and reproduce and is used in building most structures, but the efficacy has an expiration of 50 years or so before cracking. The remaining concrete and its remnants can last a thousand years! Needless to say, I learned more about concrete than I knew before and its other uses.

This was just an enjoyable and fascinating book from start to finish about concrete. A very recommended book about a material that is probably taken for granted.

Thanks to Netgalley, Robert Courland and Rowan & Littlefield Prometheus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 6/21/22

I loved this book. It’s a fun, informative look at concrete. This could have very easily been a boring topic, but Robert Courland brings the subject to life through clearly-explained basics, some humor, and overall captivating writing. Courland’s discussions of history and personalities are excellent, as are the illustrations. Overall, this is a great read. Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield, Prometheus for the digital review copy.