Liquid cover art

Liquid

The Spellbinding Substances That Guide Our Lives

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Liquid

By: Mark Miodownik
Narrated by: Daniel Weyman
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Liquid by Mark Miodownik.

A series of glasses of transparent liquids is in front of you: but which will quench your thirst and which will kill you? And why? Why does one liquid make us drunk and another power a jumbo jet?

Sometimes dangerous, often delightful and always fascinating, discover the secret lives of liquids, from one of our best known scientists.

From the best-selling author of Stuff Matters comes a fascinating tour of the world of these surprising or sinister substances - the droplets, heartbeats and ocean waves we encounter day to day. Structured around a plane journey which sees encounters with water, wine and oil, among others, the book shows that liquids are agents of death and destruction as well as substances of wonder and fascination. Just as in Stuff Matters, Miodownik's unique brand of scientific storytelling brings them and their mysterious properties alive in a captivating new way, revealing why liquids flow up a tree but down a hill, why oil is sticky, how waves can travel so far, why things dry, how liquids can be crystals, the future of liquid self-healing roads and how to make the perfect cup of tea.

In Liquid, Miodownik unlocks the mysterious properties of the slippery, dark, explosive, delicious and poisonous liquids that airport security are rightly worried about and that we have come to rely on.

©2018 Mark Miodownik (P)2018 Penguin Audio
Agricultural & Food Sciences Earth Sciences Food Science Physics Science Heartfelt Aviation

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All stars
Most relevant  
This tale covers a lot of ground in a relatively short time. It reads more like a novel.

Fascinating & well told.

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I expected a typical popular science format about Liquids., but Instead science of Liquids was wrapped up in the story of the writer on a typical transatlantic flight. I enjoyed this book and it's unique approach to telling the story. I listened to it on Audible and the narrator was very clear and managed to keep the flow (pardon the pun) going throughout the book.

Science of Liquids through a story of a flight

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the author tells the story of liquid right down to the lowest level, he is honest and funny about himself with lots of funny momemts. really enjoyed this book didnt want it to end. highly recommend full if facinating bites of information told by an expert.

super book great listen

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If you are interested in the mechanics of life, or just simply want to learn a little, Marks approach and well presented explanations are just the right ticket. I was compelled to keep playing the book which is something I haven't suffered from for a while now.

Fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable... thanks Mar

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An informative and enjoyable listen. Nicely sequenced and well read. Intend to check out more by this author.

Well crafted and presented

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A flight from Heathrow to San Francisco is the background for telling the stories of various liquids. I’ve learnt a lot and also laughed quite a bit. If you have a butterfly brain and like to be educated but not in a straight line this is the book for you.

Wow, entertaining and enlightening

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I was so pleased to listen to this book. It is got so much interesting fact and history all wrapped up in humor and the story telling feels familiar to how I would think in my head but minus the outstanding knowledge of the topic. Story flows like liquid and soaks into the mind effortlessly leaving pleasing sensation.

The book I most enjoyed

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very informative and easy to understand. Written in an engaging and fluid style that kept me wanting to know more. Very good reading and audiobook quality. Thank you for writing and reading this book.

Awesome audiobook "Liquid"

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I have a background in Materials Engineering, and I would very much recommended this book. I wish I had had the author as one of my teachers in University. The chapter on inks is sublime. And the one on adhesives illuminating. The explanation of refinement of petrol and on kerosene is brilliant.

This is a masterpiece of Materials Science

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great narration. and beyond interesting content wrapped up in a prose easy to follow and popping up for air throughout. An easy 5 stars.

spellbinding

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