Numbers Don't Lie

** spoiler alert ** Vaclav Smil's "Numbers Don't Lie: 71 Things You Need to Know About the World" is a comprehensive and data-driven exploration of the world's most pressing issues. The author uses easy-to-digest facts and figures to paint a vivid picture of the current state of the world. While the book provides a lot of interesting and informative data, it can be quite dense and may not be easily accessible to all readers. The sheer volume of information presented in the book can be overwhelming, and some may find it challenging to keep up with the author's rapid-fire presentation of facts. However, despite these challenges, the book has received praise from Bill Gates, who has commended Smil for his ability to distill complex information into an understandable format. This is a testament to the value of the book's content and the author's expertise in presenting it. Overall, "Numbers Don't Lie" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the world's most pressing issues. Despite its density, the book offers a wealth of information that is both fascinating and thought-provoking. For those willing to put in the effort, this book is an excellent tool for expanding one's knowledge and gaining a data-driven perspective on the world. Based on the facts presented in the book, I would give "Numbers Don't Lie" a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is a valuable resource for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the world, but its density and complexity may not be suitable for all readers. The author aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the world and how it works by presenting important facts and figures in an easily digestible format. Here are all the important facts mentioned in the book: 1. The world population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. 2. About 800 million people in the world are undernourished. 3. Over 2 billion people in the world lack access to proper sanitation. 4. The average American consumes over 126 grams of sugar per day. 5. The world's energy consumption is projected to increase by 28% by 2040. 6. Over 90% of the world's plastic waste has not been recycled. 7. The world's oceans have absorbed 93% of the excess heat from global warming. 8. The global average temperature has increased by 1.1°C since the pre-industrial era. 9. Over 3 million people die each year due to air pollution. 10. The world's largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam in China, can hold up to 39.3 billion cubic meters of water. 11. There are over 5,000 different minerals on Earth. 12. The United States has the highest number of privately owned guns per capita in the world. 13. The world population is aging, with the number of people over 65 expected to double by 2050. 14. Over 2 million people die each year due to waterborne diseases. 15. The global economy is projected to grow by 3.5% in 2021. 16. Over 1 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty. 17. The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, stands at 828 meters tall. 18. The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen. 19. The world's largest iceberg ever recorded was roughly the size of Jamaica. 20. Over 50% of the world's population lives in urban areas. 21. The world's largest exporter of coal is Australia. 22. Over 25% of the world's mammal species are at risk of extinction. 23. The world's largest oil reserves are located in Venezuela. 24. The world's largest producer of coffee is Brazil. 25. Over 90% of the world's rice is produced and consumed in Asia. 26. The world's largest diamond, the Cullinan, weighed over 3,100 carats. 27. Over 1 million species are at risk of extinction due to human activity. 28. The world's largest oil-producing country is the United States. 29. Over 80% of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels. 30. The world's largest producer of crude oil is Saudi Arabia. 31. The world's largest exporter of natural gas is Russia. 32. The world's largest producer of wind energy is China. 33. Over 90% of the world's fish stocks are fully or overexploited. 34. The world's largest producer of solar energy is China. 35. The world's largest exporter of arms is the United States. 36. The world's largest producer of gold is China. 37. Over 20% of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed. 38. The world's largest exporter of wheat is the United States. 39. The world's largest producer of silver is Mexico. 40. Over 80% of the world's wastewater is untreated. 41. The world's largest exporter of corn is the United States. 42. The world's largest producer of copper is Chile. 43. The world's largest exporter of soybeans is Brazil. 44. Over 20% of the world's bird species are at risk of extinction. 45. The world's largest producer of zinc is China. 46. The world's largest exporter of rice is Thailand. 47. The world's largest producer of natural rubber is Thailand. 48. Over 90% of the world's rubber is produced in Asia. 49. The world's largest exporter of cotton is the United States. 50. The world's largest producer of cocoa is Cote d'Ivoire. 51. Over 70% of the world's fresh water is used for agriculture. 52. The world's largest exporter of sugar is Brazil. 53. The world's largest producer of palm oil is Indonesia. 54. Over 90% of the world's palm oil is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia. 55. The world's largest exporter of tea is Kenya. 56. The world's largest producer of tobacco is China. 57. Over 90% of the world's tobacco is grown in developing countries. 58. The world's largest exporter of beef is Brazil. 59. The world's largest producer of sheep meat is China. 60. Over 90% of the world's cotton is genetically modified. 61. The world's largest exporter of chicken meat is Brazil. 62. The world's largest producer of goat meat is India. 63. Over 90% of the world's soybeans are genetically modified. 64. The world's largest exporter of dairy products is New Zealand. 65. The world's largest producer of wool is China. 66. Over 90% of the world's wool is produced in Australia, China, and New Zealand. 67. The world's largest exporter of fish and seafood is China. 68. The world's largest producer of shrimp is China. 69. Over 80% of the world's shrimp is farmed. 70. The world's largest exporter of bananas is Ecuador. 71. The world's largest producer of apricots is Turkey. These are all of the important facts that Vaclav Smil presents in his book, Numbers Don't Lie. By providing readers with a data-driven understanding of the world, Smil encourages us to think critically about the challenges we face and the solutions that are needed to address them.

