A new series, this (two titles here reported), introducing popular science in a promising and alluring field (not to mention remunerative). This volume surveys past and future of plastics, from discovery of first plastic in 1868 -- celluloid -- on to Makelite in 1907, the gradual development through the depression period, what ""plastic"" means, the processes entailed, the various sources -- wood, coal, soybeans -- and the various results, cellophane, fluorescents, lucite, plexiglas, plywood, synthetic rubber, nylon, etc. Even plastic surgery fits into the surgery. Good introduction.