Energy and Civilization Energy and Civilization

Energy and Civilization

A History

    • $249.00
    • $249.00

Descripción editorial

A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization.
"I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years.
—Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the Year

Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows—ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity—for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization.

Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts—from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

GÉNERO
Ciencia y naturaleza
PUBLICADO
2017
12 de mayo
IDIOMA
EN
Inglés
EXTENSIÓN
568
Páginas
EDITORIAL
MIT Press
VENTAS
Penguin Random House LLC
TAMAÑO
15.4
MB

Más libros de Vaclav Smil

Los números no mienten Los números no mienten
2021
How the World Really Works How the World Really Works
2022
Cómo funciona el mundo Cómo funciona el mundo
2023
Numbers Don't Lie Numbers Don't Lie
2021
Energy Energy
2017
Energía y civilización. Una historia Energía y civilización. Una historia
2021

Otros clientes también compraron

Energy Energy
2018
Slouching Towards Utopia Slouching Towards Utopia
2022
The Economists' Hour The Economists' Hour
2019
The Quest The Quest
2011
Electrify Electrify
2021
The New Map The New Map
2020