From one of the world's leading experts on the history of energy, a rigorous examination of the transitions shaping the modern world--and the environmental acknowledgment that will mark its success or failure.
What makes the modern world functional? The answer to this simple yet misleading question lies in four "great transitions" of civilization--in population growth, agriculture, energy, and the economy--which have transformed the way we live.
Societies that have undergone all four transitions enter an era of radically different population dynamics, food surpluses (and waste), extensive energy use, and expanded economic opportunities. At the same time, in other regions of the world, hundreds of millions remain largely untouched by these developments.
Through cultivated narrative, Vaclav Smil explores the fascinating and complex interactions of these transitions. He argues that the moral imperative to share the benefits of the modern age has become more acute with increasing economic inequality, but addressing this imbalance would make it particularly difficult to implement the changes necessary for long-term environmental preservation.
Thus, managing the fifth transition--environmental changes from the depletion of natural resources, biodiversity loss, and climate change--will determine the success or ultimate failure of the great transitions that have created the world we live in today.
Pages: 376, Dimensions: 15.7x15.7cm
