History through the lens of energy: a bibliography

Some years back I was asked if there were any books addressing history through the perspective of energy. And so I discovered Vaclav Smil’s excellent Energy in World History, delivering just that, updated two years ago under a new title. The catalogue’s expanded, and following a discussion with Emmanuel Florac (lost with Joindiaspora's demise), I’m expanding my list.

Emmanuel adds Auzenneau. I’ve read Weissenbacher and known of Rodes, and have both Smil’s books. The others are new to me.

Searching Worldcat for books on history and energy:

• Matthieu Auzanneau, Oil, Power, and War: a dark history. Chelsea Green Publishing Co., (2020). https://www.worldcat.org/title/oil-power-and-war-a-dark-history/oclc/1124590359

• Vaclav Smil, Energy in World History. Routledge (1994) https://www.worldcat.org/title/energy-in-world-history/oclc/1124490716

• Vaclav Smil, Energy and civilization : a history. Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, (2018) https://www.worldcat.org/title/energy-and-civilization-a-history/oclc/1134666593

• Manfred Weissenbacher, Sources of Power : How energy forges human history (2 vols). Praeger, (2009). https://www.worldcat.org/title/sources-of-power-how-energy-forges-human-history/oclc/1131512551

• Richard Rhodes, Energy : a human history. Simon & Schuster (2019) https://www.worldcat.org/title/energy-a-human-history/oclc/1134660012

• Economic history of energy and environment. Springer (2016). https://www.worldcat.org/title/economic-history-of-energy-and-environment/oclc/980482798

• Anthony N Penna, A History of Energy Flows : From human labor to renewable power. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, (2020). https://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-energy-flows-from-human-labor-to-renewable-power/oclc/1119745736

• Cutler J Cleveland, Concise Encyclopedia of History of Energy. Elsevier, (2009) https://www.worldcat.org/title/concise-encyclopedia-of-history-of-energy/oclc/520656249

• Joseph A Pratt, Energy Capitals : Local Impact, Global Influence. University of Pittsburgh Press, (2014). https://www.worldcat.org/title/energy-capitals-local-impact-global-influence/oclc/878918855

(Adapted from https://diaspora.glasswings.com/posts/ee8c190017d501391a81002590d8e506)

#energy #history #EnergyInHistory #VaclavSmil #MatthieuAuzanneau #RichardRhodes #ManfredWeissenbacher #AnthonyNPenna #CutlerJCleveland #JosephAPratt #books #bibliography