"If someone wants an overall view of how energy gets used, where it comes from, and the challenges in switching to new sources, this is the book to read." —Bill Gates, cofounder, Microsoft
"I would choose Sustainable Energy as a text over its competitors because MacKay has moved the energy discussion in the direction where energy alternatives can be considered quantitatively." —American Journal of Physics
"Anyone trying to write technical documents for a non-technical audience ought to read this, just to see how it's done. Edward Tufte quality." —quercus.livejournal.com
"This is a must-have book for anyone who is seriously interested in energy policy." —Scott Kirwin, therazor.org
"A delight to read and will appeal especially to practical people who want to understand what is important in energy and what is not." —Dr Derek Pooley CBE, former chief scientist, UK Department of Energy, and member, European Union Advisory Group on Energy
"This is a brilliant book that is both a racy read and hugely informative . . . It shows . . . how cars might become far more efficient but why planes cannot." —David Newbery, director, Electricity Policy Research Group, University of Cambridge
"Here are the numbers in a form easy to digest about energy use and availability. Fantastic achievement." —Professor Volker Heine, Fellow of the Royal Society
"May be the best technical book about the environment that I've ever read. This is to energy and climate what Freakonomics is to economics." —boingboing.net
"A tour de force . . . As a work of popular science it is exemplary . . . For anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the real problems involved [it] is the place to start." —economist.com
"A book about climate change that gets rave reviews from folk at oil companies, environmental groups and the Number One Blog of All Time has to be worth a peek." —David MacKay
"A new academic book written by David MacKay, a physics professor at the University of Cambridge, is being hailed by some as a "game changer": a text that could revolutionize popular thinking about our future energy needs and how we could supply them." —guardian.co.uk
"The must-have book for anyone who is seriously interested in energy policy." —Fivebooks.com
Addressing the sustainable energy crisis in an objective manner, this enlightening book analyzes the relevant numbers and organizes a plan for change on both a personal level and an international scale—for Europe, the United States, and the world. In case study format, this informative reference answers questions surrounding nuclear energy, the potential of sustainable fossil fuels, and the possibilities of sharing renewable power with foreign countries. While underlining the difficulty of minimizing consumption, the tone remains positive as it debunks misinformation and clearly explains the calculations of expenditure per person to encourage people to make individual changes that will benefit the world at large.
David MacKay is a professor in the department of physics at Cambridge University, a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Climate Change, and a regular lecturer on sustainable energy.
Science, Nature
384 pages, Trade Paper, 7.75 x 8.75
163 Color Photos, 13 B/W Photos, 9 Color Illustrations, 5 Line Drawings, 82 Tables, 93 Graphs, 129 Diagrams, 40 Maps, Four-color Interior
Distribution Rights: US, CA & AU
$49.95 (CAN $54.95)
9780954452933 (0954452933) Pub Date: February 2009
UIT Cambridge Ltd.