Rubber: The Social and Natural History of an Indispensable Substance [BOOK]

About the Book

This compelling social and natural history of rubber uncovers the remarkable, often shocking story of a substance that surrounds us in nearly every aspect of modern life. From its sacred significance among the Aztecs and Mayas to its essential place in contemporary society, rubber’s journey is filled with surprising twists. Vidya Rajan traces its origins back to Mesoamerican civilizations, where it was used for ritual games, waterproof clothing, and more. She also reveals the darker chapters—patent battles, global exploitation, and the brutal atrocities committed in the Amazon Basin and the Congo in the name of rubber extraction. Blending science, history, and human drama, this book lays bare the extraordinary story of an ancient material that quietly shapes our world.

Key Features

• A sweeping social and natural history of rubber, from ancient Mesoamerica to the modern world.
• Explores rubber’s spiritual and cultural importance among the Aztecs and Mayas.
• Reveals the scientific origins of rubber and its evolutionary impact on plants and animals.
• Examines the patent wars and industrial rivalries that shaped global rubber production.
• Highlights the brutal exploitation of Indigenous populations in the Amazon Basin and the Congo during the rubber boom.
• Written by natural sciences expert Vidya Rajan, known for her engaging science communication.
• A blend of history, science, anthropology, and storytelling that illuminates the hidden world behind a ubiquitous material.

Product Details

ASIN: B0DY4159LQ

Publisher: Westland Non-Fiction (10 March 2025)

Language: English

File Size: 6.9 MB

Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

X-Ray: Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled

Print Length: 306 pages