How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
The book mostly succeeds in revealing the hidden machinery that keeps modern civilization humming, then assesses its future. In data-heavy chapters on energy, food, materials, globalization, risk and climate, Smil dismantles narratives and lays out the sheer physical scale of what we take for granted—kilograms of ammonia per loaf of bread, barrels of oil behind every smartphone. It's like a reality check for anyone who thinks you can swap out fossil fuels with a couple of solar panels and a TED Talk.
Critically, Smil's relentless quantification sometimes hardens into fatalism. Sociopolitical and ethical dimensions appear as afterthoughts so the book can feel "objective" and detached from the human forces that ultimately steer the numbers. However, the constant reminders of the massive embodied energy in every supply chain node can recalibrate our sense of scale and pace. By the final chapter, his measured optimism (rooted in historical perspective rather than tech evangelism) feels earned.
Progress is possible, he argues, but only if we grasp the physics of our dependencies and the inertia of existing systems. Readers hoping for a roadmap to rapid decarbonization or technological wildcards (gen-IV nuclear, synthetic fuels, AI-driven efficiency?) may find the prescriptions conservative, but the book is ultimately enlightening and well worth the read.