Books matter. They hold ideas, stories and provocations that shape how we think and how we make. Whether you’re a designer, architect, maker, or simply curious about the stories behind the things we use every day, these titles offer inspiration, insight and fresh perspectives. 

Our Recommended Titles

Fewer Better Things: The Hidden Widsom of Objects
By Glenn Adamson
A powerful meditation on our relationship with objects and the importance of material literacy in a digital age.

Show Me The Bodies: How we let Grenfell happen
By Peter Apps
A deeply researched and devastating account of systemic failure, power and accountability in modern Britain.

Don’t Build, Rebuild: The Case for Imaginative Reuse in Architecture
By Aaron Betsky
A passionate argument for adaptive reuse, showing how we can do more with what we already have.

Lives in Architecture
By Nigel Coates
An autobiographical reflection on creativity, architecture and the personal journeys that shape a practice.

The White Road: Journey into Obsession
By Edmund de Waal
An immersive, poetic tale of porcelain, place, and passion from one of the UK’s most celebrated ceramic artists.

The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance
By Edmund de Waal
A family memoir traced through a collection of netsuke, exploring the meanings objects carry across generations.

Radical Matter: Rethinking Materials for a Sustainable Future
By Kate Franklin and Caroline Till
Showcasing pioneers in materials innovation, this book outlines a future shaped by responsibility and creativity.

Materials: An Environmental Primer
Edited by Hattie Hartman and Jo Jack Williams
A practical guide for architects and designers working towards low-impact building.

Design a Healthy Home: 100 Ways to Transform Your Space for Physical and Mental Wellbeing
By Oliver Heath
100 practical tips to improve wellbeing through design—covering air quality, light, acoustics and layout.

Stuff Matters: The Strange Stories of the Marvellous Materials that Shape our Man-Made World
By Mark Miodownik
A bestselling, science-meets-storytelling exploration of the extraordinary materials that make up our everyday world.

The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees
By Robert Penn
A lyrical journey into the many uses of a single ash tree, combining craft, history and deep respect for materials.

Field Fork Fashion
By Alice Robinson
A radical investigation into the connection between farming, fashion and the land.

Why Materials Matter: Responsible Design For a Better World
By Seetal Solanki
A global survey of material innovation with a focus on ecology, ethics, and systems change.

The Materials Sourcebook for Design Professionals
By Rob Thompson
A comprehensive reference for anyone working with materials in product, interior or architectural design.

First Quarter
By John Tuomey
A personal and visual record from one of Ireland’s most thoughtful architectural voices.

Patch Work: A Life Amongst Clothes
By Claire Wilcox
A memoir stitched from fragments, memories, and garments by the V&A’s long-time curator of fashion.

Interested in purchasing?

These books are available to buy directly from Material Matters. Whether you’re building a reference library, looking for inspiration or buying a gift, we’re happy to help. 

Get in touch to check availability, request pricing or arrange a delivery.