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kingarooski's review
4.0
Vaclav Smil has a way of taking complex data and making it accessible and easy-to-read. These articles are short and focused on a specific question or idea, and they contain a lot of information. Smil talks repeatedly about the inability to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and he brings up our need to switch to a more plant-based diet a few times. He is aware of the impact our actions have on the globe perhaps and is able to explain this in a simplified manner, but does not resort to scaring the reader; his duty is to inform. I learned quite a few things from this book including the fact that China has emplaced more concrete in the last two years than the US did in the whole of the 20th century. That one will stay with me for a while!
daisy1367's review
4.0
Interesting read with a wide variety of areas covered. China's not quite as daunting when you understand the data behind the issues they are facing.
uditnair24's review
4.0
First and foremost I really like the way the book is structured. It consists of small articles which the author has written for various publications and now has been compiled here. Since all of them are really short ones one can easily pick up the book from anywhere and start reading. (And can leave in between and restart again at another time).
The main premise of the book is to make us understand the complexity of the world we live in through numbers. It helps immensely in our pursuit of better understanding this world and hence make it a better place. The author has stated in the introduction that the goal is to demonstrate not only that numbers do not lie, but to discover which truth they convey.
The book deals with diverse number of areas and hence it is surely a delightful read. On the way one discovers new things and also understands the larger picture where the numbers are already known. One can dive in to the book if they are wondering about these questions-
1. Which is the best indicator of quality of life?
2. How far can China go?
3. Why we shouldn't write diesel off just yet?
4. Why Nuclear electricity is am unfulfilled promise?
5. What's rational meat eating?
6. What's worse for the environment- your car or the phone?
Again these are only 6 out of 71 interesting topics which are covered in this essential read. I like how efficiently the author has conveyed very complex ideas in a simplistic manner. Again when backed with statistics you cant really ignore the assertion even when its counterintuitive.
The only drawback I encountered while reading the book was that the articles ended too soon. The fact that book covers 71 articles it became too short and a deeper and meaningful analysis was not possible. I know the very strength of this book also makes for a weakness in my opinion.
The main premise of the book is to make us understand the complexity of the world we live in through numbers. It helps immensely in our pursuit of better understanding this world and hence make it a better place. The author has stated in the introduction that the goal is to demonstrate not only that numbers do not lie, but to discover which truth they convey.
The book deals with diverse number of areas and hence it is surely a delightful read. On the way one discovers new things and also understands the larger picture where the numbers are already known. One can dive in to the book if they are wondering about these questions-
1. Which is the best indicator of quality of life?
2. How far can China go?
3. Why we shouldn't write diesel off just yet?
4. Why Nuclear electricity is am unfulfilled promise?
5. What's rational meat eating?
6. What's worse for the environment- your car or the phone?
Again these are only 6 out of 71 interesting topics which are covered in this essential read. I like how efficiently the author has conveyed very complex ideas in a simplistic manner. Again when backed with statistics you cant really ignore the assertion even when its counterintuitive.
The only drawback I encountered while reading the book was that the articles ended too soon. The fact that book covers 71 articles it became too short and a deeper and meaningful analysis was not possible. I know the very strength of this book also makes for a weakness in my opinion.
neha254's review
3.0
Simple straightforward approach to explain complex problems however truth doesn’t always follow a linear path hence cannot be merely explained by few numbers. Vaclav Smil summarised few great points ostensibly in the best way possible and added a new dimension to thinking. But still it left lot of questions unanswered after every chapter. As they always say, it’s always more that meets the eye.
obnorthrup's review
3.0
Learned some interesting things, but the essays were a bit uneven; some seemed to rely more on the author's impressions and experiences than the numbers.