Vaclav Smil & Jeremy Rifkin 2 Books Collection Set - Non Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set
How the World Really Works
The Green New Deal

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books, St. Martin's Griffin

Overview
This two-book nonfiction paperback set pairs two sharp thinkers on energy and the planet's future. Vaclav Smil's How the World Really Works explains the physical realities of energy, food, and materials that keep modern life running. Jeremy Rifkin's The Green New Deal lays out a roadmap for moving off fossil fuels before the industry collapses under its own weight. Together, the titles offer a data-grounded view of where we stand and a bold policy vision for where we could go.

About the Books
How the World Really Works, by Vaclav Smil, is a data-driven tour of the systems that quietly power civilization: energy production, food and fertilizer, materials like steel, cement, and plastics, and the supply chains that move them. Smil, a scientist known for grounding big claims in hard numbers, shows why decarbonizing the global economy is far more complicated than swapping one energy source for another. He examines fossil fuel dependence in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, explaining why realistic timelines look different from optimistic headlines. The book became an instant New York Times bestseller, widely cited for its fact-first approach to energy and climate debates. The Green New Deal, by Jeremy Rifkin, shifts from diagnosis to prescription. Rifkin argues fossil fuel-based industrial civilization is nearing structural collapse, laying out a plan for a rapid shift to renewable energy and smart infrastructure. Drawing on decades advising governments and the European Union on climate strategy, he connects energy, communication, and mobility infrastructure, arguing the transition can create jobs and rebuild communities left behind by deindustrialization. Read together, Smil's grounded realism and Rifkin's ambitious blueprint create a useful back-and-forth: one explains the hard physical constraints on change, the other proposes how to work within them.

Key Benefits

• Pairs data-driven science with a policy-forward roadmap on energy and climate
• Includes an instant New York Times bestseller: Vaclav Smil's How the World Really Works
• Written by two of the most cited voices in energy and sustainability discourse
• Great for students, professionals, and policy-minded readers wanting credible analysis
• Brand new paperback set, ready for gifting, book clubs, or classroom libraries
• Covers both the facts of energy systems and a practical plan for change

Book-by-Book Guide
How the World Really Works — Vaclav Smil explains the physical realities of energy, food, and materials that keep the modern economy running.
The Green New Deal — Jeremy Rifkin outlines a practical plan for shifting off fossil fuels and rebuilding infrastructure around renewable energy.

About the Authors
Vaclav Smil is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba and one of the world's leading interdisciplinary scientists on energy and environmental change. He has written more than 40 books, and his work is regularly cited by policymakers, scientists, and business leaders, including Bill Gates. Jeremy Rifkin is an economic and social theorist who has advised the European Union and multiple heads of state on climate strategy and the shift to renewable energy. He is the author of numerous bestselling books on economics and the environment and advises on long-term sustainability planning.

Why You'll Love This Collection
Perfect for policy wonks, students, and curious readers alike, this pairing delivers hard facts and a bold plan side by side. A thoughtful gift for graduations, birthdays, or the eco-conscious reader on your list, it also makes a smart addition to any classroom library or book club focused on climate, energy, and economics.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.