Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity's Unappeasable Appetite For Energy Paperback – Illustrated, August 15, 2007

This book is fun to read and As I said in the title fascinating and well cited. For the first part it is informative and the second part is reassuring. This book is a good recommendation at 2022 prices under 30 dollars. Cannot recommend enough.

(This review written by Eli Furuness) I thought this was an excellent book that provided an excellent description of the effects of the invention of the steam engine on the trade networks both in England and around the globe. For example, the invention of the steam engine lead to increased mining capabilities, and the development of the steam boat. Alfred does a great job of providing enough details to explain the events surrounding the industrial revolutions without getting bogged down. The book is well written and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about technological advancements in the field of energy throughout human history.Children of the Sun is also a helpful resource for learning of the interactions between humans and the environment through the use of technology. The second portion of the book is especially helpful in revealing the interactions through the Newcomen engine. The newcomen engine was the first steam engine, and it was used primarily for mining, showing that the development of the steam engine increased the amount of mining activity. This also impacted trade, as more metals and mined items were available as surplus, and the steam engine was also used to increase the speed of boats.

Some of us have read Alfred Crosby’s earlier books The Columbian Exchange and Measure of Reality, these fit with Children of the Sun and its story of our use of energy.The European explorers great success in the Americas 500 years ago as explained in the Columbian exchange was exporting deadly germs that decimated American native’s and importing life supporting potatoes and corn. An example of some Children of the Sun getting ahead exploiting opportunities created by germs and plants. Crosby discusses an easily overlooked energy accomplishment, cooking. We are so accustomed to cooking it takes a Crosby to remind us how cooking dwarfs more recent energy accomplishments our cousins, apes and monkeys lack fire, can’t cook and so need huge guts and enormous teeth to chew and digest what we cook. Crosby surprised me by mentioning as an energy accomplishment our long time partnership with dogs. Dogs guard at night allowing us to rest and they also help hunt. Crosby allows that they, like our horses, chose us as much as we them. Not all animals are like this – think of Hyenas and Rhinos. Horses help plow (with our harnesses) and carry.After discussing agriculture as energy harvesting as well as early work with water wheels and windmills, Crosby moves to mechanization and England. England’s coal and her culture were suitable for industrialization. A landscape as perfect for the appearance of the steam engine as had been the Indus valley with its climate, water and grain for civilization and settlements thousands of years earlier. Savery, Newcommon and Watt were all English. These creators of engines were rooted in coal and trellised on already busy machine shops that could build valves and tight fitting pistons. If agriculture needs sun, soil, and water the stream engine needed coal, machine shops, tinkerers, and adventures backed by capital. The exact ingredients for “progress” will be disputed. Some say “never again” while most wish to sustain these conditions. Crosby goes on to discuss achievements of modernity which may be confused with science. What are we to make of oil, coal nuclear fission? What are the prospects for fusion? Are we happy to have the A-bomb, the H-bomb? Certainly we are delighted with electricity. Children of the Sun in 2002 could hardly have predicted what would soon follow, one of man’s greatest accomplishments the inexpensive PV panel. These may as well transform mere dreams into solid gold as they silently, and motionlessly transform sunlight to electricity.I anticipated Crosby examining energy retreats as well as advances, but in vain. We may have to wait another generation for this discussion. Why do we “Children of the Sun” give up traditional simple good uses of the sun as fast as we develop new? Why take down the superior clothesline and ask our tired, overworked electric help to do what a clothes line does better? Why leave electric lights on in the day? Perhaps we are not Children of the Sun but have a different heritage involving electricity. These questions, which Crosby doesn’t consider, can be anticipated by noticing Crosby is a carrier not an explainer of this solar betrayal. In Measure of Reality Crosby’s study of modern technologies roots 1250-1600 he dwells on the mechanical clock forgetting sundials as blithely as a contemporary who forgets to turn the lights off.

Does what it says

Got this and MANY books for my high school son for required reading list for AP exams...he really enjoyed it!

This book is interesting and funny. I needed it for a class I'm taking and it was very interesting to read.

A great introduction to the history of energy consumption.

Didn't like it.