The Master’s Book Club: Prof. Sharon Peacock CBE FMedSci in conversation with Prof. Tim Minshall author of ‘Your Life is Manufactured: How We Make Things, Why It Matters, and How We Can Do It Better'

Tue 4 November 2025

Churchill College

Hosted at Churchill College, Cambridge by Prof. Sharon Peacock, this In Conversation series delves into some of the recent books published by members of the College. Wide-ranging discussions with the authors will shed new light on aspects of our past, present and future that connect with how we live today.

Join us to hear from Churchill College Fellow Prof. Tim Minshall in conversation with the Master of Churchill College, Prof. Sharon Peacock, discussing his book, 'Your Life is Manufactured: How We Make Things, Why It Matters, and How We Can Do It Better', described as ‘Revelatory’ (Sunday Times), ‘Fascinating’ (The Times), and one of the ‘Best summer books of 2025’ (Financial Times).

We live in a manufactured world, and all of us are constantly in contact with multiple manufactured products. In his first book, Tim reveals the astonishing pathways taken by everyday objects - whether it’s the thousands of litres of water required to produce a single pair of jeans or the smartphone components that travel across the world multiple times before reaching our hands.

Through in-depth research and engaging storytelling, the book explores how manufacturing has shaped the modern world and how it can pave the way toward a more sustainable and equitable future. This sentiment is echoed in Tim’s working-life, where he leads the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing on its mission to manufacture a better world.

As the world grapples with the challenges of sustainability and resource management, this book serves as a timely and essential read for anyone seeking to understand the role of manufacturing in shaping our collective future.

About Tim Minshall:
Tim is the inaugural Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation at the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering, Head of the Institute for Manufacturing, and a Fellow of Churchill College.

Cost: Free