Dust

'Like a detective dusting for fingerprints, Jay Owens masterfully reveals the hidden traces of modernity by following some of its smallest fragments. Dust is a hugely original and engrossing history. It's a book that captures our current age - its diffusion, its wonder, and its terror - as well as tracing its future fall-out, both literal and symbolic. - James Vincent, author of Beyond Measure 'Owens's pursuit of dust - defined very broadly as particles of a certain size, however generated - sends her tripping through many fascinating and rewarding realms . . . She's a superb travel writer, delivering with aplomb on her own idea of what geographers should be doing: Paying attention to tangible, material realities to ground our theoretical models in the world.' - Telegraph 'A profoundly original examination of our damaged, eternally connected world. There are ideas here I will carry with me for my whole life, having breathed them in with these pages as surely as we breathe the book's titular substance in with every living moment.' - Ray Nayler, author of The Mountain in the Sea 'Brilliant . . . Owens is a serious writer: impassioned but intelligent, powerful but subtle ... [a] first-class writer and deep-thinking environmentalist. This book is original and exciting.' Sunday Times 'Food for thought wrapped up nicely in a highly absorbing book.' Buzz Magazine 'Some of the most powerful narratives in the book centre on dried lake beds . . . The author tells the story beautifully, weaving together the strands of environmental justice, water rights and public health . . . a broad and insightful picture of how tiny partices influence our environment, our health and our relationship with the world around us.' Nature 'Owens's prose is often lyrical and her wide-ranging analysis highlights dust's overlooked historical significance . . . a competent and persuasive study of the big impact of small particles.' -- Publishers Weekly 'A fascinating and expansive examination of the causes of dust and its effect on people . . . Owens' writing is moving and persuasive, revealing passion about the subject . . . Readers will be fascinated by what enormous insights Owens conveys by thoughtfully examining something as tiny as a dust particle.' -- Bookist 'Who knew dust could be so exciting? Here it undergoes a thorough rebrand to elevate it from mildly annoying irritant to mind-blowing magic trick, global network and latest candidate for eventual downfall of our species.' -- Strong Words