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How the World Really Works
by Vaclav Smil • 2022
Both doomers and utopians skip the same thing: modern civilization's staggering material scale.
3.94
14k+
How the World Really Works Summary
How the World Really Works 96%
Both doomers and utopians skip the same thing: modern civilization's staggering material scale.
by Vaclav Smil 2022
3.94
14k+ ratings
Energy and Civilization
by Vaclav Smil • 2017
A week of American energy use matches a year of Nigerian. The history behind that gap.
4.09
4k+
Energy and Civilization Summary
Energy and Civilization 96%
A week of American energy use matches a year of Nigerian. The history behind that gap.
by Vaclav Smil 2017
4.09
4k+ ratings
Growth
by Vaclav Smil • 2019
The math of growth is the same everywhere: a curve that bends toward limits, not infinity.
3.87
1k+
Growth Summary
Growth 95%
The math of growth is the same everywhere: a curve that bends toward limits, not infinity.
by Vaclav Smil 2019
3.87
1k+ ratings
False Alarm
by Bjørn Lomborg • 2020
Two trillion a year for one-twentieth of a degree: the smarter investments our panic overlooks.
4.16
3k+
False Alarm Summary
False Alarm 95%
Two trillion a year for one-twentieth of a degree: the smarter investments our panic overlooks.
by Bjørn Lomborg 2020
4.16
3k+ ratings
2052
by Jørgen Randers • 2012
A Limits to Growth update: population shrinks, growth slows, yet 2°C warming still hits by 2052.
3.95
355
2052 Summary
2052 95%
A Limits to Growth update: population shrinks, growth slows, yet 2°C warming still hits by 2052.
by Jørgen Randers 2012
3.95
355 ratings
The Great Transition
by Lester R. Brown • 2014
Wind and solar are now cheapest. The shift isn't a political choice; it's a price signal.
3.66
201
The Great Transition Summary
The Great Transition 95%
Wind and solar are now cheapest. The shift isn't a political choice; it's a price signal.
by Lester R. Brown 2014
3.66
201 ratings
Bad Ideas?
by Robert Winston • 2009
Writing, farming, and nuclear power share an uncomfortable secret: each was supposed to save us.
3.56
142
Bad Ideas? Summary
Bad Ideas? 95%
Writing, farming, and nuclear power share an uncomfortable secret: each was supposed to save us.
by Robert Winston 2009
3.56
142 ratings
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
by Bill Gates • 2021
Five activities emit 51 billion tons a year; the cost gaps show where innovation must hit first.
4.11
51k+
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster Summary
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster 95%
Five activities emit 51 billion tons a year; the cost gaps show where innovation must hit first.
by Bill Gates 2021
4.11
51k+ ratings
Renewable Energy
by Bruce Usher • 2019
The energy transition was stalled by storage. The solution is already in millions of garages.
4.33
302
Renewable Energy Summary
Renewable Energy 95%
The energy transition was stalled by storage. The solution is already in millions of garages.
by Bruce Usher 2019
4.33
302 ratings
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels
by Alex Epstein • 2014
Climate deaths fell 98% this century. Fossil fuels caused that, and their moral defense is overdue.
4.07
2k+
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels Summary
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels 94%
Climate deaths fell 98% this century. Fossil fuels caused that, and their moral defense is overdue.
by Alex Epstein 2014
4.07
2k+ ratings
Thank You for Being Late
by Thomas L. Friedman • 2016
Technology, markets, and the climate are all speeding up simultaneously; adaptation is not optional.
3.88
12k+
Thank You for Being Late Summary
Thank You for Being Late 94%
Technology, markets, and the climate are all speeding up simultaneously; adaptation is not optional.
by Thomas L. Friedman 2016
3.88
12k+ ratings
Apocalypse Never
by Michael Shellenberger • 2020
The planet is getting better in the ways that matter. The alarmists got it backward.
4.16
6k+
Apocalypse Never Summary
Apocalypse Never 94%
The planet is getting better in the ways that matter. The alarmists got it backward.
by Michael Shellenberger 2020
4.16
6k+ ratings
The Rare Metals War
by Guillame Pitron • 2018
Your electric car runs on metals that leave toxic wastelands and enrich an authoritarian superpower.
