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How the World Really Works

by Vaclav Smil · 2022

Vaclav Smil's systems-level account of energy, food, materials, globalization, risk, and the physical foundations of modern life.

Recommended by 1 person

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Vaclav Smil · Energy scholar

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Who recommends it

1 person has recommended How the World Really Works. Each entry links to the source.

Bill GatesCo-founder, Microsoft; philanthropist

Gates included How the World Really Works in his 2022 summer reading list.

Recommended · Wording not verified Source: Gates Notes

Evidence details

5 books I loved reading this year

Gates included How the World Really Works in his 2022 summer reading list.

This text documents what the source says, but it is not verified as a word-for-word quote.

Gates Notes · 2022 · accessed 2026-06-22

Article · Gates Notes reading list

The first-party Gates Notes page presents these titles as Bill Gates books for summer reading in 2022; the catalog text is a summary rather than a verbatim quote.

About the author

What the author has done, shown separately from who recommends the book.

Vaclav SmilEnergy scholar

Scholar of energy, environment, food, and technical change.

How the World Really Works

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