Making The Modern World

Materials and Dematerialization

Vaclav Smil

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"Making The Modern World" by Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive overview of the complex processes that have shaped our modern civilization.

Through meticulous research and a keen focus on key developments, Smil explores the interconnectedness of various technological innovations that have propelled humanity forward.

From the harnessing of fossil fuels to the advancements in agriculture, transportation, and communication, Smil skillfully illustrates how these advancements have transformed not only our daily lives but also our global systems and industries.

The book dives into the history of industrialization, examining the rapid growth of material consumption and the subsequent challenges it brings, such as environmental degradation and resource depletion.

Smil addresses the pressing issue of sustainability and offers thought-provoking insights on potential solutions and pathways for achieving a more sustainable future.

With his trademark precision and erudition, he delves into the intricate web of energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure that underpin our modern society.

"Making The Modern World" is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the remarkable forces and systems that have shaped our contemporary civilization, and a compelling exploration into the complexities and possibilities of our technological future.

Explore More Books

See All
The Craft
Be Here Now
The Immateriality of the Material
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
#AskGaryVee
Read Write Own
American Nations
The Professor in the Cage
Epic Measures
What You Want
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Gulag Archipelago
Thinking In Systems
Successful Investing is a Process
Win Your Inner Battles
The Statistical Mechanics of Financial Markets
Remote: Office Not Required
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
The Big Test
The Coddling of the American Mind
Sell with a Story
Tragedy and Hope
Mr. Putin
The World Until Yesterday
The Coming Wave
Idea Makers
Against The World
Mathematician's Delight
Exhalation
The Lessons of History
I Think, Therefore I Laugh
The Big Picture
Thinking and Deciding
A Life Decoded
A Life
Cold Calling Techniques
Lights Out
The Idealist
The Politics Industry
Triggered
The Moment of Lift
Malabar Farm
Things Never To Tell Children
The Amateur
Turtles All The Way Down
Motherless Brooklyn
Powering the Future
The MAGA Doctrine
Spiritual Enlightenment, the Damnedest Thing
Illusions
Adapt
A Few Lessons from Sherlock Holmes
The Making of the President 1960
One Billion Hungry
Tomorrow's Table
Whole Earth Discipline
The Paris Architect
Boom
The Power of Now
Essays In Persuasion
Natural
Diaspora
All I Want to Know is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There
Fast Food Nation
The Last Days of Night
Spiritual Warfare
War and Chance
Talking To Humans
Eating to Extinction
An Agricultural Testament
The Warrior Ethos
The Jungle Grows Back
The Hustler
Striking Thoughts
The Biggest Con
Where The Wild Things Are
Life 3.0
Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius
A Wrinkle in Time
Son of the Morning Star
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros
The Formula
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
The Elements of Statistical Learning
The Art of Spirited Away
I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Predictably Irrational
Business Adventures
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Meditations
Ringworld
Dear Founder
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar
One Simple Idea
Mindfulness
Cradle to Cradle
Hiroshima
We Were Soldiers Once... And Young
Undaunted Courage