Glass:: From The First Mirror To Fiber Optics, The Story Of The Substance That Changed The World

by W.S. Ellis

It is the neon sign that blinks on the edge of our consciousness; the wavy, delicate windowpanes in a centuries-old farmhouse; the airy adornment of high-rise architects and playful distraction of daydreaming schoolchildren. Heat resistant or shatterproof, tempered or stained, this magical substance formed of sand and fire has done much more than brighten and it has changed the very way we live. William S. Ellis brilliantly whisks readers on a marvelously entertaining journey of ingenuity and discovery, from the birthplace of glass on the ancient shores of Phoenicia to the crystal factories of Waterford, which only recently has leapt into the computer age. In prose as crystalline as his subject, the author celebrates the versatility and functionality of glass, and explains how a substance known to all but understood by few has been shaped and molded to serve mankind in innumerable ways. In these pages, readers will learn how glass has both shaped and been shaped by man's changing relationship to the environment; how it has brought vision to the sight-deprived and to human beings huddling in the dark; and how glass enters the twenty-first century yielding an almost unlimited horizon of possibilities. With grace, charm and authority, Glass delves into history, invention, manufacturing, fine art, and the myriad faces and forms of this protean substance. Whether visiting the flamboyant glass artist Dale Chihuly, dissecting the creation of a twenty-ton telescopic mirror, sampling the history of Tiffany's magnificent lamps, or watching the design and construction of the greenhouses of Kew Gardens, this book treats readers to a multifaceted vision of a material eternally destined to die a violent death, and to be constantly reborn in a relentlessly changing world.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Nicole M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glass fascinates -- and so the potential is good, but the book seems to fall short. Firstly, the layperson wouldn't expect that the topic of 'glass' could be so timely; but in fact, it really is, as this book shows. Although 1998 really doesn't seem that long ago, the pace of technology in the past few decades has been so fast that certain chapters of this book seem laughably naive. Of course--one can't fault the book for being written a while ago and out of date. Rather, I find more of the problem is the oddly disjointed style of writing. At times it can be quite lucid and readable, but at others it seems to change topic suddenly, or at least less than smoothly; and though I appreciate attempts at humor, it is sometimes a little bit un-funny. Another reader mentioned 'rambling,' and I might agree. It's not all bad, by any means, but I would likely recommend some other book on glass to start with.

[Ashton Ostrander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodies:

"There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton

“The glass mirror serves our insatiable hunger for visual self-approval. Most people like to look at themselves, if not because they think they are attractive, then because they want to see if things have improved since the last look.”

[Chris Veazey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes rambling...or maybe I was rambling. Much better clear headed. There are moments of inspiration, long windedness and boredom. Oriented toward the interaction of this material and culture and technology throughout its history. The word "exhaustive" comes to mind. Oh yeah and it was published 12 years ago (1998 from now). Worth it, anyway. It got me interested in other exhaustive books about materials and people. Especially plastic. I sorta despise plastic though so that could be a worthy, laborious endeavor.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully-written book about one of the world's most mysterious and important materials is a joy to read. William Ellis has succeeded in turning a potentially very dry topic into something charming and poetic as well as very informative.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a book about art glass which I thought is was about. It is about the future of glass circa 1990's. Science moves so fast that the book is now a bit out of date. I would recommend skipping this one and reading something more current.

[Jesus]

A useful introduction; it begins as many others do, referencing Pliny the Elder.