There are many misconceptions about the future of global energy often presented as fact by the media, politicians, business leaders, activists, and even scientists wasting time and money and hampering the development of progressive...

Der weltbekannte Wissenschaftler Vaclav Smil analysiert das kritische Thema der nachhaltigen Ressourcennutzung, das für Forschung und Politik von großem Interesse ist Im Laufe der Zeit ist die moderne Welt von Materialströmen in...

Analyzing both social and environmental needs, this explores the problems associated with global management in the transition to a sustainable society and furthers our understanding of biospheric change. von Smil, Vaclav

Natural gas is the world's cleanest fossil fuel; it generates less air pollution and releases less CO2 per unit of useful energy than liquid fuels or coals. With its vast supplies of conventional resources and nonconventional stores, the...

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...