Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Team for this Advanced Digital Readers Copy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This is one history book that I could get into. I loved every page of it. Thjis one will get a good reception from readership.

I found this book to be significantly hard to get into, I think because the author crammed so much information into this book. I feel like I might've been able to last longer than I did if I was reading this book in a physical form and could annotate as I went. I do eventually want to get back into this book as I am really interested in the topic, I just couldn't stay focused reading it now.

Silk is both fascinating and bewildering. When Prasad says he’s writing a world history of it, he means it. He tells tales from Amsterdam to India, from Suriname to China. And he’s clearly done his research. There is a wealth of information about the people who’ve studied the silkworm and the miraculous thread it produces.

But this is book is also a challenge to read. Prasad has put in so much information that it’s hard for me to tell you what he wanted me to understand the most about silk. The book is structured around three major means of obtaining silk: the silkworm, sea silk, and spider silk. But within that general structure, the book jumps all over the place in locations and time periods. Prasad decided to build this book around the people who have studied the means of silk creation and production, but I couldn’t figure out why we went from one person to the next. That was ultimately jarring and confusing.

There’s a kernel of a really interesting book here. But despite the copious details presented, or perhaps because of it, I didn’t find it when reading Silk.

Utterly fascinating. I picked this up hoping to read more about the history of textile trade, but it leaned far more into the biology of various silk-producing creatures and the intriguing, often eccentric lives of those who studied them. Wonderfully written and a genuine gem into learning more about the lives of both the humans and the animals involved in textiles. Ones of those books that makes you just really marvel at the tapestry of life on this planet.

Silk by Aarathi Prasad covers a lot of ground as they explore the historical development of silk production across a wide range of geography and time, as well as types of silk. The book does a good job of explaining the basics and brings in a number of often interesting biographical, cultural, and scientific vignettes. If it does all flow smoothly together or fully coalesce into a unified whole, it remains an informative, interesting, and often fascination book.
Prasad basically divides the book into three sources of silk: moths/silkworms, “sea silk” from marine creatures, , and spiders. For each they explain the source’s physical nuts and bolts of silk production—it’s evolutionary/biological purpose, such as anchoring in ocean waves or web construction and the mechanism and chemistry of the production, such as use of spinnerets, types of proteins, difference in types of silk, etc. The sections also explain how the silk naturally extruded by whatever creature (moth, mollusk, spider) became part of human culture. For the most ancient usage, Prasad turns to archaeological evidence and ancient texts, though each as they take pains to detail, can be unreliable and at times new information throws things into a different light. For more recent (relatively, we’re talking centuries here rather than millennia, they bring in primary texts, journals, reports, etc. often of the naturalists who did the work of collecting, illustrating, experimenting, gathering silk by hand from the creatures, inventing machines to gather silk, and so on. Prasad is careful to point out the imperialistic/colonialist attitude that underlay much of said collecting when it comes to the Europeans. And while they point out the difficulty of giving due credit to indigenous people and women who were involved, thanks to how they were often disappeared, they note who they can, such as Maria Merian, an integral collector, experimenter, and illustrator when it came to silkworms/moths. Finally (for this review at least), each section also explains the uses silk was put to: clothing obviously, but also wound health, parachutes, and perhaps most surprisingly bulletproof vests(no, really).

The last section moves us into more speculative mode, as Prasad explores ongoing experiments, particularly attempts to mass produce silk via genetic engineering, direct synthesis of proteins, and other such as-yet-not-fully-successful work.

As noted, there’s a wealth of information here. Sometimes I think Prasad could have been more selective in the details, as I’m not sure all were relevant, at least in their degree of detail. And at times the book felt disjointed as we moved back and forth in time and space or between subjects. But overall, a solid exploration of the topic. Recommended with those few caveats. 3.5/4

Wow. I can;t imagine a more complete book on the history of silk. The author has done amazing research into a fascinating topic. I had no idea the history of silk was so vast! And that involved so many different types of animals. Still, its a cruel industry and I'd never purchase silk. That the industry is so large, and so widespread, is amazing. SIlks many uses are also detailed in this book. I had never heard of it being used in medical instances. Interesting read. Kudos Aarathji Prasad- well researched and written.

This is about one of the most luxurious natural fibers in the world. It examines culture, biology, natural history, biography, history, manufacturing, experimentations and future possible uses to provide a rich and complex look at this material. It is not one story because it turns out there are a number of sources of silk, not just the most well-known: the silkworm of China. There are other moths in other regions of the world, spiders and even mollusks that produce silk (which is not strictly defined it turns out, I guess it is one of those things that you know when you see it) that are also examined in depth.

