MIT Press Growth: From Microorganisms to Megacities

thanks!!

Lindo

Brilliant.

The book is a unique account on growth. Generally, widely know growth studies focus on economic systems and population. However, Mr. Smil book covers also growth trajectories of living matter and human artifacts (e.g. cars, electric generators etc.). Besides description of many growth trajectories, also basics of growth forecasting and linked issues are discussed. Personally, I value this discussions as often fitting techniques are applied blindly, mainly in social sciences, which leads to misunderstanding of reality.As pointed out in other reviews in this book, sometimes, the text is reduced to listing numbers and dates. Although this can be boring for somebody, these parts are highly informative.It seems that the book does not have any particular target audience. In my opinion, it could be attractive for anybody dealing with forecasting, persons interested in history of technology, economists etc. Similarly to wide range of knowlede presented in the book, the audience is also wide.

Have you ever calculated the mass of all your current possessions and how that number compares to our earliest ancestors? Or did you know that trees are the oldest and most massive organisms living on this planet although strictly speaking more than half of their mass is dead? If you want to add a critical layer to the way you see and think about the world and your approach to everyday life you should read this amazing text of Professor Smil. Strictly analytical and fact-based, this book covers what a true polymath would be curious about regarding growth. Daunting, crude and extremely interesting. Vaclav Smil has always challenged our minds with deep understanding of human interactions with Earth’s biosphere. This book is no exception. A must read.