4.04
1k+
The Rare Metals War Summary
The Rare Metals War 94%
Your electric car runs on metals that leave toxic wastelands and enrich an authoritarian superpower.
by Guillame Pitron 2018
4.04
1k+ ratings
Population 10 Billion
by Danny Dorling • 2013
We may never reach 10 billion people. The real threat is inequality, not numbers.
3.40
186
Population 10 Billion Summary
Population 10 Billion 94%
We may never reach 10 billion people. The real threat is inequality, not numbers.
by Danny Dorling 2013
3.40
186 ratings
The Grid
by Gretchen Bakke • 2016
The clean-energy future depends on a century-old machine that was never designed to handle it.
3.86
5k+
The Grid Summary
The Grid 94%
The clean-energy future depends on a century-old machine that was never designed to handle it.
by Gretchen Bakke 2016
3.86
5k+ ratings
Plan B 3.0
by Lester R. Brown • 2008
Planetary systems are collapsing in unison. The fix demands wartime mobilization, not half measures.
3.93
531
Plan B 3.0 Summary
Plan B 3.0 94%
Planetary systems are collapsing in unison. The fix demands wartime mobilization, not half measures.
by Lester R. Brown 2008
3.93
531 ratings
How Infrastructure Works
by Deb Chachra • 2023
The hidden networks you rely on were built for a climate that no longer exists.
3.64
937
How Infrastructure Works Summary
How Infrastructure Works 94%
The hidden networks you rely on were built for a climate that no longer exists.
by Deb Chachra 2023
3.64
937 ratings
Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development
by Edward Saja Sanneh • 2018
Energy, water, health, and waste are one system. Solve them separately and each solution unravels.
4.00
2
Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development Summary
Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development 94%
Energy, water, health, and waste are one system. Solve them separately and each solution unravels.
by Edward Saja Sanneh 2018
4.00
2 ratings
Going Nuclear
by Tim Gregory • 2025
Nuclear is the cleanest, safest, densest energy on Earth. Only irrational fear stands in its way.
4.47
350
Going Nuclear Summary
Going Nuclear 94%
Nuclear is the cleanest, safest, densest energy on Earth. Only irrational fear stands in its way.
by Tim Gregory 2025
4.47
350 ratings
Work
by James Suzman • 2020
Work predates paychecks by billions of years. A history of how energy became employment.
3.83
3k+
Work Summary
Work 94%
Work predates paychecks by billions of years. A history of how energy became employment.
by James Suzman 2020
3.83
3k+ ratings
Falter
by Bill McKibben • 2019
Engineers want to redesign humans as the climate exit. The two crises share a cause.
4.00
2k+
Falter Summary
Falter 94%
Engineers want to redesign humans as the climate exit. The two crises share a cause.
by Bill McKibben 2019
4.00
2k+ ratings
Confronting Collapse
by Michael C. Ruppert • 2009
Cheap oil made modern life possible. It is peaking, and nothing can fully replace it.
3.83
313
Confronting Collapse Summary
Confronting Collapse 94%
Cheap oil made modern life possible. It is peaking, and nothing can fully replace it.
by Michael C. Ruppert 2009
3.83
313 ratings
Progress
by Johan Norberg • 2016
Extreme poverty fell faster in 50 years than 500. And that is not even the headline.
4.03
2k+
Progress Summary
Progress 94%
Extreme poverty fell faster in 50 years than 500. And that is not even the headline.
by Johan Norberg 2016
4.03
2k+ ratings
The Age of Sustainable Development
by Jeffrey D. Sachs • 2015
Growth, inclusion, and sustainability are the same project. Sacrifice one, and the others collapse.
4.21
856
The Age of Sustainable Development Summary
The Age of Sustainable Development 94%
Growth, inclusion, and sustainability are the same project. Sacrifice one, and the others collapse.
by Jeffrey D. Sachs 2015
4.21
856 ratings
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
by Yuval Noah Harari • 2018
How to think in a century where jobs vanish, truths splinter, and biology becomes programmable.
4.15
179k+
21 Lessons for the 21st Century Summary
21 Lessons for the 21st Century 94%
How to think in a century where jobs vanish, truths splinter, and biology becomes programmable.
by Yuval Noah Harari 2018
4.15
179k+ ratings
2030
by Mauro F. Guillén • 2020
By 2030, three demographic waves collide: aging societies, female fortunes, and an ascendant Asia.
