Follow the Author
Vaclav Smil
+ Follow
Energy: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides) Paperback – February 14, 2017
by Vaclav Smil (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 264 ratings
Part of: Beginner's Guides (121 Books)
Kindle from AUD 8.08Read with Our Free App
With one famous equation, E=mc2, Einstein proved all matter can be described as energy. It is everywhere and it is everything. In this newly updated and engaging introduction, renowned scientist Vaclav Smil explores energy in all its facets – from the inner workings of the human body to what we eat, the car we drive and the race for more efficient and eco-friendly fuels.
Energy: A Beginner's Guide highlights the importance of energy in both past and present societies, by shedding light on the science behind global warming and efforts to prevent it, and by revealing how our daily decisions affect energy consumption. Whether you're looking for dinner table conversation or to further your own understanding, this book will amaze and inform, uncovering the truths and exposing the myths behind one of the most important concepts in our universe.
----
Editorial Reviews
Review
'There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil' -- Bill Gates
'This book is about physical rather than social sciences. It explores important topics around how energy works, how our production and use might evolve, and how this affects climate change.' -- Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook
'A breath of fresh air and a gem in the bookshop. Rich in thoughtful insights and written in sparkling prose.' -- Professor David G. Victor - School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego
'This admirably clear and comprehensive guide shows how we use and misuse energy, and the prospects, as ever more if us devour the Earth's diminishing capital of fossil fuels.' ― Sir Crispin Tickell - British Ambassador to the United Nations
---
About the Author
Vaclav Smil is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. He has written 40 books and nearly 500 papers on energy, environment and technical advances. In 2010 he was named by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers, in 2014 he became the Member of the Order of Canada and in 2015 he received the OPEC Award for Research.
---
Product details
Publisher : Oneworld Publications; 2nd Edition, Revised (February 14, 2017)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
----
Customer Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars 264 ratings
---
Vaclav Smil
Follow
Biography
Vaclav Smil is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. He completed his graduate studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Carolinum University in Prague and at the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of the Pennsylvania State University. His interdisciplinary research interests encompass a broad area of energy, environmental, food, population, economic, historical and public policy studies, and he had also applied these approaches to energy, food and environmental affairs of China.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Science Academy) and the first non-American to receive the American Association for the Advancement of Science Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. He has been an invited speaker in more than 250 conferences and workshops in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa, has lectured at many universities in North America, Europe and East Asia and has worked as a consultant for many US, EU and international institutions. His wife Eva is a physician and his son David is an organic synthetic chemist.
--
Customer reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
264 global ratings
5 star
59%
4 star
23%
-----
Top reviews from the United States
D. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Good primer - plenty of details.
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
I picked up Vaclav Smil's Energy because I wanted to better understand mankind's current use of energy, and to develop a better perspective on how I personally consume energy. The book was perfect for both of these purposes.
At ~200 pages, I figured the book would provide a quick survey of many topics at a high level, and wouldn't read like a science textbook. This is true, but someone looking for an overview should know that this book is packed with detailed explanations of the topics that are covered. As a non-scientist, this book increased my knowledge and certainly shed light on the applications to modern life that I was looking for.
I highly recommend this book.
20 people found this helpful
---
Petr Vokac
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book. Few corrections concerning Chernobyl accident discussed in ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
Nice book.
Few corrections concerning Chernobyl accident discussed in chapter 4.
First, RBMK reactor is shielded (it is not be possible to operate
unshielded reactor).
Second, the accident was much worse than the core
meltdown. Destruction of the reactor started by power
excursion. Reactor confinement was destroyed by explosions. It
provided leakpath for radioactivity release. Fire of graphite
moderator then lifted radioactive gas and particles to the
stratosphere.
Comment to the E-book typography: using of two font sizes rends the
book difficult to read on Kindle (at least with my eyes).
10 people found this helpful
---
Sanwal Yousaf
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting yet not interesting enough
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Definitely has some great information regarding the topic, though there is no compelling narrative to make you absorb those facts and integrate them into your memory bank.
