Power to the People: Energy in Europe Over the Last Five Centuries

"Power to the People is a work of impressive scholarship, offering extensive and detailed quantitative information--much of which is new or not widely available--with readable explanations of the technical innovations that drove economic performance. It shows how energy use has long been central to Europe's economic growth, but that its role has been neither simple nor uniform."--William M. Cavert, University of Cambridge

"Power to the People is a meaningful contribution to our knowledge of the economic consequences of changes in energy and its use. The book provides a thoughtful and interesting historical approach to a timely question--can we continue to achieve economic growth and high living standards, particularly in poorer or developing countries, while decreasing energy use to reduce environmental impacts?"--Lynne Kiesling, Northwestern University