Ruth Hager Cohen starts with the observation that all things are interconnected in many ways, then sets out to explore a connection, which she finds in her hands. She explores the stories of glass, paper and coffee beans asking and answering many questions. What are these things? In what ways are they important? Where do they come from? Who makes them? What are their histories? This simple tale becomes a sort of quest to truly know everyday objects. Cohen's story is made real by the the vivid pictures she paints of the people she meets in her investigations. Beautifully and simply written, she uses simple language to convey some very complex ideas.