9 people found this helpful
--
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb one volume summary
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
Excellent summary for an intro energy college class. Quantitative tables and sidebars but very readable main text. Half the book covers energy in the natural world and human nutrition as foragers. The rest is a bit rushed but can be supplemented by Smil's excellent 2017 Oil 2nd ed and Natural Gas books, all very reasonably priced.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
Christopher Stratton
3.0 out of 5 stars One or the other
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
I read “Energy and Civilization” enjoyed that and decided to read this book. I think one or the other is sufficient. They both are good and communicate our reliance on fossil fuels and the need to find alternatives.
5 people found this helpful
--
John Burger
5.0 out of 5 stars Spoiler Alert! Nuclear power is the answer.
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2015
Verified Purchase
The first chapter is tedious. I never did fully internalize some of the more esoteric concepts in college, such as mols and joules, and still don't, but the rest of the book is chuck full of amazing data and factoids.
It left me in awe of just how much we humans have come to know. Also, it puts in perspective some of the climate change issues. Just remember, there will not be a quiz and enjoy knowing that out there scientists actually understand a lot more than today's media can ever present.
10 people found this helpful
---
John Lam
4.0 out of 5 stars Good for overview
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
Smil provides relevant data and understanding to each type of energy, useful for one to grasp a basic understanding of energy, various sources, it’s origin; not so much for prediction. Typical Smil, he doesn’t load up on opinions and leaves readers to digest and form opinion. I do wish more charts and tables to complement the narrative.
--
Top reviews from other countries
Translate all reviews to English
Saurabh Kumar Singh
5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than what I expected
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book turned out to be much more than what I hoped for. It contains review of how plants produce energy, how living things consume energy, historical human energy consumption, modern energy generation and consumption and likely future scenario. Overall a fantastic book for a beginner. Book is full of numbers and statistics. It is not centered around western world, and contains frequent mention of Asia, China, India and Africa. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Only criticism, book could have included more diagrams, figures and tables.
Report abuse
Tom
3.0 out of 5 stars Great book, very well written. Less satisfied about package
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
To be perfectly clear, the book itself is worth the buy. Very detailed explanation in a manner that both a highschooler and an academic would enjoy the read.
Having that said, the package didn't supply necessary protection, as the Paperback arrived somewhat dented..
Report abuse
George Poirier
5.0 out of 5 stars Intense, Detailed and Immensely Informative
Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2018
Verified Purchase
In this relatively short book, the author discusses energy. Starting with basic concepts and units of measurement, he discusses energy in nature, in human history, in the modern world, in everyday life and in the future – each in its own separate chapter.
As is usual for the books that I’ve read by this author, it reads like a textbook – authoritative, factual, focused, and dense with information yet very readable. Each page glows with facts – some which I found less interesting but most which I found quite mesmerizing. Just about all aspects of energy, from its production to its consumption, is covered here is a very concise way. I believe that this book would be of interest principally to serious readers who would like to broaden their knowledge in this most important topic.
3 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Loukas Dikonimos Makris
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice invitation to the energetic panoramas of human development
Reviewed in Italy on February 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
English not too demanding. The book exposes in a basic way the physical knowledge prior to energy issues; and then approaching every type of energy closely trying to expose the pros and cons of each technology. There is also
no shortage of numerical comparisons that make us think about what our development might be in the coming years.
One person found this helpful
--
Translated from Italian by Amazon
See original ·Report translation
Marcelo Torres Llamas
5.0 out of 5 stars Energy as the operating system of the world
Reviewed in Mexico on March 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
Understanding energy in all its dimensions is not just a task of engineers. Any human effort requires knowledge of the principles, forces and elements that involve the transformation of energy into work, heat, movement, etc. This reading is recommended for those who have the interest to learn a little more from one of the most important factors for the development and progress of societies. modern.
