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EC

Energy, climate and the Earth

Science

Books on energy systems, materials, food production, climate change, geology and the environmental history of the planet, many by Vaclav Smil.

58 books on Energy, climate and the Earth, 6 of them tier 1, recommended by 15 people including Bill Gates and Mohnish Pabrai.

58 books · 16 experts

Start here

  1. Enriching the EarthVaclav Smil, 2001
  2. Energy: A Beginner's GuideVaclav Smil, 2006
  3. Making the Modern World: Materials and DematerializationVaclav Smil, 2013
  4. GrowthVaclav Smil, 2019
  5. Numbers Don't LieVaclav Smil, 2020

The best books on Energy, climate and the Earth 58

Enriching the EarthEnriching the Earth
T1 Enriching the Earth
Vaclav Smil · 2001
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish PabraiBill Gates
Energy: A Beginner's GuideEnergy: A Beginner's Guide
T1 Energy: A Beginner's Guide
Vaclav Smil · 2006
Smil's short primer on energy conversions and their physical limits
Open Library
Recommended byMark ZuckerbergBill Gates
Making the Modern World: Materials and DematMaking the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization
T1 Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization
Vaclav Smil · 2013
Open Library
Recommended byBill GatesMohnish Pabrai
GrowthGrowth
T1 Growth
Vaclav Smil · 2019
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
Numbers Don't LieNumbers Don't Lie
T1 Numbers Don't Lie
Vaclav Smil · 2020
Open Library
Recommended byBill GatesMark ZuckerbergTerrance McArthur
How the World Really WorksHow the World Really Works
T1 How the World Really Works
Vaclav Smil · 2022
The materials and energy arithmetic that any transition thesis has to survive.
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
The Limits to GrowthThe Limits to Growth
T2 The Limits to Growth
Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jorgen Randers · 1972
Open Library
Merchants of DoubtMerchants of Doubt
T2 Merchants of Doubt
Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway · 2010
The tobacco playbook for manufacturing scientific uncertainty.
Open Library
Recommended byNat EliasonElon Musk
Empty PlanetEmpty Planet
T2 Empty Planet
Darrell Bricker, John Ibbitson · 2019
The argument that global population peaks sooner than the UN projects.
Open Library
Material WorldMaterial World
T2 Material World
Ed Conway · 2023
Six raw materials that make modern industry work.
Open Library
Power to Save the WorldPower to Save the World
T3 Power to Save the World
Gwyneth Cravens · 2007
A sceptic's conversion, useful on how the public risk perception formed.
Open Library
UraniumUranium
T3 Uranium
Tom Zoellner · 2009
The rock itself: mining, boom towns and the geopolitics of supply.
Open Library
The Big ThirstThe Big Thirst
T3 The Big Thirst
Charles Fishman · 2011
The economics of cheap water and what happens when it stops being cheap.
Open Library
Atomic AccidentsAtomic Accidents
T3 Atomic Accidents
James Mahaffey · 2014
What actually went wrong, and how much of the fear is proportionate.
Open Library
Clearing the Air
T3 Clearing the Air
Hannah Ritchie · 2025
Data-driven look at emissions and what actually reduces them
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
There Is No Planet BThere Is No Planet B
T4 There Is No Planet B
Mike Berners-Lee · 1900
Open Library
Recommended byJan Losert
Weather of the San Francisco Bay RegionWeather of the San Francisco Bay Region
T4 Weather of the San Francisco Bay Region
Harold Gilliam · 1962
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange
T4 The Columbian Exchange
Alfred Crosby · 1972
Open Library
Recommended byNick Szabo
Ice Age Earth: Late Quaternary Geology and CIce Age Earth: Late Quaternary Geology and Climate (Physical Environment)
T4 Ice Age Earth: Late Quaternary Geology and Climate (Physical Environment)
Alastair G. Dawson · 1991
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Global WarmingGlobal Warming
T4 Global Warming
John Theodore Houghton · 1994
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, ExpNontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and Production (2nd Edition)
T4 Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and Production (2nd Edition)
Norman J. Hyne · 1995
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
EnergiesEnergies
T4 Energies
Vaclav Smil · 1998
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
Ice AgeIce Age
T4 Ice Age
John Gribbin, Mary Gribbin · 2002
Open Library
Recommended byCharlie Munger
The Earth's BiosphereThe Earth's Biosphere
T4 The Earth's Biosphere
Vaclav Smil · 2002
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
The Eternal FrontierThe Eternal Frontier
T4 The Eternal Frontier
Tim Flannery · 2002
Open Library
Recommended byStewart Brand
The Future of LifeThe Future of Life
T4 The Future of Life
Edward O. Wilson · 2002
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish PabraiStewart Brand
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
T4 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
Charles C. Mann · 2005
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth
T4 The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth
Tim Flannery · 2005
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish PabraiRichard Branson
