--- product_id: 41278541 title: "Energy: A Beginner's Guide" price: "NZ$28" currency: NZD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/41278541-energy-a-beginners-guide store_origin: NZ region: New Zealand --- # Energy: A Beginner's Guide **Price:** NZ$28 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Energy: A Beginner's Guide - **How much does it cost?** NZ$28 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nz](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/41278541-energy-a-beginners-guide) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description With one famous equation, E=mc2, Einstein proved all matter can be described as energy. It is everywhere and it is everything. In this newly updated and engaging introduction, renowned scientist Vaclav Smil explores energy in all its facets – from the inner workings of the human body to what we eat, the car we drive and the race for more efficient and eco-friendly fuels. Energy: A Beginner's Guide highlights the importance of energy in both past and present societies, by shedding light on the science behind global warming and efforts to prevent it, and by revealing how our daily decisions affect energy consumption. Whether you're looking for dinner table conversation or to further your own understanding, this book will amaze and inform, uncovering the truths and exposing the myths behind one of the most important concepts in our universe. Review: Great book, I was left wanting more. - Very informative book. However I'm left wondering the actual energy cost to build and maintain and strategies to dispose of all these alternative resources. I am always looking for more information on that. I felt the book touches it but does not supply a satisfactory answer. That makes me more curious to find out more. I have read many of his books and they are all substantial and well substantiated, and complementary in many aspects. I trust Vaclav immensely and hope he can delve more into those aspects on one of his new books. Review: Good overview - The writing was straight forward and the historical overview of energy sources was interesting. The evaluation of future energy sources is limited to current knowledge as it only can be. However what was not addressed was the impact on demand for natural resources required by developing technologies. Such as, the quantities of steel, concrete, copper, rare earths, lithium and others. I believe limits on key natural resources will be the limiting factor on any of the developing energy technologies. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #538,797 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #32 in Oil & Energy Industry (Books) #310 in Natural Resources (Books) #421 in Environmental Economics (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 952 Reviews | ## Images ![Energy: A Beginner's Guide - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YJWAeCCrL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book, I was left wanting more. *by A***R on February 3, 2023* Very informative book. However I'm left wondering the actual energy cost to build and maintain and strategies to dispose of all these alternative resources. I am always looking for more information on that. I felt the book touches it but does not supply a satisfactory answer. That makes me more curious to find out more. I have read many of his books and they are all substantial and well substantiated, and complementary in many aspects. I trust Vaclav immensely and hope he can delve more into those aspects on one of his new books. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good overview *by A***R on February 3, 2023* The writing was straight forward and the historical overview of energy sources was interesting. The evaluation of future energy sources is limited to current knowledge as it only can be. However what was not addressed was the impact on demand for natural resources required by developing technologies. Such as, the quantities of steel, concrete, copper, rare earths, lithium and others. I believe limits on key natural resources will be the limiting factor on any of the developing energy technologies. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good primer - plenty of details. *by D***R on February 26, 2019* I picked up Vaclav Smil's Energy because I wanted to better understand mankind's current use of energy, and to develop a better perspective on how I personally consume energy. The book was perfect for both of these purposes. At ~200 pages, I figured the book would provide a quick survey of many topics at a high level, and wouldn't read like a science textbook. This is true, but someone looking for an overview should know that this book is packed with detailed explanations of the topics that are covered. As a non-scientist, this book increased my knowledge and certainly shed light on the applications to modern life that I was looking for. I highly recommend this book. ## Frequently Bought Together - Energy: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides) - Energy and Civilization: A History (Mit Press) - Oil: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.nz/products/41278541-energy-a-beginners-guide](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/41278541-energy-a-beginners-guide) --- *Product available on Desertcart New Zealand* *Store origin: NZ* *Last updated: 2026-05-27*