How the World Really Works. The science behind how we got here and where we are going. Vaclav Smil. 2022. ISBN 9780593297070.

This could be one of the top books of the year for me. Perhaps it’s my increasing age in conjunction with cynicism but I was ready for this book. The author is recognized as top 100 global Thinker. In some way a Rennaissance man, Vaclav brings a realistic view to the what is going on today. I always distrust politicians and public figures who preach a simplistic view of how we can “fix’ the world’s problems. (Perhaps that is due to the public regularly electing some of the truly stupid to public office. ) All countries, like Canada are deeply inter related internally and with other countries in politics, supply chains, resources and the lists go on. To improve the situation means that one must be realistic about ‘how the world works’. As an engineer I have been suspicious of politicians and think tanks pushing such things as a zero-carbon economy in 10-20 years. The author does a realistic analysis of this and shows that if we require cement, steel, ammonia (for fertilizer/food production) and electricity to build this future – that requires huge energy investments – well beyond what the alternatives to fossil fuels can and will provide for many years. A simple analysis of the energy required to “push” a jet passenger plane through the air shows that only fossil fuels provide the power to weight ration needed.

The author does not say do not address global warning, on the contrary he says we must. But he points out just how long this is going to take. (Decades and decades or more), if the World even really addresses it.

He asks are we willing to deny the African nations the chance to develop their economies like China has done? If so, they will need huge amounts of energy (fossil fuels) which will release emissions (CO2) into the atmosphere.

India and China still process and burn huge amounts of coal and will continue to do so as well as buying Russian oil regardless of world opinions.

Do the Western and EU nations wish to restrict their own “consumption” in order to reduce emissions? (They are already well ahead of the developing world in this).

He posits several changes to codes etc. that will assist us in reducing some energy consumption (Ie triple paned windows for all buildings, reducing food waste, more nuclear energy, producing and supporting local).

All in all, a very insightful book that brings rational thought to these arguments.

The Peripheral. William Gibson. 2014. ISBN 9780698170704.  I recently “found” this book by our “local” but world famous sci fi author.  It reads well but as ever has lots of interwoven bits. It is very prescient of the world leaders and behavior we see today. Gibson does his usual job of drawing you into a dystopian future where the present is being affected by players in the future. Those who like Gibson will enjoy this. If you are unfamiliar with his work, this one is worth wading into.

the four. The hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google. Scott Galloway. 2017. ISBN 9780735213661. The author has been around the tech block ,  building and selling companies ( with some failures too), consulting and teaching  This is one of the clearer analysis of what is driving the growth of these four companies, where it is going ( has gone) and what might the future bring, not always good.  The book will bring no joy to the fanboys of these particular companies ( Or will they, when facing ideas/facts that dispute their beliefs cause them to double down?). However if you wish to be enlightened/learn about the major “winners” in the tech world, you should read this book   Concise, well written and organized ( well until the very end when the author goes into ideas of what you could/might do) I stuck with the book in about two sittings.

The Inevitable. Understanding the 12 technological forces that will shape our future. Kevin Kelly. 2016. ISBN 9780525428084.  Kelly was an original editor of Wired and witnessed all the recent technology gains ( and losses) . He takes his experience, skepticism, and clarity of vision and puts it all here in this book. Very readable, believable and I feel that most of what he predicts will come true. Since 2016 already I see the trending along his ideas. Anyone who wonders what is coming or has seen lots of what has come to be will enjoy this book from one of the better technology writers of our time.

Dark Horse. Achieving success through the pursuit of fulfillment. Todd Rose & Ogi Ogas. 2018. ISBN 9780062683649.  These are stories of dark horses, people who found their happiness and calling through often convoluted and  non standard paths. As well it is an analysis of the failings of our society to accommodate/ give people real choices and paths to fulfillment vs having standardized one size fits all programming for success.  This is a very important book that will cause you to rethink much that you have accepted about pathways to success/fulfillment.  It also reflects the growing drive for self actualization among today’s young people.

Strictly Mobile. How the largest man-made platform in history is changing our world. Kevin Talbot ed.  2016. ISBN 9781619614307. I like this type of anthologies. The author has collected the thoughts on leaders in the use of mobile technology on the future of what will be used.  Many thoughts are presented on AI,  medicine, education, autonomous self driving cars, robots, the moon/space travel, payments,  VR, AI/robotic  interactions enough that you will have your eyes opened on uses to today and in the immediate future.  Something for everybody in these short essays.

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Global Catastrophes and Trends. The Next fifty Years. Vaclav Smil.. 2008. ISBN  9780262195867. At first this seems like a weighty book to go through. However the widely read, and acknowledged expert author  ( Resident of Manitoba)  has just the right style to weave anecdote, research and analytic data together to create a compelling read.  It may be more for the Economist vs People magazine reader, but if you care about the planet and what may or may not occur bases on the numbers and the trends, a very needed read.   E.g. 9/11 killed about the same numbers of people as those who die in the  every two weeks because of medical  errors in the hospital, or every four weeks from car accidents.  Extrapolate what would happen if the money spent daily to  “prevent” another 9/11 addressed hospital error? And  car accidents and medical error continue. while 9/11 happened once.   Or that Russia kills so many adult makes due to chronic alcoholism and related events ( car crashes etc)  that their population will decline by 25% by 2025?  Read this book and you will have a completely different view of of the 6 pm news broadcast.

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