Making the Modern World
Over the course of time, the modern world has become dependent on unprecedented flows of materials. Making the Modern World explores the costs of this dependence and the potential for substantial dematerialization of modern economies. It provides an outlook for the future, discussing the prospects for dematerialization and potential constraints on materials. This interdisciplinary text gives useful perspectives for readers with backgrounds including resource economics, environmental studies, energy analysis, mineral geology, industrial organization, manufacturing, and material science.
“Summing Up: Recommended. Academic, general, and professional readers.”
— Choice
“Vaclav Smil keeps turning out amazing books. Making the Modern World, I just finished, and it’s pretty fantastic.”
— Interview with Bill Gates
“This makes the book particularly suitable for students, and not just those in obviously-related disciplines: it’s a good example of fact-based reasoning, one material we can always use more of.”
— Chemistry & Industry