Energy

An Audio Guide

By: Vaclav Smil

Narrated by: Dave Ferguson

In this user-friendly and informative audiobook, prolific author and academic Vaclav Smil provides an introduction to this far-reaching term and gives the reader a greater understanding of energy's place in both past and present society. Starting with an explanation of the concept, he goes on to cover such exciting topics as the inner workings of the human body and the race for more efficient and environmentally friendly fuels.

Whether you're after insight or dinner-table conversation, Energy will amaze and inform, uncovering the science behind one of the most important concepts in our universe.

©2006 Vaclav Smil (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing

Too many numbers for Audio, but great book

Really good book, but I think I should have read it, not listened to. Numbers loose a lot of their meaning when you only hear them and you cannot stop to compare.

Listening to the Encyclopedia of Energy

It takes a while to build up the constitution to listen to Vaclav Smil for a week, but I'm never too disappointed that I did. This book reads a lot like an encyclopedia, which means you're definitely going to be picking up tidbits on the evolution of our human understanding of energy, and relative efficiencies, but don't expect too much story to it. Overall worthwhile, but if you're not a die-hard of non-fiction, or really interested in energy derived from solar energy at some point during its creation... you're not going to stick with this listen.

Not really for “beginners”

As someone that has long had an interest in energy and the policies surrounding the choices we face, and as someone that loves math, I enjoyed this book.

My issue with the book is in calling it a beginner’s guide… it isn’t. Unlike most of the Bolinda Guides that I have read (and thoroughly enjoyed), this book will throw a lot of numbers at you and assumes the reader has a basic understanding of terminology and principles of energy.

Worth reading a few times over!

There is so much to learn from this book about energy, and it is one I will be returning to more than once in the not so distant future!

Thank you Bolinda for making it into an audiobook. It couldn't have been an easy task!

Great journey through the concept of energy

Great narration & introduction to energy and the role it plays in our lives. First chapters are a little bit like high school textbook but after that foundation the ideas continue to build on previous concepts. I look forward to listening to Smil's "Oil" next.

Incredibly balanced, complete & organized.

Would you listen to Energy: Bolinda Beginner Guides again? Why?

Fantastic outline of energy systems with well-balanced presentation of ideas that should not be but usually are controversial.

beginner or not... great book

love the specifics. great research and leaves open for reader/listener to make interpretations. looking forward to others on this subject by this author.

Good subject too good voice

The science and organization by the author was well executed. But the speakers voice, the epitome of a game show host, was overdone, repetitive in tone, and distracting.

Utterly boring book/audio

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The book is very boring and does not capture the reader's attention. The author merelt enumerats a million ways of energy, its measurement, and impact and compared the quantum of energy with some day-to-day activity. The book and the content never impressed me. It is neither for the scholars nor for the layman.