A wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at global changes that may occur over the next fifty years—whether sudden and cataclysmic world-changing events or gradually unfolding trends.Fundamental change occurs most often in one of two ways:...

Meat eating is often a contentious subject, whether considering the technical, ethical, environmental, political, or health-related aspects of production and consumption. This book is a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary examination and...

'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 inhabitants, through the fuels and foods...

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...

A systematic investigation of growth in nature and society, from tiny organisms to the trajectories of empires and civilizations. Growth has been both an unspoken and an explicit aim of our individual and collective striving. It governs...

'My favourite author has done it again. Numbers Don't Lie is by far his most accessible book to date, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about the world. I unabashedly recommend this book to anyone who loves learning'...

Without oil, there would be no globalisation, no plastic, little transport, and a worldwide political landscape that few would recognise. It is the lifeblood of the modern world, and humanity¿s dependence upon it looks set to continue...

"There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil."-Bill Gates An essential guide to understanding how numbers reveal the true state of our world-exploring a wide range of topics including energy, the environment,...

'There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil' Bill Gates__________We have never had so much information at our fingertips and yet most of us don't know how the world really works. This book explains seven of...

What makes the modern world work? The answer to this deceptively simple question lies in four "grand transitions" of civilization-in populations, agriculture, energy, and economics-which have transformed the way we live. Now a fifth...

In "How the World Really Works: A Scientist’s Guide to Our Past, Present and Future", bietet der Wissenschaftler Vaclav Smil einen umfassenden Überblick über die komplexen Systeme und Prozesse, die unsere Welt prägen. Smil verwendet...

tions is not possible without first putting the problem into a wider con­ text. Consequently, before proceeding with detailed critical topical cov­ erage of individual biomass energy sources, uses, and effects, I will extend this preface...