Vaclav Smil

Born in 1943 vaclavsmil.com @VaclavSmil

Science

Vaclav Smil is a renowned scientist and academic with expertise in energy, environmental science, and interdisciplinary research.
He earned his Ph.D. in Geography from Pennsylvania State University and holds a degree from Charles University in Prague.
Smil is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
His work has earned him recognition as one of Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers in 2010.
Smil is known for his data-driven approach to analyzing complex global issues, particularly in energy and environmental studies.
His numerous publications have made him a respected voice in discussions on technology, resources, and sustainability.

Books by Vaclav Smil

How the World Really Works

by Vaclav Smil • 2022

Both doomers and utopians skip the same thing: modern civilization's staggering material scale.

3.94

14k+

⚡ Energy Systems 🏭 Industrial Ecology 🌾 Global Food Systems

How the World Really Works

Both doomers and utopians skip the same thing: modern civilization's staggering material scale.

by Vaclav Smil 2022 336 pages

3.94

14k+ ratings

⚡ Energy Systems 🏭 Industrial Ecology 🌾 Global Food Systems

Numbers Don't Lie

by Vaclav Smil • 2020

Your smartphone costs the planet as much as a car. 71 data points that rewrite modern life.

3.82

10k+

🔋 Energy Transitions 👴 Demographic Shifts 🌽 Food Systems

Numbers Don't Lie

Your smartphone costs the planet as much as a car. 71 data points that rewrite modern life.

by Vaclav Smil 2020 384 pages

3.82

10k+ ratings

🔋 Energy Transitions 👴 Demographic Shifts 🌽 Food Systems

Energy and Civilization

by Vaclav Smil • 2017

A week of American energy use matches a year of Nigerian. The history behind that gap.

4.09

4k+

⚡ Energy History ⚙️ History Of Technology 🏭 Industrial Revolution

Energy and Civilization

A week of American energy use matches a year of Nigerian. The history behind that gap.

by Vaclav Smil 2017 552 pages

4.09

4k+ ratings

⚡ Energy History ⚙️ History Of Technology 🏭 Industrial Revolution

Invention and Innovation

by Vaclav Smil • 2023

Moore's Law is an outlier. Everywhere else, innovation crawls, stumbles, or backfires.

3.84

1k+

🛠️ History Of Technology 🔍 Innovation Myths ⚠️ Unintended Consequences

Invention and Innovation

Moore's Law is an outlier. Everywhere else, innovation crawls, stumbles, or backfires.

by Vaclav Smil 2023 225 pages

3.84

1k+ ratings

🛠️ History Of Technology 🔍 Innovation Myths ⚠️ Unintended Consequences

Growth

by Vaclav Smil • 2019

The math of growth is the same everywhere: a curve that bends toward limits, not infinity.

3.87

1k+

🌍 Limits To Growth 📈 Scaling Laws ⚡ Energy History

Growth

The math of growth is the same everywhere: a curve that bends toward limits, not infinity.

by Vaclav Smil 2019 664 pages

3.87

1k+ ratings

🌍 Limits To Growth 📈 Scaling Laws ⚡ Energy History

How to Feed the World

by Vaclav Smil • 2024

Why twenty crops feed humanity, photosynthesis wastes most energy, and incremental fixes beat hype.

3.57

500+

🥘 Food Systems 🌱 Sustainable Agriculture 🔬 Nutrition Science

How to Feed the World

Why twenty crops feed humanity, photosynthesis wastes most energy, and incremental fixes beat hype.

by Vaclav Smil 2024 272 pages

3.57

500+ ratings

🥘 Food Systems 🌱 Sustainable Agriculture 🔬 Nutrition Science

Should We Eat Meat?

by Vaclav Smil • 2013

Meat grew our brains. Its modern scale now threatens the planet. A quantified middle path.

3.52

500+

🏭 Industrial Agriculture 🌡️ Meat And Climate 🧬 Evolution Of Diet

Should We Eat Meat?

Meat grew our brains. Its modern scale now threatens the planet. A quantified middle path.

by Vaclav Smil 2013 282 pages

3.52

500+ ratings

🏭 Industrial Agriculture 🌡️ Meat And Climate 🧬 Evolution Of Diet

Made in the USA

by Vaclav Smil • 2013

How the country that made a third of the planet's goods stopped making almost everything.

3.76

500+

🏛️ Economic History 🏭 American Industry ⚡ Energy Economics

Made in the USA

How the country that made a third of the planet's goods stopped making almost everything.

by Vaclav Smil 2013 263 pages

3.76

500+ ratings

🏛️ Economic History 🏭 American Industry ⚡ Energy Economics

Speed

by Vaclav Smil • 2025

From geological drift to digital overdrive: how speed explains everything, and why it's breaking us.

3.31

🚀 Tech Acceleration 🧩 Systems Thinking ⚡ Energy History

Speed

From geological drift to digital overdrive: how speed explains everything, and why it's breaking us.

by Vaclav Smil 2025 352 pages

3.31

29 ratings

🚀 Tech Acceleration 🧩 Systems Thinking ⚡ Energy History

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

Compare Features

Free

Pro

📖 Read Summaries

Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month

🎧 Listen to Summaries

Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages

—

❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks

Free users are limited to 4

—

📜 Unlimited History

Free users are limited to 4

—

📥 Unlimited Downloads

Free users are limited to 1

—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M