How the World Really Works

Scientist Vaclav Smil sets out seven basic realities on which human survival and prosperity depend, arguing that problems cannot be tackled well until the facts behind them are understood. The book covers energy and food production, the material world, globalization, risk, and the environment and its future. Among his conclusions are that globalization is not inevitable and that societies have grown steadily more dependent on fossil fuels, which makes eliminating them quickly and completely unlikely. Smil also confronts what he treats as misinformation from writers such as Noam Chomsky and Yuval Noah Harari. He ultimately takes up one question: whether humanity is doomed or headed for a brighter utopia.

Bill Gates, picking it for his 2022 summer list, called it another standout from one of his favorite authors.