Report abuse
Translated from Spanish by Amazon
See original ·Report translation
See all reviews
===
Energy: A Beginner's Guide
by Vaclav Smil
3.96 · Rating details · 857 ratings · 88 reviews
As Einstein pointed out in his famous equation, E=MC2, all matter can be described as energy. It is everywhere; it is everything. In this engaging book, prolific author and academic Vaclav Smil provides an introduction to the far-reaching term and gives the reader a greater understanding of energy's place in both past and present society. Starting with an explanation of the concept, he goes on to cover such exciting topics as the inner workings of the human body, and the race for more efficient and environmentally friendly fuels. With global warming becoming a mainstream political issue, this guide will help shed light on the science behind it and efforts to prevent it, and how our seemingly insignificant daily decisions affect energy consumption. Whether you're after insight or dinner table conversation, "Energy: A Beginner's Guide" will amaze and inform, uncovering the science behind one of the most important concepts in our universe. (less)
GET A COPY
KoboOnline Stores ▾Book Links ▾
Paperback, 192 pages
Published May 1st 2006 by Oneworld Publications (first published 2006)
Original TitleEnergy: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides)
----
Write a review
John
May 27, 2016John rated it it was amazing
Hugely educational if you have the energy to dive through the content. It's definitely not a beginner's guide but covers a lot of ground from:
- How much of the sun's energy reaches various parts of the earth vs. getting reflected away (about half)
- How much of that is transformed into plant and later animal energy (very little)
- How plant and animal energies are transformed into fossil fuels and how efficient the various types of machines are that consume them (best generators are still only ~40% efficient)
- How geothermal, wind, & dams convert to electricity and whether they can help with global warming (most damable rivers are already harnessed in the west, elsewhere folks don't like the people displacement problems from dams so won't be much more investment there)
- History of how we've tried to harness various forms of energy from oxen plows to horses to steam engines, cars, electric engines, and more
Only read it if you're ok with some dense terms and curious about the topic. (less)
flag9 likes · Like · 3 comments · see review
---
Joanna
Aug 08, 2015Joanna rated it liked it
Shelves: zuck-s-books
3 -- ... I guess. He does do a good job of tying together a really disparate group of topics. Also, it's hard for me to be a fair judge with such gaps in my scientific knowledge. However, I did find the writing fairly irritating. It's not just the discipline snobbism
-- a whole chapter devoted to mocking non-scientific usage of the word "energy" (Hello? It's called metaphor.)
It's also the fact that Smil, despite his science background, doesn't write in a very linear manner. I found myself having to parse sentences to understand them; paragraphs seemed to veer abruptly from the content promised by the the topic sentence -- and what is going on with those commas?
Also, this isn't Smil's fault, but the book is a poor choice for A Year of Books because it was written in 2006, and the information dates so quickly. So much has happened -- rise in use of biogas, Tesla, Fukushima... (less)
--
Barnaby Thieme
Jul 25, 2015Barnaby Thieme rated it really liked it
Shelves: science
Smil has presented a serviceable overview of energy in its manifold forms, from the physical force to metabolic cornerstone to social phenomenon. An enormous amount of factual data is presented with very little connective tissue, leaving the reader to do the heavy lifting of tracking the minutiae and assembling a personal story of what it all means. A useful if unlovely guide to an important topic.
flag5 likes · Like · comment · see review
---
Deepak Gulati
Dec 24, 2019Deepak Gulati rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
An excellent survey of the various past, present and future sources of energy. Densely packed with information. Many sentences in this book state facts that must've taken hour to research.
Given my interest in this general area, I couldn't put it down but I can see why it could be a bit dry for others. (less)
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
---
Masatoshi Nishimura
Oct 13, 2018Masatoshi Nishimura rated it it was amazing
Shelves: economics, science, history
As someone who's taken chemistry and physics only in Grade 10 highschool, this book is just challenging enough to comprehend.
Vaclav builds a narrative to look at our everyday life from an energy point of view. He even talks about our history/anthropology/culture in that lense (human survival, farming, animal domestication, city development, etc). That was new and eye-opening. It's like learning about economics the first time. Yes, I heard of Elon Musk talking about how energy will be crucial to our civilization. But I never really felt that significance, you know. We have plugs everywhere, and electricity's cheap enough you rarely think about it.
