Clay: The History and Evolution of Humankind's Relationship

by Suzanne Staubach

In the tradition of the bestselling books Salt and Cod : get the dirt on the humble substance that helped create the modern world.

Clay has played a crucial role in the development of the culinary arts, international trade, the invention of writing, and the construction of towns and cities. After 30,000 years, clay continues to play a vital role in our everyday lives and the advancement of civilization. Its history is the history of the human race.

What started as a tool for cooking and a vessel for storage is now essential to the space program, bio-technology, publishing, agriculture, plumbing, sanitation, and more. Much of the Great Wall of China was made of fired clay bricks-a material that can stand for centuries. Now, Suzanne Staubach presents a look at a civilization built on the mud beneath our feet-from the first spark plugs to modern semi-conductors, satellite communications to surgical equipment-in a colorful look at how, from primordial ooze to modern miracles, clay continues to shape our world in ways limited only by the human imagination.

304 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2006

About the author

Suzanne Staubach writes, pots, and gardens in northeast Connecticut. After a long career in independent bookselling, she now writes and speaks about garden and ceramic history, and sells her handmade pottery nationwide. She is the author of three previous books.

(source: Amazon)