While much is about the history of natural historians from Europe in the 1600s or so onwards who studied the the lifecycle of producers of silk as well as how to manufacture it in the most effective ways--because that is who created the most records--Prasad does include information about the history of silk in China and India where it has been produced for about 5,000 years. as well as other locations. She includes not just the passion of these investigators but the context of colonialism and exploitation that were associated with these people exploring the world.

The last section of the book that looks at uses of silk that aren't confined to clothes is interesting though a bit repetitive in places. She particularly examines present research into more uses of silk including some that might help with the overwhelming problem of plastics.

This is a very interesting book that is accessible to most people even with the examination of the biology of the producers of silk.. I wish there were more footnotes or endnotes but that does make it more accessible to the general public.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

It's not that the subject matter wasn't interesting -- but gosh, it just wasn't moving forward at any particular pace. I think this would have to be my special interest to stay enraptured, but I'd still recommend it as a history of science title to any reader.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advanced Reader Copy.

"Silk" is a thoroughly researched and information-packed book that covers more than the reader can anticipate. Like many others, I was expecting the cultural history of silk and how it made its way into the western world. However, as a science nerd, I was pleasantly surprised that this book went much deeper into the evolution and research of different silk-producing creatures. When I say deeper, I mean deeper. This book holds no punches, and you are often given loads of information packed into one paragraph. I will say that at times the information could get overwhelming; some facts felt unnecessary, going off course for a while. If I were to read it again, I would need to slow down, take notes, and make my own timeline, as the book tends to jump around time periods rather quickly. You can really tell that there was so much time, care, and research put into this book. I appreciate the efforts it takes to research back thousands of years trying to piece together a puzzle that many have forgotten.

When it comes to recommending this book, the person that comes to mind is someone who loved the History Channel back before "Ancient Aliens." Reading this book, I could envision the documentary series in my mind. The information is told rather dryly; however, the stories themselves (especially for fans of history and biology) do keep you invested. It's thousands of years of history that weave together, not unlike the swathes of fabric themselves. This book will take some time to get through and definitely needs annotations to help remember information.

What an absolutely fascinating book. Biologist Aarathi Prasad traces the origins of silk from ancient China to today - and it is a much more complex and interesting story than I ever could have imagined. Like many, the most I knew about silk is that it is produced by silk moths and was so prized that the Eurasian trade network from the 2nd century BCE until the 1500s was called the Silk Road. What I didn’t know is that there are many kinds of silkworms, all of which originated in different places, are harvested in different ways, and have different properties. I also didn’t know about silk harvested from spiders, and I most certainly didn’t know that there are scientists around the world experimenting with ways to use spider silk (or materials with similar properties) for medical, sports, military, household and other applications.

Throughout the book, I was fascinated by, and a little concerned about, harvesting methods, which ranged from passively collecting and drying used cocoons to restraining spiders and tickling their tummies to get them to release their web silk (this method seems fairly labor intensive to me, and not a little disgusting). The number of silk worms and spiders needed to produce the amount of silk needed for even one garment is astounding, and it’s no secret why the woven cloth has been so precious. But the good news is that scientists are not only seeking ways to produce silk in greater quantities, but to do it in a sustainable way that allows the insects to proceed with their life cycle after harvesting. They are also working on re-creating some of the properties of spider silk in particular, using mushrooms and other plant life which will be kinder to the planet..

In the near future, according to the author, we may be able to replace many of the items which currently require plastic with silk products. This includes cornea replacements, micro thin needles which do not puncture the skin, fabric which is thin and light but can withstand even military uses, and much more. I was amazed by the description of a scientist who discovered a way to “impregnate” spider silk into the top of a violin, allowing the acoustic of the instrument to be personalized for each user.

Although the research required to put together this information was immense, Prasad writes in an accessible style that does not talk down to the reader but allows us to understand and enjoy throughout. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 4/30/2024. A very much so non-fiction book about exactly what the title says but more, this book covers not just the history of the glorious fabric, silk, but also the history of the creatures who make it and the people who have studied it and worked with it and obsessed over it. It is thorough in a way that astounds and goes to lengths I had not expected. Honestly, picking up the book, I expected something simply along the lines of the silk trade/Silk Roads and uses of the fabric. Not so much. Prasad goes much further - not only covering the social history but also the biology and the economy and the variety of silks that have existed and continue to exist in this world.

