A comprehensive, systematic, analytically unified, and interdisciplinary treatment of energy in nature and society, from solar radiation and photosynthesis to our fossil fueled civilization and its e
Although the last two generations have seen an enormous amount of attention paid to advances in electronics, the fact remains that high-income, high-energy societies could thrive without microchips, e
"There is probably no other writer whose books I anticipate with more enthusiasmthan Vaclav Smil. He brings remarkable insight to every topic he examines, combining his vastknowledge of science and en
'There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil'' Bill GatesIs flying dangerous? How much do the world''s cows weigh? And what makes people happy?From earth''s nations and inha
In Made in the USA, Vaclav Smil powerfully rebuts the notion that manufacturing is a relic of predigital history and that the loss of American manufacturing is a desirable evolutionary step toward a p
America's post--Cold War strategic dominance and its pre-recession affluence inspiredpundits to make celebratory comparisons to ancient Rome at its most powerful. Now, with America nolonger perceived
America's post--Cold War strategic dominance and its pre-recession affluence inspiredpundits to make celebratory comparisons to ancient Rome at its most powerful. Now, with America nolonger perceived
An objective, comprehensive treatment of the world's energy situation assesses the major trends in energy consumption across the globe while examining the potential of wind, solar, hydroenergy, and bi
The industrial synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen has been of greater fundamental importance to the modern world than the invention of the airplane, nuclear energy, space flight, or telev
In this text, Vaclav Smil tells the story of the Earth's biosphere from its origins to its near- and long-term future. He explains the workings of its parts and what is known about their interactions.
