{"product_id":"energy-and-civilization-a-history","title":"Energy and Civilization: A History","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEverything we humans have ever done has depended on our ability to obtain energy, and Vaclav Smil is the world's leading historian of this process. \n\u003ci\u003eEnergy and Civilization\u003c\/i\u003e is sure to be the early twenty-first century's most important guide to this all-important subject. \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003cb\u003eIan Morris\u003c\/b\u003e, Jean and Rebecca Willard Professor of Classics, Stanford University; author of \n\u003ci\u003eWhy the West Rules--For Now\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSmil's masterful overview explains energy's centrality in creating and sustaining civilization. Grounded in science, sensitive to cultural differences, and richly detailed, it is the definitive work on this vital subject. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003cb\u003eDavid E. Nye\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \n\u003ci\u003eElectrifying America\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eWhen the Lights Went Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEverything we humans have ever done has depended on our ability to obtain energy, and Vaclav Smil is the world's leading historian of this process. \u003ci\u003eEnergy and Civilization\u003c\/i\u003e is sure to be the early twenty-first century's most important guide to this all-important subject.\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003cb\u003eIan Morris\u003c\/b\u003e, Jean and Rebecca Willard Professor of Classics, Stanford University; author of \n\u003ci\u003eWhy the West Rules--For Now\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmil's masterful overview explains energy's centrality in creating and sustaining civilization. Grounded in science, sensitive to cultural differences, and richly detailed, it is the definitive work on this vital subject.\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003cb\u003eDavid E. Nye\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \n\u003ci\u003eElectrifying America\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eWhen the Lights Went Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRevised edition of: Energy in world history \/ Vaclav Smil. 1994.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA wise, compassionate, and valuable book.-- \n\u003ci\u003eForeign Affairs\u003c\/i\u003e-- \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a book to excite not just admiration, but also passion. It is a literate and precise analysis of the evolution of human societies viewed through the lens of energy.\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003eLiterary Review of Canada\u003c\/i\u003e--\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVaclav Smil is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba. He is the author of forty books, including \n\u003ci\u003eEnergy and Civilization\u003c\/i\u003e, published by the MIT Press. In 2010 he was named by \n\u003ci\u003eForeign Policy\u003c\/i\u003e as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers. In 2013 Bill Gates wrote on his website that \"there is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel-driven civilization.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, \u003ci\u003eEnergy and Civilization: A History\u003c\/i\u003e, 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Bill Gates, \u003ci\u003eGates Notes\u003c\/i\u003e, Best Books of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnergy 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHumans 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 \n\u003ci\u003eEnergy in World History\u003c\/i\u003e (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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Smil, Vaclav\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e MIT Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2018-11-13\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Science \/ Energy|History \/ World \/ General\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e History|Power resources|Energy consumption|Technology and civilization|Social aspects\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.6 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780262536165\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9780262536165\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MIT Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52371660701977,"sku":"SP-9780262536165","price":32.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/0380\/5209\/files\/9780262536165_spiral.png?v=1778433548","url":"https:\/\/westbindery.com\/products\/energy-and-civilization-a-history","provider":"West Bindery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}