"Of course, annual consumption of a material is not the best indicator of its indispensability, but in this case the verdict is clear: **as useful and as transformative as post-1950 electronic advances have been, they do not constitute the indispensable material foundations of modern civilization**. And while there can be no indisputable ordering of our material needs based on claims of their importance, I can offer a defensible ranking that considers their indispensability, ubiquity, and the demand size. **Four materials rank highest on this combined scale, and they form what I have called the four pillars of modern civilization: cement, steel, plastics, and ammonia**." ([Location 1576](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B08SGC3TD3&location=1576)) --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[cement]], [[steel]], [[plastics]], [[ammonia]], [[economics]], **Source** --