Field Notes from a CatastropheField Notes from a Catastrophe
T4 Field Notes from a Catastrophe
Elizabeth Kolbert · 2006
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
The Man Who Fed the WorldThe Man Who Fed the World
T4 The Man Who Fed the World
Leon Hesser · 2006
Open Library
Recommended byBill GatesMohnish Pabrai
The Revenge of GaiaThe Revenge of Gaia
T4 The Revenge of Gaia
James Lovelock · 2006
Open Library
Recommended byStewart Brand
DirtDirt
T4 Dirt
David R. Montgomery · 2007
Open Library
Recommended byStewart Brand
The World Without UsThe World Without Us
T4 The World Without Us
Alan Weisman · 2007
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick CollisonRichard Branson
Global Catastrophes and TrendsGlobal Catastrophes and Trends
T4 Global Catastrophes and Trends
Vaclav Smil · 2008
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
The Encyclopedia of EarthThe Encyclopedia of Earth
T4 The Encyclopedia of Earth
Michael Allaby · 2008
Open Library
Recommended byStewart Brand
Tomorrow's TableTomorrow's Table
T4 Tomorrow's Table
Pamela C. Ronald · 2008
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
A Vast MachineA Vast Machine
T4 A Vast Machine
Paul N. Edwards · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
Beyond Smoke & Mirrors: Climate Change & EneBeyond Smoke & Mirrors: Climate Change & Energy in the 21st Century
T4 Beyond Smoke & Mirrors: Climate Change & Energy in the 21st Century
Burton Richter · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Energy Myths and RealitiesEnergy Myths and Realities
T4 Energy Myths and Realities
Vaclav Smil · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
Weather Whys: Facts, Myths, and OdditiesWeather Whys: Facts, Myths, and Oddities
T4 Weather Whys: Facts, Myths, and Oddities
Paul Yeager · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Crea1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
T4 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
Charles C. Mann · 2011
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Powering the FuturePowering the Future
T4 Powering the Future
Robert B. Laughlin · 2011
Open Library
Recommended bySam Altman
The Ocean of LifeThe Ocean of Life
T4 The Ocean of Life
Callum Roberts · 2012
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Story of Earth: The First 4.5 Billion YeThe Story of Earth: The First 4.5 Billion Years, from Stardust to Living Planet
T4 The Story of Earth: The First 4.5 Billion Years, from Stardust to Living Planet
Robert M. Hazen · 2012
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Harvesting the Biosphere
T4 Harvesting the Biosphere
Vaclav Smil · 2013
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
Big World, Small PlanetBig World, Small Planet
T4 Big World, Small Planet
Johan Rockstrom · 2015
Open Library
Recommended byRichard Branson
RareRare
T4 Rare
Keith Veronese · 2015
Popular account of the scarcest industrial elements.
Open Library
The Planet RemadeThe Planet Remade
T4 The Planet Remade
Oliver Morton · 2015
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Ends of the WorldThe Ends of the World
T4 The Ends of the World
Peter Brannen · 2017
Open Library
Recommended byJake Knapp
Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of a MysterAntarctica: An Intimate Portrait of a Mysterious Continent
T4 Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of a Mysterious Continent
Gabrielle Walker
unverified
Recommended byMatt Mullenweg
Gaia: A New Look at Life on EarthGaia: A New Look at Life on Earth
T4 Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth
James Lovelock
unverified
Recommended byStewart Brand
How to Feed the WorldHow to Feed the World
T4 How to Feed the World
Vaclav Smil
unverified
Recommended byBill Gates
Interpretation of Airphotos and Remotely SenInterpretation of Airphotos and Remotely Sensed Imagery
T4 Interpretation of Airphotos and Remotely Sensed Imagery
Robert H. Arnold
unverified
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Not the End of the WorldNot the End of the World
T4 Not the End of the World
Hannah Ritchie
unverified
Recommended byBill Gates
Plentiful Energy
T4 Plentiful Energy
Yoon Il Chang
unverified
Recommended bySam Altman
Sustainable Energy
T4 Sustainable Energy
David J.C. Mackay
unverified
Recommended byBill Gates
Sustainable Materials
T4 Sustainable Materials
Julian M. Allwood
unverified
Recommended byBill Gates
Under a White SkyUnder a White Sky
T4 Under a White Sky
Elizabeth Kolbert
unverified
Recommended byBill Gates

Experts 16

The people who wrote this page's books, and the people who recommend them.

Authors 1

Vaclav Smilwrote 12 books here

Recommenders 15

Bill Gatesrecommends 20 books here
MP
Mohnish Pabrairecommends 13 books herePatrick Collisonrecommends 6 books hereStewart Brandrecommends 6 books hereRichard Bransonrecommends 3 books hereMark Zuckerbergrecommends 2 books hereSam Altmanrecommends 2 books hereCharlie Mungerrecommends 1 book hereElon Muskrecommends 1 book here
JK
Jake Knapprecommends 1 book here
JL
Jan Losertrecommends 1 book hereMatt Mullenwegrecommends 1 book here
Show all 15
NE
Nat Eliasonrecommends 1 book here
NS
Nick Szaborecommends 1 book here
TM
Terrance McArthurrecommends 1 book here
See all 16 in the Experts tab →

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