This book makes you realize everything we do is constrained in how much energy we have and how cheap it is. Energy is everywhere and everything. (less)
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Mohamed Katergi
Dec 10, 2019Mohamed Katergi rated it really liked it · review of another edition
First, this book is certainly not a beginner's guide as other commenters stated! It is a very interesting book and rich in information which one might need to get back to. Having said this, I found the index to be quite poor in serving this purpose. Some important information might be lost in the pages and it would be difficult to retrieve them back unless you read an entire section.
Second, I find that the author neglected the significant transition into electric vehicles as transportation means specifically within congested cities where internal combustion engines play the major role in GHG emissions.
Other than the above, I recommend reading it. (less)
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Kirsi
Nov 04, 2020Kirsi rated it really liked it
Informational and rather comprehensive read on energy, its availability, usage and effects on civilization and everyday life. A bit broader handling of the topic than I expected; at first, it covers the amount of energy available overall (such as solar radiation available, how it transforms to phytomass, and resources in fossil reservoirs), but then goes down what at first seemed mostly like really strange rabbit holes of energy expenditure of a single individual, task, and such.
It did take me a while to pass that first part, as it wasn't apparent how it served the whole, but I'm glad I did. The book started to take a more interesting turn as it looked into the effects energy availability and format has had on humanity, size and capabilities of civilizations and towns/cities, and the limits different energy formats had on community sizes. It made clear, for instance, why settlements served only by biomass cannot grow very large, unless supported by a very vast amount of land dedicated to providing resources, and how inventions in energy processing and different sources initiated profound changes in how our society has functioned. I've seen many explanations for the possible town sizes, from the distance point of view (taking max 1h from end to end) to availability of food; in this book, it all is condensed in single factor, energy expenditure, taking into account both moving, eating and energy needed to specialized activities such as crafting or building and from the resource side the amount of raw land needed to provide each.
All of this is really just a long detailed intro to the next part, which covers in detail each major and up-and-coming energy source. This was more of the part I had been expected, and it dig into detail in both definitions (different types of coals, where they are found and their energy content; oil refinement procedures and the usage for each product from that; energy needed to actually produce and transport energy from each type of energy source; timelines for moving onwards, etc.) All major fossil fuels are covered as well as hydroelectric, solar and wind, each with potential and downsides as well.
If this level of detail is your thing, this is a fine primer to different energy formats, our dependence on them and the potential to change. For some, the detailed style might be more sleep-inducing.... personally, I liked it and will check out other Smil's books for more depth. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Hendra Putra
Jul 03, 2020Hendra Putra rated it liked it
If you are interested in understanding the basic concept of energy, it is a useful book. Even though still there are several technical terms in the book, it is still quite easy to understand. It does not talk about the energy such as fossil fuel or renewable energy source only but also explain about photosynthesis in term of energy provider for the human race all this time. And the best part of the book is you can understand the history of energy since the very early human being on earth. what is the first method we use to harness energy? what is the invention leads to the higher efficiency of energy consumption? where is the industrial revolution happens and what is its significance?
The drawbacks of the book mostly because the presented data about the energy trending do not represent the real condition anymore since it is written around 16 years ago. A lot of progress has been made during that period of time. The solar panel is way cheaper. renewable energy share in overall electricity production also significantly increases.
To conclude, its like reading a history book rather than an engineering journal. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
William Yip
Feb 09, 2021William Yip rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: stem
The content became dense at times especially in the first two chapters where the author jumped around frequently to different topics. Overall though, he gave a good history of energy and a good account of near-future trends; how the sun provides all energy first to plants and then up the food chain, how humans used to be limited to subsidence due to primitive tools and low energy usage, how the limitations were erased with the advent of fossil fuels that allowed humans to utilize increasingly sophisticated and energy-intensive tools and innovations as well as grow an abundance of food, and how renewable energy will need to be increasingly used to prevent rapid global warming. I like the optimistic tone the author ends with; even though it's not guaranteed, humans are very innovative and it's likely inventions will be created to transform society into one that does not rely on fossil fuels.
