Power Trip: The Story of Energy

When anticipating a story about energy, one might expect to see lots of chemical equations and boundless numerical formulae, instead this tale takes the reader on a storied adventure cruise, illustrating how civilizations developed and advanced by taking advantage of the energy stores available in nature. We start this journey by following the aqueous power of running water to its energy in the form of steam and more recently herded into dams to yield hydroelectric power. We track energy to food for sustenance; the energy that is invested in the land to produce the food and feel the power that results from feeding the world. We look at how increasing energy supplies have increased the wealth of the developed nations and led to the establishment of major powers.  We read how fossil fuels can be replaced by biofuels derived from sugarcane and corn. The author, Michael E. Webber, a professor of Energy Resources at the University of Texas, has put together a comprehensive portrayal of the impact that energy has had on the progress of civilizations. The book exhaustively details the history, societal impacts, ecological costs, and military consequences resulting from the pursuit of energy. This is an educational read for those of us concerned and worried about the oncoming global crisis.