The World in a Grain

For those who sweep it off the sidewalk or pour it out of their shoes, sand may not seem like a remarkable substance--until they listen to journalist Beiser's account of its importance in our modern world. With narrator Will Damron's even voice as our guide, Beiser explains how the raw material of glass, concrete, roads, and vacation resorts has encouraged sand mining on a massive and destructive scale. He reports from several U.S. locations and makes stops in China, India (home of a murderous "sand mafia"), and Palm Jumeirah (an artificial island of sand in Dubai), with Damron handling all of the dialogue without accents or adornment. This may not be one to listen to on the beach. D.B. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine