List of figures ............................................... ix
List of tables ................................................ xi
Preface ..................................................... xiii
PART I
The big picture ................................................ 1
1 The agrarian and industrial transformations ................. 3
2 Is the Malthusian trap imminent? Are other problems
more worrisome? ........................................... 16
3 Energy and electricity flow in an industrial society ...... 33
4 Energy, electricity, and quality of life .................. 46
PART II
Energy sources and consumption: using more, and more,
and more .... ................................................. 57
5 Primary fossil fuels ....................................... 59
6 Non-carbon sources of energy ............................... 79
7 Was growth of energy and electricity usage in
industrial nations due more to population growth or to
other causes? ............................................ 102
PART III
Electric power .............................................. 115
8 Power grids .............................................. 117
9 America's three grids ..................................... 129
PART IV
Energy controversies ......................................... 143
10 Rationality, pro and con .................................. 145
11 The dynamics of technical controversy ..................... 155
12 People respond to news coverage ........................... 166
PART V
Progress and regress ......................................... 185
13 Attempted solutions ....................................... 187
14 What next? ................................................ 206
Appendix I Chemistry of air pollution ........................ 211
References ................................................... 215
Index ........................................................ 223
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