As an ongoing feature, staff members at the Des Moines Public Library will recommend a business-related book to add to your reading list. Find this and more books like it at any of the Des Moines Public Library’s six locations and online at dmpl.org. And find information on how to get a FREE library card and all its benefits at dmpl.org/get-carded.

Des Moines Public Library business book pick: “Material World,” by Ed Conway

Why you should read it: “Material World,” by Ed Conway, is essential reading for business leaders seeking to understand the hidden forces shaping the global economy. Conway uncovers the critical role of raw materials — like sand, copper and lithium — in driving industries, innovation and geopolitics. With supply chains under pressure and resource competition intensifying, this book offers vital insights into economic resilience and sustainability. Engaging and well-researched, it equips executives, investors and policymakers with a deeper appreciation of the materials underpinning modern commerce and the challenges ahead.