From ancient cities and fossils to modern medical uses and "spider goats," Prasad takes her time and gives equal weight to each section of the umbrella concept of silk. The bulk of the book breaks down into the three main silk-producing creatures - the varieties of silkworms/caterpillars from all over the world, the various mollusks that create fibrous anchors that become "seasilk" (in particular the very endangered pen shell), and the wide range of spiders. Environments, the ways the products differ and compare, the history of use and cultivation - nothing escapes her searching eye. This can make it a bit heavy in places and it is certainly not a quick read but it is more than worth it if you have any interest in the way humans and nature and art and manufacturing intersect. Unlike things like linen and cotton, silk has always had its own mystique and allure. Discovering more about the history and construction of it only makes it more wonderous. Seriously. How many of us, as children, would make faces and go ewww when thinking about stuff coming out of worm and spider butts? But then go on to grow up and pay through the nose for a scarf made by that very stuff? It defies belief.

Plus some of the personalities who enter the stories of these creatures and the production of silk are just as wild and strange as any giant spider or little worm. You have the dabblers, the generalists... Then you have people like Italo Diana who was so darn into the traditional art of making sea-silk that he opened an actual school in his home to spread the knowledge? Or Termeyer who was downright obsessed with his little spider buddies that he would regularly surround himself with thousands of them while working out how to turn their silk into usable threads? Then there are the current scientists who now can play with genes and electron microscopes and chemical compositions.

As I said, this is not a light, fluffy read but it is also not impenetrable. There is a lot that is human as well as failure and success in the story of silk. It is something worth learning about - if only to make you appreciate things that were and could be. After all, silk and the current research around it might just help solve some of our plastic mess and wouldn't that be the most elegant thing ever?

Known as one of the strongest organic materials produced, silk has long been used by humans for a variety of purposes. In Silk: A World History Aarathi Prasad delves into this long history, through archeological discoveries, the work of scientists and naturalists and highlights of success and failures in commodifying silks.

Silk is divided in to three sections. The first, and longest, focuses on silk from moths globally. An important revelation is that the oldest discovered human silk artifacts are from Indian. From their this section focuses primarily on the cultural and scientific aspects, there is some detailing of the historically importance of the Silk Road, but much more of a focus on how different peoples bred silkworms and harvested them for a variety of purposes obvious such as clothing and fertilizer to less well known uses such as food flavoring, dyes or traditional medicine. Prasad details the lives and works of naturalists from the 1600s to 1800s who traveled the world looking for caterpillars and moths as they captured samples or depicted them through art. It was a risky undertaking, in some cases leading to death, blindness or illness. It was also an implicit part of colonialism, the search for these insects sometimes an expansion from general explorations or key discoveries or understandings gained from natives left unacknowledged or credited.

Section two details two other natural types of silk: sea silk from mollusks and spider silk. Sea silk looks mostly at the Mediterranean world, with it being so difficult to acquire or create cloth that it was a rare commodity typically only enjoyed by emperors or royalty. Sea silk now faces near extinction due to climate change. The spider silk section is the most engaging, full of both humor and possibility. Many of the personalities detailed note their difficulties of gathering sufficient spiders without them eating each other, producing adequate amounts of spider silk or the various tests they put the silk through to prove its strength. None of them found a way to make things commercially viable, but some did create clothing or household goods. The spiders also show the importance of record keeping and access to information as some of those working with spiders discovered the work of their antecedents later in there work, finding that they had not discovered a new path, but a time delayed parallel invention.

The final section looks at silk through its promise as a material to be used in healthcare, a sustainable replacement for plastics or its historic use as a material of personal protection. The latter looks at bullet proof vests or even the use of silk shirts by the Mongols. For healthcare, the possibilities offer flashes of the potential near future, with silk as a delivery system for medicines, framework for rebuilding or modifying body parts, or even just emplacing everyday technologies in our bodies.

Silk is a deep but accessible microhistory, succeeding the genre's goals of taking a single object of focus and delineating its development and usage, cultural past, present research and future possibilities.

Recommended for readers interested: in wonders of natures, microhistories, human creativity or cultural histories.

This is a highly detailed history of key players in the quest to unravel the ways of silk. From studying the process of metamorphosis in moths to learning to harvest spider silk these often obsessive people are fascinating. Their explorations of the possiblities of silk threads have enlightened scientists and frustrated those looking for the means of large scale production. That search continues because of the hope that silks might replace plastics, among many other uses.
My own experience has been with silk fabrics. The parents of a high school friend owned a fabric store and there I learned of muga and tusseh. A woman I baby sat for handed down a two piece tusseh dress (I felt like a movie star). And I have used silks of various kinds in wall hangings. Although this book is primarily about the thread, not the fabric, I am delighted to have learned so much.

The weaving together of history in to the fabric of the story was brilliant .

Thank you for the eArc.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I picked up this book with admittedly unfair expectations, thinking it would read similar to FABRIC by Victoria Finlay, one of my favorite non-fiction books. I've also long been fascinated by the history of the Silk Road, so I thought this would be right in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately, neither of these expectations quite panned out, although SILK is an interesting book and well worth reading. It just won't go down as a five-star read to me, which I assumed it would be. There are two main reasons for why it fell short, I think. First is that it's more esoteric and skewed towards technical, scientific minutiae instead of being a social history of silk. And second, the author's writing style didn't quite flow for me. I had a hard time settling into a rhythm and had to keep going back to re-read sentences, which took away from my enjoyment.

I still learned a lot and now have a new appreciation for the unique properties of this material, so 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

A sweeping, fascinating look at silk around the world. Prior to reading this, I thought of silk as the product of the Bombyx Mori silkworms munching on mulberry leaves in China; their cocoons boiled and strands separated to be woven into silk fabrics traded along the Silk Road. I even toured an attic room on a trip to China where we stood under the wooden rafters and learned how silkworms were traditionally cultivated. But this non-fiction book exposed me to so much more. Silk made in India from various types of moths also have a long history and there are many silk roads.
More surprising to me was “sea silk,” obtained from large and now virtually extinct mollusks in the Mediterranean. Sea silk refers to the silken fibers that kept the mollusks tethered to the sea floor yet allowed them to move with the tides. The prepared sea silk was used sparingly to adorn uniforms and knit hosiery for royalty. Nevertheless, overuse led to overharvesting of the shells, much like a different shell species that was highly prized for its blue pigment that was produced by grinding up the shells. (See “The Secret Lives of Color” by Kassia St. Clair ). [Sadly, humans just can’t have nice things without destroying them.]
Then there’s a lengthy section on the silk of spiders. The author’s research uncovered at least three distinct and independent inventions of spider milking machines! These would immobilize a spider and stimulate it into releasing webbing silk that would be gathered on a spool or reel. A few attempts at mass production are described as well. While the spiders were not killed (unless eaten by proximate spiders), it is an uncomfortable section to read. I couldn’t help but think of the large and sentient spiders in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s excellent sci-fi trilogy, “Children of Time.”
In the final section, the author discusses uses of and emerging research on silks, including creating items (replacement veins, etc.) that might someday be used internally in humans with less risk of rejection.
While the book tries to read like a novel, the writing is a bit too stiff to pull it off. Populated with artists, naturalists, and inventors, there are a lot of names but not much drama. As another reviewer also mentioned, when compared with Mark Kurlansky’s excellent non-fiction exploration of “Salt,” this is more of a straightforward recounting. Yet the research is impressive and the information gathered is fascinating.

My thanks to the author and to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its global perspective. Prasad deftly traces the origins of silk production in ancient China and follows its spread along the Silk Road, illuminating the interconnectedness of diverse cultures and civilizations. From the opulent courts of imperial China to the bustling markets of ancient Rome, each chapter unfolds like a vibrant tapestry, revealing the multifaceted role of silk in shaping the course of human events. With its global scope, interdisciplinary approach, and engaging prose, Aarathi Prasad's book offers a captivating exploration of one of humanity's most enduring and fascinating commodities.

I found the book too boring and digressive. I thought that it was going to be interesting to read about the origin of silk and its commerce around the globe but the author dedicates a lot of time to the different types of worms ( and there’s an awful lot of them) with details that don’t add much to the overall reading experience. I don’t feel that I know more about silk after reading this book. If anything I am confused!
I’m so sorry that this book didn’t work for me.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The first part, about the Bombyx mori and other silk moths, I read in one or two sittings, utterly fascinated by the biographies, biologies, and histories that came together into a narrative about how humans have shaped silk production for their own ends. The second section, about different animals that make silk, was also incredibly informative, though lacked the strong, unifying thread that made the first part compulsively readable. The third section, about modern experiments with silk, was disjointed and yet also repetitive. This part also serves as our conclusion, with only one paragraph at the very end joining the entire book together. The book would have perhaps been more successful if the third section was condensed into a single chapter summarizing these technological advances, giving space for some of the unifying themes to have their own, concluding chapter. Throughout the book, we see how humans have consistently struggled to make silk industries economically viable, since, despite everything, nature will do what it wants to do. We see how, even in attempts to make more environmentally sustainable materials, humans have unavoidably harmed these communities of silk-producing animals. I know that maybe what I got out of the book will not be the same as others, but we are truly left with almost no overarching thoughts from the author, so at least something would have been appreciated.

At its best, this book is awe-inspiring, passionate, and emotional. I was actually, physically sad reading about the naturalist who was forcibly removed from his spider collection in Paraguay. The book brings attention to some amazing naturalists throughout history, and, for that reason alone, I would still be glad I read it.