If you describe yourself as a ceramic engineer or ceramic scientist, you are willing to be different, and you probably have had the experience of explaining to lay folk (like family) how the things you work on are different from the ceramic stuff the average person uses—whitewares, dishes, flower pots, etc.

However, as we know, the average person on an average day uses many more engineered ceramics than they realize—as cell phone antennae, automotive gas tank sensors, catalytic substrates, television electronics—and so on. To the lay person, ceramics can seem mysterious, even magical. In my experience, people like to know how things work and are really interested when the magic of ceramics is presented to them in an understandable way. Sometimes, that curiosity to understand how the magic happens leads people to careers in engineered ceramics, as several of our members who studied ceramic art can attest.

In the just-released new edition of his book, “The Magic of Ceramics,” David Richerson shares the wonder of ceramics with us. His own sense of awe comes through the text and images. His generous use of images draws the reader in, and before you know it, you are learning about ancient ceramics, or single crystals, or electrical insulators, or superconductors, or lightweight vehicles, or armor ceramics, or lighting, or …

A few weeks ago, Peter interviewed Richerson about what’s new in the book that is well worth reading. The book is ready for shipping and can be ordered directly from Wiley. Be sure to use your member discount when ordering!

Switching gears—if you are a ceramic engineer or ceramic scientist, you probably know that the ACerS-Wiley Ceramic Transactions series of conference proceedings is a subject-specific way to stay abreast of the latest science and technology in your field. Several new CTs have just been released (listed below) that may be right up your alley. These also can be ordered directly from the Wiley website.

We also have two new technical books that may fill a gap on your bookshelf. Check out “Glass Ceramic Technology (2nd Edition)”, by Wolfram Holand and George Beall, as well as “Ceramics and Composites Processing Methods,” edited by Narattam Bansal and Aldo Boccaccini.

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 230
Fractography of Glasses and Ceramics VI
James R. Varner and Marlene Wightman, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 231
Processing, Properties and Applications of Glass and Optical Materials
Arun K. Varshneya, Helmut A. Schaeffer, Kathleen R. Richardson, Marlene Wightman and L. David Pye, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 232
Advances in Sintering Science and Technology II
Suk-Joong L. Kang, Rajendra Bordia, Eugene Olevsky and Didier Bouvard, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 233
Advances in Inorganic Phosphate Materials
Ilias Belharouak and Vilas G. Pol, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 234
Processing and Properties of Advanced Ceramics and Composites IV
Jitendra P. Singh, Narottam P. Bansal, Takashi Goto, Jacques Lamon, Sung R. Choi, Morsi M. Mahmoud and Guido Link, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 235
Advances and Applications in Electroceramics II
Shashank Priya and K. M. Nair, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 236
Advances in Materials Science for Environmental and Energy Technologies
Tatsuki Ohji, Mrityunjay Singh, Elizabeth Hoffman, Matthew Seabaugh and Z. Gary Yang, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 237
Biomaterials Science – Processing, Properties and Applications II
Roger Narayan, Susmita Bose and Amit Bandyopadhyay, Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 238
Advances in Synthesis, Processing and Applications of Nanostructures
Kathy Lu, Navin Jose Manjooran, Ri-ichi Murakami and Gary Pickrell Editors

Ceramic Transactions, Volume 239
Materials Challenges in Alternative and Renewable Energy II
George Wicks, Jack Simon, Ragaiy Zidan, Thad Adams, Robin Brigmon, Steven Bossart, Greg Stillman, Gary Fischman, Sivaram Arepalli and Ann Norris, Editors

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