Can Your Science be a Best-Seller?
Many researchers dream of one day writing a book, but struggle to get started. Here's what best-selling author of Stuff Matters shares on writing something people will love to read.
Stuff Matters has almost 3,000 excellent ratings on Amazon, 20,000 on Goodreads, and was a New York Times Best Seller, as well as on the top 100 Notable Books list of 2014. Even now, it’s still racking up reviews and inspiring readers every day about the material world.
But such success doesn’t just happen by accident.
In this edition of The Scoop, we interviewed the author of Stuff Matters: a materials scientist, Mark Miodownik. Miodownik’s contagious passion for his subject has given birth to several books, the UCL Institute of Making, and a lifelong commitment to learning and sharing what he’s learned with others.
We’re stoked to share Miodownik’s journey, the lessons he’s found along the way, and what it means for researchers all along the academic path, whether students, academics or professional researchers.
Seeds of inspiration
Miodownik has been sharing his science for as long as he’s been learning it. Since he was an undergraduate student, he’s been giving talks to students and learners, explaining materials science concepts via lecture and practical example.
His books are a reflection of his own way of learning, his passion for his subject, and a desire to share it with others.
Teach to learn
Miodownik has been teaching for as long as he has been learning materials sciences.
“I’m a slow learner, I really take ages,” Miodownik explains, and teaching has always been his outlet to better help himself learn. Indeed, learning by teaching is a fundamental pedagogical concept, and deeply integrated into academic systems with roles like teaching assistants. Miodownik always appreciated the questions he would get from his own students, especially those he wouldn’t think of on his own and that helped him to gain new perspectives. Teaching is sharing, and both enable better learning.
Keep the bigger picture in mind
But, “learning slow” is also a conscious choice. Miodownik has maintained an affinity for understanding the bigger picture. When he was an undergraduate, he took a leaf out of the books of his friends in design and art, who valued looking at the whole. “I really enjoyed doing research in materials,” explains Miodownik, “but didn’t want to get trapped in a lab and get to the end of my life feeling like all I did was develop one material. I needed to understand the material world more broadly.”
It’s this perspective that made Miodownik go down different paths with materials, and also helped shape his popular book, Stuff Matters. Instead of just diving into the science behind a material (say, chocolate, metal or plastic), he considers each with historical, anthropological and cultural lenses. Although viewing things this way may have “slowed him down”, the payoff was a bigger perspective and the ability to still be amazed by these materials in the world.
Fuel by passion
There are few better motivators for creative pursuits than passion. Miodownik keeps this value close to heart, as he says, “That’s my guiding principle: am I thrilled?”. He admits this may not be the best characteristic for a classically successful academic, often expected to work with a more targeted focus on a specific niche for decades. Nonetheless, this attitude of following his excitement has fueled his various projects, books, and pursuits.
Miodownik’s open approach and passion for materials science is reflected in the UCL Institute of Making, which he founded with his colleagues in order to inspire people of all backgrounds to understand and create materials. And when the institute says all backgrounds, they mean it. Unlike many organizations which allow only certain students or academics, the Institute of Making welcomes all university folks, from librarians to security guards to researchers of all backgrounds.
“There’s no hierarchy,” explains Miodownik, because “That’s the thing about materials, they’re democratic. They’re open to everyone. That makes a certain vibe in the place.”
However, this attitude isn’t without challenges. By supporting such a broad audience, the planning, preparation and execution of its events can take more time. But this trade-off is well worth it and fosters an excitement for exploration among all the participants who pass through the doors.
How to write a best-seller
If you’re thinking of writing your own book, or curious what really sets apart a best seller in the world of scientific nonfiction, there’s a few lessons to be learned from Stuff Matters.
What sets Stuff Matters apart is its focus on story. Storytelling is essential to make science communication more compelling. As Miodownik puts it, “It [Stuff Matters] is light on the science and heavy on the stories. Stories themselves are how the message is carried.”
Audiences react well to stories, and it’s one of the key characteristics of the book that Miodownik believes has kept so many general readers engaged.
“Unless you’re one of the 5% of people who want to know about a new topic,” says Miodownik, “then after Chapter Two you’re like ‘Yeah, I got it’. Whereas Stuff Matters was never for those people… I didn’t want to write a niche book. I wanted to write for the 95% of people.”
Miodownik was driven to inspire the layperson in just what makes himself so impressed, amazed and intrigued by the material world that we’re surrounded by.
Miodownik even took this idea of storytelling one step further by making each chapter not just about a different material, but maintaining the character of that material in voice. This eccentricity even created some arguments with his editor at the time, when he tried to insist the chapter on plastics should contain a film script (read the book to learn why this makes so much sense!).
“Then we both [editor and I] thought the book’s a bit mad… but I think the madness is necessary to get people to feel the extraordinariness [of the materials],” shares Miodownik. This commitment to each chapter’s character makes the book a bit more rough stylistically, but may also make it more memorable and sticky for readers.
In addition to story-focused writing, Miodownik also followed the typical logistical advice for most science writers, like self-promoting, being his own ambassador, and staying passionate about his book throughout the publication process by avoiding looking at reviews and ratings. We cover some of these recommendations in a previous article where we interviewed another materials scientist author, here.
The special perks of writing books
Miodownik hasn’t only written books, but also done TV series and documentaries, sharing his scientific knowledge for a broad audience. But, when compared with these other mediums, books seem to hold one key advantage: longevity.
Miodownik finds that books seem to be one of the longest-lasting forms of communication, perhaps due to their physical nature. They have their own way of evolving through recommendations, translations, and continued momentum. Authors have the opportunity to bear witness to how their creations evolve over time, even without their participation.
“The book becomes this discussion between people in which you’re not involved. I just find that marvelous. It’s a really under-appreciated aspect of the physicality of books. It becomes this thing you can give to someone. It’s an important present, saying ‘I’m thinking about this. Why don’t you read it and we can have a discussion about it?’” - Miodownik
Successful books continue to give back after years and years. Even now, Stuff Matters continues to be translated into other languages and recommended among friends. Books are catalysts for new and meaningful conversations, creating their own worlds and cultural movements. It’s this evolution that is so rewarding to see as an author, and which drives Miodownik to continue to write and contribute to the literary world today.
Are you inspired to write your own book one day? What’s hindering or helping you? Share with the community below to help or encourage other researchers!
The Scoop would like to warmly thank Mark Miodownik for his valuable insights in this edition of The Scoop. To learn more about his work, check out his website, the Institute of Making, and his newest book, It’s a Gas.