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Trade World: The Ties That Bound Our Past and Could Unravel Our Future – The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller
Brought to you by Penguin.
The story of trade is the story of humanity. From the copper in Mesopotamian ploughs to the silicon atoms within the chip inside your smartphone, intricate global trading networks have evolved over millennia to fulfil the distinctly human desire to buy and sell. Today, the volume of trade bestriding the planet is unprecedented. Yet, as fractures in the global order emerge – from an era of globalisation and untrammelled flows of goods and money to a new world of restrictions, intervention and, possibly, war – understanding this fundamental shift to the dominant economic consensus is more important than ever.
In TRADE WORLD, bestselling, award-winning author Ed Conway tells this extraordinary story through these three commonplace products – bread, cloth and cars. With a compelling blend of economic history and first-hand access to key figures and institutions, he takes us from policy treaties to ground level to show us the people who make, ship and sometimes smuggle the products we buy on a daily basis.
Discover the hidden, shifting trade world behind everything you see around you.
© Ed Conway 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
The story of trade is the story of humanity. From the copper in Mesopotamian ploughs to the silicon atoms within the chip inside your smartphone, intricate global trading networks have evolved over millennia to fulfil the distinctly human desire to buy and sell. Today, the volume of trade bestriding the planet is unprecedented. Yet, as fractures in the global order emerge – from an era of globalisation and untrammelled flows of goods and money to a new world of restrictions, intervention and, possibly, war – understanding this fundamental shift to the dominant economic consensus is more important than ever.
In TRADE WORLD, bestselling, award-winning author Ed Conway tells this extraordinary story through these three commonplace products – bread, cloth and cars. With a compelling blend of economic history and first-hand access to key figures and institutions, he takes us from policy treaties to ground level to show us the people who make, ship and sometimes smuggle the products we buy on a daily basis.
Discover the hidden, shifting trade world behind everything you see around you.
© Ed Conway 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Audible Audio
Published September 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 10, 2026
fantastic sequel to material world
I thoroughly enjoyed Ed Conways last book - material world. In that one, we learned about the 6 materials that have the biggest impact on all of our lives
In this one, he digs into supply chain and explains how intrinsically linked and brittle our supply chains are. You’ll come to learn about the importance of bread, how a town just outside the M25 drove innovation in bread making, and why Chinese cars will most likely do to the car industry what Japan did to it (and the motorcycle industry) back in the 70’s
Just like his first book, I devoured it in about 3 days whilst on holiday. A fantastic read
I thoroughly enjoyed Ed Conways last book - material world. In that one, we learned about the 6 materials that have the biggest impact on all of our lives
In this one, he digs into supply chain and explains how intrinsically linked and brittle our supply chains are. You’ll come to learn about the importance of bread, how a town just outside the M25 drove innovation in bread making, and why Chinese cars will most likely do to the car industry what Japan did to it (and the motorcycle industry) back in the 70’s
Just like his first book, I devoured it in about 3 days whilst on holiday. A fantastic read
September 13, 2026
Revelatory!
Another revelatory masterpiece from Ed Conway. Every politician should read this - especially Donald Trump but I understand he doesn’t read books! Conway writes in such an engaging and entertaining style - it’s as gripping as many a page-turner novel.
Another revelatory masterpiece from Ed Conway. Every politician should read this - especially Donald Trump but I understand he doesn’t read books! Conway writes in such an engaging and entertaining style - it’s as gripping as many a page-turner novel.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews