Energy and Civilization: A History [Written by Vaclav Smil]

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/332660 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Energy and Civilization: A History Author: Vaclav Smil Narrator: David Colacci Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 20 hours 12 minutes Release date: May 8, 2018 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3.83 of Total 18 Ratings of Narrator: 4.75 of Total 4 Genres: World Publisher's Summary: Energy 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. Humans 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.