THE FABRIC OF CIVILIZATION How Textiles Made the World

Narrator Caroline Turner Cole's steady pace and clear voice allow listeners to focus on the technical details of cloth making, the mathematical nature of weaving, and the chemistry of dyes. The fascinating, and sometimes disgusting, process of creating everyday and luxury garments alike is explored in this educational guide. The global history of textiles is examined--from ancient societies that first discovered string making and later engaged in trade to the modern advancements of 3D knitting. Cole increases vocal variety while quoting experts to reflect their feelings on often painstaking research. She even uses an emphatic "phew!" while quoting a student's observation of a smelly concentrated indigo dye. The cloth business advanced literacy and math, drove chemical research, and even taught people to use binary code. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2021]