(less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Jake
Jun 26, 2019Jake rated it liked it
Shelves: physics, science
...but mostly in the context in humanity and its application. Don't expect to hear a treatise regarding the big bang, energy mass equivalency, or any of the deep relevant questions. He simply cant answer them.
But if you're curious this is like the book "energy and civilization" but in a lighter form.
Lots of stuff on materials, energy conversions from atp to combustion engines. I mean dont get me wrong. This is really some GOOD stuff. BUT, dont read this expecting to have your theoretical physics questions answered.
Recommended for :
- Those thinking about energy in its application in human civilization from the bottom up.
- Those interested in nutrition
- Those interested in policy related to energy
- historians (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
David Mytton
Jul 28, 2019David Mytton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I found this to be a good introduction to the concept of "energy" and the historical changes of how energy is used in society. A large part of the book is dedicated to that history and the biological processes that involve energy. Only a small part considers how we might move away from fossil-fuel based sources of energy and what the future of energy will be.
It's not supposed be in depth in any area so whilst I would have liked more on that topic, there are plenty of other books which can provide in-depth discussions of areas of particular interest surfaced by this book. Indeed, the end of the book has a very nice, short bibliography of further reading specific to each chapter. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Ismael Dainehine
Dec 17, 2019Ismael Dainehine rated it it was amazing
Mathematicians/physicists will enjoy this book. Energy talks about physical rather than the social sciences: how energy works, how our production and use might evolve, and how this affects climate change. I had a random intuition recently that the next great leap in physics will come from the realm of thermodynamics. This is a first principles introduction to what energy is, its history, and how it fuels our planet and our bodies. It's not for everyone (it reads like a textbook), but if you're interested in climate stuff, it might enlighten. I loved it, and almost wish I read it sooner to help understand climate conversations better. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Chris
May 22, 2020Chris rated it really liked it
Shelves: read-2020
Written in the typical Vaclav Smil fashion, it reads like a textbook with a lot of technical jargon embedded and is incredibly objectional relative to information on similar topics. That’s the goal of this book though, so it shouldn’t receive any demerits based on this. The book does its job exceptionally well at going over the various facts, ideas, and history of all forms of energy. It’s all-encompassing, so the best way to read it is to skip the chapters which have little relevance or interest to the reader. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Roel Peters
Jan 02, 2021Roel Peters rated it liked it
Although Smil displays strong knowledge on the subject of energy, I can't say this was a pleasant read. The ambition of this book clearly was to give a primer on the energy, how human usage evolved throughout history and the socio-economic econsequences. But this focus isn't always clear from start to end. The first chapters of this book are crammed with facts and figures. On the other hand, the final chapters are very high level.
I've heard many good things about Vaclav Smil, so I guess I simply picked up the wrong book. Curious about his other work. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Saurabh Kumar Singh
Mar 20, 2021Saurabh Kumar Singh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: from-kindle, 2021-completed
Much more than what I expected
This book turned out to be much more than what I hoped for. It contains review of how plants produce energy, how living things consume energy, historical human energy consumption, modern energy generation and consumption and likely future scenario. Overall a fantastic book for a beginner. Book is full of numbers and statistics. It is not centered around western world, and contains frequent mention of Asia, China, India and Africa. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Only criticism, book could have included more diagrams, figures and tables. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Anirudh
Apr 25, 2020Anirudh rated it really liked it
An elaborate explanation of the vastness of energy as a fuel not only for vehicles or machines but of the living organisms. One may find the language to be little intensive but this is one of the best in energy literature. Something that no one is able to say openly this book has said that. Vegetarian people may lack some essential components of diet they require. Why would one read this book is this may help them be aware of their and the surrounding's energy needs. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Dave Hunter
Apr 29, 2020Dave Hunter rated it really liked it
This is exactly the kind of book we should all read before we make that run on Facebook to convince others of our superior intellect.
Seriously, this will broaden your understanding at the over view level of how the energy production, distribution, and consumption systems in our modern cultures work. As the title says, it’s a beginners guide, perhaps not written for an 8th grade education, but not deep enough for graduate work.
