Power Density A Key to Understanding Energy Sources and Uses In this book, Vaclav Smil argues that power density is a key determinant of the nature and dynamics of energy systems. Any understanding of complex energy systems must rely on quantitative measures of many fundamental variables. Power density—the rate of energy flux per unit of … Continue Reading
How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We’re Going A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors… [How The World Really Works] is a compelling and highly readable book that leaves readers with the fundamental grounding needed to help solve the world’s toughest challenges.”—Bill Gates “Provocative but … Continue Reading
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think Factfulness: The stress-reducing habit of carrying only opinions for which you have strong supporting facts. When asked simple questions about global trends – what percentage of the world’s population live in poverty; why the world’s population is … Continue Reading
Why Information Grows: The Evolution of Order, from Atoms to Economies What is economic growth? And why, historically, has it occurred in only a few places? Previous efforts to answer these questions have focused on institutions, geography, finances, and psychology. But according to MIT’s anti-disciplinarian César Hidalgo, understanding the nature of economic growth demands … Continue Reading
Superintelligence Superintelligence asks the questions: What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life. The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our … Continue Reading