“This is a wonderful book – and I can guarantee you will be both better informed and more inspired once you’ve read it. Sand may not sound like the stuff of a good read, but its omnipresence in our lives and its strategic significance gives the lie to that indifference. As the sub-title of ‘Sand Stories’ says, we are now facing a full-on global sand crisis, with hugely worrying environmental and economic implications. But Kiran Pereira shares with us a wealth of potential solutions for innovators and investors, planners and policymakers – as well as for a growing number of dedicated activists.”

— Jonathon Porritt CBE, Co-Founder of Forum for the Future

“Kiran Pereira has crafted an extraordinarily detailed and wide-ranging examination of how sand, seemingly such a trivial material, underpins and has tremendous impacts for good and ill on our modern world. She distills a colossal amount of research into accessible prose, full of eyebrow-raising anecdotes and unexpected revelations. This book is an important addition to the growing body of work drawing attention to the little-appreciated environmental and social crises generated by these tiny grains.”

— Vince Beiser, author of The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Transformed Civilization

“Sand is so precious- the world really is in a grain of sand! After reading this book, I had to go around my home, looking at everything I use in a new light. A book that is so well written and researched should be compulsory reading for architects but anyone who is a consumer really. There are good news stories too to get us going on this journey to save our sands. It is up to us to make a difference by choosing not to use products that use this non-renewable resource and with this powerful message, I hope this book will make a huge difference to us and the planet.”

— Sumita Singha, B Arch (hons), RIBA, Ecologic Architects

“Sand Stories: Surprising truths about the Global Sand Crisis and the quest for Sustainable Solutions interweaves high-quality research with very human vignettes, keeping the reader grounded as they get a systems perspective on sustainability challenges and opportunities for this essential material. This is exactly what we need right now. Sand is the second most exploited natural resource in the world after water. The rate of consumption is unsustainable. Just as demand is set to grow exponentially in many countries, many rivers and coastlines around the world are already showing stress from exploitation for sand and gravel. Kiran Pereira helps us understand why this is happening by tracing the historical and present-day drivers. She also amasses compelling real-world examples of steps being taken to reduce the use of sand and the most damaging practices. I finished this book with a sense that we have big changes to make, but also convinced that some viable pathways are already marked out. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a thoughtful, engaging read on the topic.”

— Dr. Louise Gallagher, Environmental governance lead, Global Sand Observatory initiative, UNEP/GRID-Geneva

“Sand is ubiquitous in our lives - think of glass and building materials - yet it remains hidden in plain sight. In Sand Stories, Kiran Pereira, tells us why sand mining is so neglected as a critical sustainability issue and what we need to do about it. We are taken through the history and impacts of the industry and the urgent reforms that will ensure its future sustainability. The book is well researched, skilfully written and beautifully illustrated. It will serve as an informative guide to curious sustainability practitioners, researchers and advocates alike.”

— Prof. Wayne Visser, author of Sustainable Frontiers

“What's in a grain of sand? The whole world, it turns out. The stuff on the beach turns out, in the fascinating study, makes everything from Hong Kong islands to fibre-optic cables, and glue to cosmetics. It is whitening in our milk and makes the glass we drink it out of. It is so precious that sand mafias dig up national parks and wreck river systems to get at the stuff, and so vital that Australians export it to Dubai. This is a book in the grand tradition of worldly and captivating surveys of everyday materials that illuminate how humanity exploits our planet, for good and ill.”

— Fred Pearce, author of When the Rivers Run Dry: Water-The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-First Century