3.69
3k+
2030 Summary
2030 94%
By 2030, three demographic waves collide: aging societies, female fortunes, and an ascendant Asia.
by Mauro F. Guillén 2020
3.69
3k+ ratings
Not the End of the World
by Hannah Ritchie • 2024
The environmental doom story is wrong. The data is turning, and the fixes are within reach.
4.22
7k+
Not the End of the World Summary
Not the End of the World 94%
The environmental doom story is wrong. The data is turning, and the fixes are within reach.
by Hannah Ritchie 2024
4.22
7k+ ratings
Enlightenment Now
by Steven Pinker • 2018
The world is getting better, by the numbers. The credit belongs to ideals we are abandoning.
4.19
33k+
Enlightenment Now Summary
Enlightenment Now 94%
The world is getting better, by the numbers. The credit belongs to ideals we are abandoning.
by Steven Pinker 2018
4.19
33k+ ratings
An Inconvenient Apocalypse
by Wes Jackson • 2022
Civilization's biological drive for energy makes collapse inevitable. No green tech can stop it.
3.56
198
An Inconvenient Apocalypse Summary
An Inconvenient Apocalypse 94%
Civilization's biological drive for energy makes collapse inevitable. No green tech can stop it.
by Wes Jackson 2022
3.56
198 ratings
Climate Change
by Joseph Romm • 2015
Climate change is accelerating faster than predicted. The most expensive thing we can do is nothing.
4.22
694
Climate Change Summary
Climate Change 94%
Climate change is accelerating faster than predicted. The most expensive thing we can do is nothing.
by Joseph Romm 2015
4.22
694 ratings
Taming the Sun
by Varun Sivaram • 2018
More solar means each panel is worth less. Three innovations can flip that equation.
4.07
501
Taming the Sun Summary
Taming the Sun 93%
More solar means each panel is worth less. Three innovations can flip that equation.
by Varun Sivaram 2018
4.07
501 ratings
Nomad Century
by Gaia Vince • 2022
The tropics are becoming unlivable. A mass migration northward is an opportunity, not a crisis.
3.84
1k+
Nomad Century Summary
Nomad Century 93%
The tropics are becoming unlivable. A mass migration northward is an opportunity, not a crisis.
by Gaia Vince 2022
3.84
1k+ ratings
Now or Never
by Tim Flannery • 2009
Climate change is outrunning every worst-case model. The solutions work; the timeline doesn't.
3.49
193
Now or Never Summary
Now or Never 93%
Climate change is outrunning every worst-case model. The solutions work; the timeline doesn't.
by Tim Flannery 2009
3.49
193 ratings
The End of Oil
by Paul Roberts • 2004
Peak oil, climate collapse, energy poverty: three crises converging, and no unified plan exists.
3.74
1k+
The End of Oil Summary
The End of Oil 93%
Peak oil, climate collapse, energy poverty: three crises converging, and no unified plan exists.
by Paul Roberts 2004
3.74
1k+ ratings
Our Angry Earth
by Isaac Asimov • 1991
Asimov connected climate change, ozone loss, toxic waste, and soil erosion: four alarms, one fire.
3.71
126
Our Angry Earth Summary
Our Angry Earth 93%
Asimov connected climate change, ozone loss, toxic waste, and soil erosion: four alarms, one fire.
by Isaac Asimov 1991
3.71
126 ratings
The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire
by Henry Gee • 2025
The human population will soon peak and shrink. The only way out of extinction leads through space.
3.65
470
The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire Summary
The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire 93%
The human population will soon peak and shrink. The only way out of extinction leads through space.
by Henry Gee 2025
3.65
470 ratings
Origin Story
by David Christian • 2008
How energy and information built the universe, life, and us. What they mean for our future.
4.06
8k+
Origin Story Summary
Origin Story 93%
How energy and information built the universe, life, and us. What they mean for our future.
by David Christian 2008
4.06
8k+ ratings
The Capitalist Manifesto
by Johan Norberg • 2023
What brought extreme poverty from 29% to 8% in twenty years? The answer is not what you've been told
4.23
811
The Capitalist Manifesto Summary
The Capitalist Manifesto 93%
What brought extreme poverty from 29% to 8% in twenty years? The answer is not what you've been told
by Johan Norberg 2023
4.23
811 ratings
Our Choice
by Al Gore • 2008
The tools to solve the climate crisis exist; here's the plan to deploy them at scale.
