Energy Audiobook By Vaclav Smil cover art

Energy

An Audio Guide

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Energy

By: Vaclav Smil
Narrated by: Dave Ferguson
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In this user-friendly and informative audiobook, prolific author and academic Vaclav Smil provides an introduction to this far-reaching term and gives the listener 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. Whether you're after insight or dinner table conversation, Energy will amaze and inform, uncovering the science behind one of the most important concepts in our universe.©2006 Vaclav Smil (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Biological Sciences Environment Science

Editorial reviews

Energy: it's all around us, and this introductory guide from respected Canadian scientist Vaclav Smil explains how it works. Beginning with a simple definition of the term, and then digging into energy's history and the complex ways it exists in nature and the human body, this audiobook is an easy-to-understand, conceptually rich summary of the multitudinous ways that energy affects our lives. A pleasant, confident narration from Dave Ferguson makes this an easy listen for students, fans of science, and anybody curious about the forces that move us.

Critic reviews

“Smil's Energy is rich in thoughtful insights and written in sparkling prose, this little book offers a sweeping survey of the many ways that energy moves our economy and ecology.” (David G. Victor – Director, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, Stanford University)
“This admirably clear and comprehensive guide shows how we us and misuse energy, and the prospects, as ever more if us devour the Earth's diminishing capital of fossil fuels.” (Sir Crispin Tickell, Director of the Policy Foresight Programme at the James Martin 21st Century School, University of Oxford, and Chairman Emeritus of the Climate Institute, Washington, DC)
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Really good book, but I think I should have read it, not listened to. Numbers loose a lot of their meaning when you only hear them and you cannot stop to compare.

Too many numbers for Audio, but great book

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It takes a while to build up the constitution to listen to Vaclav Smil for a week, but I'm never too disappointed that I did. This book reads a lot like an encyclopedia, which means you're definitely going to be picking up tidbits on the evolution of our human understanding of energy, and relative efficiencies, but don't expect too much story to it. Overall worthwhile, but if you're not a die-hard of non-fiction, or really interested in energy derived from solar energy at some point during its creation... you're not going to stick with this listen.

Listening to the Encyclopedia of Energy

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As someone that has long had an interest in energy and the policies surrounding the choices we face, and as someone that loves math, I enjoyed this book.

My issue with the book is in calling it a beginner’s guide… it isn’t. Unlike most of the Bolinda Guides that I have read (and thoroughly enjoyed), this book will throw a lot of numbers at you and assumes the reader has a basic understanding of terminology and principles of energy.

Not really for “beginners”

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Great narration & introduction to energy and the role it plays in our lives. First chapters are a little bit like high school textbook but after that foundation the ideas continue to build on previous concepts. I look forward to listening to Smil's "Oil" next.

Great journey through the concept of energy

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Would you listen to Energy: Bolinda Beginner Guides again? Why?

Fantastic outline of energy systems with well-balanced presentation of ideas that should not be but usually are controversial.

Incredibly balanced, complete & organized.

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love the specifics. great research and leaves open for reader/listener to make interpretations. looking forward to others on this subject by this author.

beginner or not... great book

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There is so much to learn from this book about energy, and it is one I will be returning to more than once in the not so distant future!

Thank you Bolinda for making it into an audiobook. It couldn't have been an easy task!

Worth reading a few times over!

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This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The book is very boring and does not capture the reader's attention. The author merelt enumerats a million ways of energy, its measurement, and impact and compared the quantum of energy with some day-to-day activity. The book and the content never impressed me. It is neither for the scholars nor for the layman.

Utterly boring book/audio

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The science and organization by the author was well executed. But the speakers voice, the epitome of a game show host, was overdone, repetitive in tone, and distracting.

Good subject too good voice

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