science and civilization

"An essential analysis of the modern science and technology that makes our twenty-first century lives possible--a scientist's investigation into what science really does, and does not, accomplish. We have never had so much information at our fingertips and yet most of us don't know how the world really works. This book explains seven of the most fundamental realities governing our survival and prosperity. From energy and food production, through our material world and its globalization, to risks, our environment and its future, How the World Really Works offers a much-needed reality check--because before we can tackle problems effectively, we must understand the facts. In this ambitious and thought-provoking book we see, for example, that globalization isn't inevitable--the foolishness of allowing 70 per cent of the world's rubber gloves to be made in just one factory became glaringly obvious in 2020--and that our societies have been steadily increasing their dependence on fossil fuels, such that any promises of decarbonization by 2050 are a fairy tale. For example, each greenhouse-grown supermarket-bought tomato has the equivalent of five tablespoons of diesel embedded in its production, and we have no way of producing steel, cement or plastics at required scales without huge carbon emissions. Ultimately, Smil answers the most profound question of our age: are we irrevocably doomed or is a brighter utopia ahead? Compelling, data-rich and revisionist, this wonderfully broad, interdisciplinary guide finds faults with both extremes. Looking at the world through this quantitative lens reveals hidden truths that change the way we see our past, present and uncertain future"--.

"Bringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson shines new light on the crucial fault lines of our time--war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race--in a way that stimulates a deeper sense of unity for us all"--Provided by publisher.

Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity?s future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.

Examines the history of scientific thought, invention, and discovery, from classical Greek times to the Internet age.

Chronicles the stories of epic earthquakes from throughout history, explaining the geological processes responsible for earthquakes and describing how they have long-lasting aftereffects on human societies and cultures.

Examines four thousand years of written history in order to understand the physical nature of the world and surveys such areas as the battle myths of ancient Israel, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, writings of the Greek gods, astrology of the Babylonians and Akkadians, and other sciences throughout the centuries.

Posits that, among other things, "global warming isn't the problem; the real problem is an entirely predictable but potentially catastrophic mini-ice age, [outlines] which countries are on the brink of failure, chaos, and ultimately population collapse, and what that means for the rest of the world ... [and examines] the four main factors that will determine when China attacks the United States".

Looks 200 years into the future and imagines that our current civilization has fallen apart by then, just as great civilizations of the past have collapsed.