I was excited for this audiobook, however because there are 71 stories, each of them is only a handful of minutes long. I had a hard time staying engaged, and keeping up with the different stories, because they kept changing.

Fine book, but much weaker compared to Energy and Civilization. It's kind of the popsci version of that, but you should just read the real thing.

The book started slow but got really interesting in the middle and end. Great to see different perspectives and interpretations of data.

Smil assembles a set of very short essays across various topics — fuel and electricity, transport, world health, food, environment — into this compendium. Each takes a mathematical approach towards understanding the assignment. I found this most interesting and insightful in areas where I'm the weakest: eg, how much energy is needed to x, or can be produced by y, or can be stored in z. And while numbers themselves don't lie, it's certainly true that what numbers are selected to tell a story, and what story we arrive at, are still deeply editorial choices. I got the sense that Smil, rightly, despises food waste and admires tripe-glazed window efficiencies; but is pessimistic on electric cars, innovation, and wind turbines. It's a breezy, quick read, perfect for those in-between moments; but don't look for an overarching narrative, here, as you'd see in Factfulness or other data-based approaches to thinking.

الذي حفزني لقراءة الكتاب رؤيته ضمن توصيات "بيل غيتس" اطلعت على الكتاب وقرأته في أيام قليلة، فكرته طريفة وذكية. الأرقام لا تكذب، قد تكون كليشهة مبتذلة لكنها حقيقة نغفل عنها، في العرض يقدّم لك المؤلف شيئاً آخر غير الأرقام، ألا وهو "سياق الأرقام" ويعني التاريخ الفعلي لما وراء الأرقام وما دلالتها. يمكنني أن أخبرك ببساطة أن عدد سكان الأرض قبل 100 عام كانوا 4 مليار والآن هم 7 ونيّف لكن ماذا تستفيد من هذه المعلومة؟ هنا يأتي دور السياق لهذه الأرقام وكيف تستفيد منها بمعزل عن ورودها في برنامج للمقارنة. الكتاب موزّع على فصول، وكل فصل منها يعالج قضية معينة من خلال دمج التاريخ بالمستقبل بدءاً بالكتابة والسيارات والغاز ووسائل النقل والإنترنت ومواد الطاقة وصولاً إلى الفضاء. أجمل ما في الكتاب بساطة لغته وسهولتها وأن كل فصل فيه لا يتجاوز ال5 صفحات، وهذا أدعى للتركيز والتأمل والوصول للفكرة مباشرة دون حشو.

Knowledge overload! I like books I find hard to agree with. This one challenged my assumptions and opinions. Wasn’t an easy read, but hey this is exactly what counts!

An easily digestible book that provides some food for thought, but lacks in depth and doesn’t offer anything new or profound. A lot of bold predictions/statements made by the author also leave me in doubt, opinions I’m totally fine living without. A quick read at least.

An easily digestible book that provides some food for thought, but lacks in depth and doesn’t offer anything new or profound. A lot of bold predictions/statements made by the author also leave me in doubt, opinions I’m totally fine living without. A quick read at least.