3.99
864
Our Choice Summary
Our Choice 93%
The tools to solve the climate crisis exist; here's the plan to deploy them at scale.
by Al Gore 2008
3.99
864 ratings
The Industries of the Future
by Alec J. Ross • 2016
Robotics, genomics, code, and cyberwar: the next economy's winners and losers, mapped.
3.96
8k+
The Industries of the Future Summary
The Industries of the Future 93%
Robotics, genomics, code, and cyberwar: the next economy's winners and losers, mapped.
by Alec J. Ross 2016
3.96
8k+ ratings
The Green New Deal
by Jeremy Rifkin • 2019
The fossil-fuel economy is a bubble. Green tech will pop it by 2028.
3.68
812
The Green New Deal Summary
The Green New Deal 93%
The fossil-fuel economy is a bubble. Green tech will pop it by 2028.
by Jeremy Rifkin 2019
3.68
812 ratings
Unsettled
by Steven E. Koonin • 2021
The gap between climate science and climate headlines is wider than either side admits.
4.24
4k+
Unsettled Summary
Unsettled 93%
The gap between climate science and climate headlines is wider than either side admits.
by Steven E. Koonin 2021
4.24
4k+ ratings
Sustainable Energy - without the hot air
by David J.C. MacKay • 2008
Most energy plans don't add up. A physicist's arithmetic reveals what would.
4.41
2k+
Sustainable Energy - without the hot air Summary
Sustainable Energy - without the hot air 93%
Most energy plans don't add up. A physicist's arithmetic reveals what would.
by David J.C. MacKay 2008
4.41
2k+ ratings
Big History
by David Christian • 2008
13.8 billion years: from pure energy to a planet shaping species. The thread is not chance.
4.42
561
Big History Summary
Big History 93%
13.8 billion years: from pure energy to a planet shaping species. The thread is not chance.
by David Christian 2008
4.42
561 ratings
Human Frontiers
by Michael Bhaskar • 2021
More money, more minds, more data than ever. So why have the big ideas dried up?
3.83
126
Human Frontiers Summary
Human Frontiers 93%
More money, more minds, more data than ever. So why have the big ideas dried up?
by Michael Bhaskar 2021
3.83
126 ratings
The New World Economy
by Randy Charles Epping • 2020
One disruption anywhere now hits everywhere. A map of the new global economy for beginners.
3.64
152
The New World Economy Summary
The New World Economy 93%
One disruption anywhere now hits everywhere. A map of the new global economy for beginners.
by Randy Charles Epping 2020
3.64
152 ratings
Net Zero
by Dieter Helm • 2020
Why UN climate talks can't cut emissions, and how taxing carbon consumption can.
3.84
270
Net Zero Summary
Net Zero 93%
Why UN climate talks can't cut emissions, and how taxing carbon consumption can.
by Dieter Helm 2020
3.84
270 ratings
Speed & Scale
by John Doerr • 2021
The climate fight in 10 objectives: which sectors to fix first, and what it costs.
4.19
2k+
Speed & Scale Summary
Speed & Scale 93%
The climate fight in 10 objectives: which sectors to fix first, and what it costs.
by John Doerr 2021
4.19
2k+ ratings
The Empathic Civilization
by Jeremy Rifkin • 2009
Every energy revolution expanded human empathy. Now that same engine threatens to undo us all.
4.03
937
The Empathic Civilization Summary
The Empathic Civilization 93%
Every energy revolution expanded human empathy. Now that same engine threatens to undo us all.
by Jeremy Rifkin 2009
4.03
937 ratings
The Future We Choose
by Christiana Figueres • 2020
Halve emissions by 2030 or lose a livable planet: the Paris Agreement architect's ten moves.
4.05
7k+
The Future We Choose Summary
The Future We Choose 93%
Halve emissions by 2030 or lose a livable planet: the Paris Agreement architect's ten moves.
by Christiana Figueres 2020
4.05
7k+ ratings
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