Growth
From Microorganisms to Megacities
by Vaclav Smil, Eric Jason Martin · first published 2019
71% recommend29% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Surveys how similar growth patterns show up across microorganisms, cities, vegetation, machines and human life, with an informed, clear treatment; suits readers who want a rigorous, long-form view of growth dynamics.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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on “Bill Gates: 6 books to enjoy this winter” ↗Growth, by Vaclav Smil. It's not easy reading but it is rewarding.
on “Ask HN: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2019?” ↗For a 500 page version of this analysis with correspondingly more rigor (including an acknowledgment of S-curves), see Growth by Vaclav Smil. Although this is just a tiny, flawed snapshot of the argument, the conclusions are the same.
on “Death by hockey sticks” ↗in this case you should definitely read Vaclav Smil book Growth. It covers how similar growth patterns can be identified, from cities, vegetation, motors and human life. It is a long book, but recommended by none other than gates [1] [1] https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Growth
on “Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years” ↗Vaclav Smil, "Growth, From Microorganisms to Megacities" It's a fascinating subject, of great and current import, treated in an astonishingly informed and clear manner. It's hard to describe the refreshing feeling of being…
on “Ask HN: What Books Do You Recommend Reading for 2022?” ↗If you like this do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Vaclav Smil's "Growth - From Microorganisms to Megacities" https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/growth
on “Is growth linear, not exponential?” ↗You also have the club of rome that used system theory and arrive the conclusion that growth have phisical limits [1]. We can also see the work of Vaclav Smil [2] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Z6h-U4CmI&t=187s [2] https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Growth
on “Can We Have Prosperity Without Growth?” ↗…along with our increasing energy demands when we've already tapped the largest rivers? I am curious if you have sources that show hydro can grow. I recall reading this counter to hydro in a Smil book (Growth I believe) although I will have to double check which one.
on “Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?” ↗…fascinating talk by Václav Smil at the Driva Climate Investment Meeting in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkj_91IJVBk Bill Gates calls him "one of my favorite thinkers" and reviews his recent book "Growth": > Vaclav Smil ... reaches the ... conclusion: Earth is fragile and “before it is too late, we should embark in earnest on the most fundamental existential [task] of making any future growth compatible…
on “‘Green growth’ doesn’t exist – less of everything only way to avert catastrophe” ↗