Amazing Us: Our Human Story in 100 Achievements

A celebration of the greatest human achievements through science, culture, technology, and all the fascinating bits in between

Join charismatic scientist Anna Ploszajski (expert consultant for DK title What's it Made Of?) as she weaves 100 stories that reveal the essence of human achievement.

From organizing ourselves into societies, with justice, education, and governments of many types to creating art and music that can move us to tears, humans never stop experimenting. We have story-telling and humor; we have learned to build rockets and iPhones, bridges and skyscrapers. Amazing Us is a joyous celebration of everything that makes us amazing.

This ambitious book transcends traditional encyclopedias to celebrate our obvious achievements as well as the everyday miracles kids may well take for granted.

Dr Anna Ploszajski is an award-winning materials scientist, writer, presenter, trumpeter, English Channel swimmer, feminist, knitter, walker and dog mum, originally from Bedford, now settled in Walthamstow, East London. She’s a materials generalist; equally fascinated by merino wool as stainless steel, and the stories that these materials tell about us. Her ability to enthuse so publicly about our wonderful material world saw her made a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in 2022, one of its youngest ever. As an author, Anna’s debut popular science book for adults, Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning Through Making was published by Bloomsbury Sigma in 2021, and she’s contributed to books for younger readers with Dorling Kindersley; What’s It Made Of? (2025) and First Flight (2026). She can frequently be found on radio, stage and telly, or delivering workshops on storytelling to other scientists and engineers through her business, Storyology Ltd. Oh, and it’s pronounced “Por-shy-ski”.