Speed: How It Explains the World by Smil, Vaclav
Speed: How It Explains the World by Smil, Vaclav

Speed: How It Explains the World

A data-driven, scientific account of our need for speed--exploring a wide range of topics including evolution, transportation,...
$24.00 USD
$24.00 USD
Please hurry! Only 351 left in stock
Author: Vaclav Smil
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Subtotal: $24.00
Speed: How It Explains the World by Smil, Vaclav

Speed: How It Explains the World

$24.00
Speed: How It Explains the World by Smil, Vaclav

Speed: How It Explains the World

$24.00
Author: Vaclav Smil
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Description
A data-driven, scientific account of our need for speed--exploring a wide range of topics including evolution, transportation, and technology

In a world obsessed with efficiency, perhaps nothing is valued as highly as being fast. Some of our greatest achievements include building planes that break the sound barrier and creating computers that process data at the touch of a button. With signature clarity, Smil offers accessible explanations of every major speed category, from wind erosion to hunting cheetahs, from Boeing 747s to America's war time industrial mobilization to the speed of global energy decarbonization.

But as Smil argues in this paradigm-shifting book, speed isn't just a metric to optimize. In Speed, Smil expands on our traditional, human-centric understanding of speed to explore phenomena of space and time, evolution, and human achievement. What was the speed of planet formation? Of the development of different life forms? What happened in the collision of humans and the limits of natural speed, and what has emerged from our incessant desire to push those boundaries?

Lauded for his"compelling, fascinating, realistic" (Steven Pinker) portraits of the modern world, Smil knows that we can't, won't, and shouldn't abandon our collective need for speed. But as good devotees of speed's eminence, we must understand it, its value, and its cost. Rich in historical and contemporary data, the latest work by Smil is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary guidebook for science readers living in the fast lane.

Author: Vaclav Smil
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.64lbs
Size: 8.25h x 5.55w x 0.81d
ISBN: 9780593834541


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 118
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 05/11/2026
Booklist 06/01/2026

About the Author
Vaclav Smil is distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba. He is the author of How to Feed the World, Numbers Don't Lie, Size, and the New York Times bestselling How the World Really Works, as well as over forty books on topics including energy, environmental and population change, food production and nutrition, technical innovation, risk assessment, and public policy. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada.
Shipping & Return

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Review