Speed

Vaclav Smil

Explore how speed influences every aspect of life on Earth, from the slow grind of geological processes and the fleeting lifespans of organisms to the astonishing speed of light and the remarkable adaptations of creatures like the swift antelope and the soaring albatross. In this ambitious and wide-ranging ideas book, Vaclav Smil uncovers the intricate connections between speed, nature, and human innovation.With counterintuitive insights, such as how erosion actually accelerates mountain growth, Smil challenges long-held myths. For example, Smil debunks the notion that our modern lives are accelerating at an unprecedented pace: the rapid adoption of mobile phones - from 0% in 1983 to 90% in 2002 (19 years) - is like the spread of earlier technologies such as radio (22 years), colour television (24 years) and even microwave ovens (17 years).

Author(s): Smil, Vaclav
Binding: Paperback
Date of Publication: 27/11/2025
Pagination: 352 pages
Series: N/A
Imprint: Viking
Published By: Viking
Book Classification: Popular science|Mathematical modelling|Scientific standards, measurement etc|History: specific events & topics|Probability & statistics
Dimensions: 233x153x27
Weight: 446
ISBN13\EAN\SKU: 9780241754542