Outside The Research Lab is a delightfully written monograph on applications of physics in daily life. The author, Sharon Holgate, has a PhD in physics and has worked as a freelance writer and broadcaster for nearly twenty years and is well known for her presentations on science for the general public. In this book, Sharon flexes her considerable technical muscles in describing how physics and knowledge of physics is used outside academia and in the creative world of arts and fashion. The book covers an eclectic mix of topics in 6 chapters that can be read independently of each other. The opening topic is on how physics is used to create and install sculptures. This is hardly a typical case one would expect on books of this type but it quickly becomes clear to the reader that the book has no intention of retracing old chestnuts like ˜"physics of golf" or the "physics of football" that frankly have now been overplayed. The chapter on use of physics in developing clothes and shoes presents some of the seldom heard of and innovative ways of applying physics in garment design exemplified by seam-free clothes or clothes infused with polymers and thermoplastics. Thermoplastics are known to deliquesce at high temperature but this otherwise undesirable feature is exploited by using ultrasound to melt and bond pieces together and achieve a look that stitching alone does not. An attractive feature of the book is that each chapter is developed in consultation with experts working in the various fields cited. For example, the role of physics to properly record sound whether in the studio or outside the studio is explained by a host of sound engineers and producers with considerable experience with speech-based radio or recording sound for TV . In the neighbouring chapter on the physics of music, the general introduction is followed by specific examples to explain how sound is produced by guitars and violins. We hear first-hand how a violin produces its sound from a physics professor who is also a violinist, the intricacies of drumming are explained by a professional drummer, and the workings of a guitar are picked up by a mechanical engineer. Sharon returns to the theme of materials science in her last chapter where she looks at use of physics in innovative architecture. The book is written in a clear, lucid and engaging style. Mindful that there are readers who might want to see explanations from first principles, the book has dedicated boxes where the basic physics is presented and discussed. In this way, the text can be read without what some may regard as the inconvenience of graphs and mathematics which are kept to a bare minimum. In this book, Sharon Holgate has managed to dispel the fearsome aura with which many associate physics. If there is one drawback, it is that the book leaves the reader wanting more. We all have our pet likes and I would have like to hear about how sopranos and other vocal technicians can project their voices over a much louder orchestra while keeping the quality of their voice warm. Luckily this highly recommended text is subtitled Volume 1 which I believe is a hint of more to come.