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Feeding the Fire: The Lost History and Uncertain Future of Mankind's Energy Addiction
From the first spark created by human hands thousands of years ago, mankind has grown dependent on nature’s vast stores of energy to build, explore, and experiment. Our expanding knowledge and technologies have come from the felling of forests to the harnessing of wind and water, from the burning of coal and oil to tapping the energy of the atom. Energy does more than heat our homes and fill our gas tanks; it fuels our imaginations. Our future is inextricably linked to energy, and in this groundbreaking book, Mark Eberhart examines our historic quest for power and tackles the brutal realization that there are limits to the energy Earth can provide.
In Western society, we treat energy as a given—the background noise of modern life. But as worldwide energy demand grows, supplies are, at best, holding steady—and at worst, shrinking. The implications of our dependence are enormous. And while there is evidence that great cultures of the past—the Maya, Anasazi, Easter Islanders—collapsed when their energy resources were exhausted, Eberhart argues that we have the responsibility and the ability to develop renewable energy sources now.
Eberhart leads us on a tour through the history of energy, how it was formed and how it evolved, and reveals how we became energy-dependent creatures. With an unblinking eye, he takes a close look at the consequences of our energy appetite, and, most important, imagines a secure energy future that we can all play a part in achieving.
Enlightening, bold, and practical, Feeding the Fire weaves together history, science, and current affairs to create an important and compelling thesis about humanity’s energy needs—and draws a hard line on the imperative need to avert the catastrophe that looms if we continue on our present course.
In Western society, we treat energy as a given—the background noise of modern life. But as worldwide energy demand grows, supplies are, at best, holding steady—and at worst, shrinking. The implications of our dependence are enormous. And while there is evidence that great cultures of the past—the Maya, Anasazi, Easter Islanders—collapsed when their energy resources were exhausted, Eberhart argues that we have the responsibility and the ability to develop renewable energy sources now.
Eberhart leads us on a tour through the history of energy, how it was formed and how it evolved, and reveals how we became energy-dependent creatures. With an unblinking eye, he takes a close look at the consequences of our energy appetite, and, most important, imagines a secure energy future that we can all play a part in achieving.
Enlightening, bold, and practical, Feeding the Fire weaves together history, science, and current affairs to create an important and compelling thesis about humanity’s energy needs—and draws a hard line on the imperative need to avert the catastrophe that looms if we continue on our present course.
- GenresScienceHistoryNonfiction
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 23, 2010
3.5 stars
I liked the book. Eberhart follows the history of energy through physics, chemistry, biology, and society -- fascinating! I realize policy might not be his strong point, (He's a chemistry/geochemistry professor after all.) but I wish Eberhart had spent more time on what we should do for the future. If you agree the climate change is going to wreck the planet, this is the book for you. If you agree that energy policy should be the new security policy, this is the book for you. And even if you don't believe either of those things, read this book anyway. It isn't about resetting your thermostat or recycling or anything you've heard before. This book will change the way you think about energy.
I liked the book. Eberhart follows the history of energy through physics, chemistry, biology, and society -- fascinating! I realize policy might not be his strong point, (He's a chemistry/geochemistry professor after all.) but I wish Eberhart had spent more time on what we should do for the future. If you agree the climate change is going to wreck the planet, this is the book for you. If you agree that energy policy should be the new security policy, this is the book for you. And even if you don't believe either of those things, read this book anyway. It isn't about resetting your thermostat or recycling or anything you've heard before. This book will change the way you think about energy.
July 29, 2009
Eberhart meanders through lots of interesting stuff in his tale of man's relationship to nature. (A bit too meandering at times, but always fascinating.) Starting with the creation of the elements with atomic number 6 (Carbon) and above ... leading through the human brain's ability to release heat through sweat while the kudzu prey overheats and dies ... and culminating in a call for a science-based climate policy funded on the scale of our current military endeavors (which I'm down for). If you can tie all this guy's ideas together in a central thesis that makes sense for you, your neurons will form many a new synapse.
July 25, 2011
This book can hardly be taken seriously, as Eberhart's rambling style and fascination with diets...is a strange (in a non-helpful way) tactic to present current energy and fuel dilemmas. If you've got free time on your hands, give it a quick read. If you're reading more informative and scholarly texts, don't bother with Feeding the Fire. ;)
June 27, 2009
Rambling pretense at erudition. What really is the point of this book? The link to its purported intent - understanding our energy needs - is totally lost on me, e.g. how does the physics definition of energy and calories help the reader appreciate energy consumption?
March 13, 2008
The science of carbon, energy and mankind's difficulty adjusting to new energy paradigms. Does not bode well for our likely future.
October 9, 2010
A very thoughtful, interesting view of the evolution of man and his use of energy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews