Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization (Inglés) Tapa blanda – 16 dic 2013

Tons of statistics brilliantly compiled and discussed. The information/page rate is out of normal. You end up entertaining yourself learning how civilization has been using materials. Amusing that this book is a good example of efficient use of words/numbers.

Excellent. There are not other words for describing it. The author is not an allarmist nor a nihilist, and surely tries to keep a balanced view, but what he describes in the book should be a matter of concern of all of us.

Textbooky but interesting!

I gave 5 stars because Smil is extraordinarily meticulous and thorough with research. A mass of data is presented to supplement rational and important arguments and discussion.

Vaclav Smil’s book is a fascinating and thorough analysis, on how the use of materials in our civilization has evolved from prehistoric times to the 21st century. The main argument is revealing: We, the collective humanity, have seen a relative dematerialization (less raw material per device) and declining energy intensity (energy expended per unit mass) driven by gradual improvements, substitutions, intensified recycling, and introduction of entirely new devices. On the other hand, the growing populations and improving quality of life have translated into a steadily rising demand for most traditional materials and greatly expanded production of new materials. Smil’s conclusion is that in all cases there has been no dematerialization in absolute terms at any national or the global level.

Smil displays a polymath’s knowledge of technology, economics, history, and policy. Be warned: The book is filled with data, and must be read thoroughly. Expect a whirlwind of units for mass, power, and energy. The data are not always presented attractively: Often they are recited in the text, making dense reading. Arrangements in graphs or tables would make a mush easier way to absorb the massive amount of information presented and interpreted.

Starting with the use of all materials over the course of human history, Smil concentrates on the prevalent materials of our material culture: Metals (steel, aluminum), biomass (timber, paper), plastics, glass and cement, fertilizers, industrial gases, and semiconductors (silicon.)

I found reading this book an exhilarating experience: I literally could not put it down, and I heavily annotated my copy. The arguments were compelling and well substantiated. My main criticism has to do with not bringing into the picture the technical capabilities of modern composites and catalysts, and with the apparent lack of the materials selection ideas presented by Mike Ashby and his colleagues at Cambridge in the last twenty years.

I would also identify a full absence of discussing sustainability, especially as driven by the possibility of global climate change. Clearly absolute dematerialization and global climate change have little to do with relative dematerialization, given the fact we all live in a finite world enclosed by a finite atmosphere. Relative dematerilization may be good for national policy but not so for global issues facing our collective humanity.