Famous worldwide for his pottery, Josiah Wedgwood counted Jane Austen and Empress Catherine II of Russia among his admirers, while British diplomats hauled it with them to Peking, planning to impress China with their china. But Wedgwood's life is far richer than just his accomplishments in ceramics. Drawing on letters, journals, and historical documents, Tristram Hunt explains that Wedgwood overcame disabilities to become a pioneering businessman, scientist, and abolitionist—creating the internationally known "Am I not a man and a brother?" medallion—who used his extraordinary gifts to change the way we work and live.