Energy and Society: An Introduction by Harold H. Schobert is not a book for those who are looking
for something new in the field of power and energy. The book does not present any new earth-
shattering facts, nor will it provide the reader the answers to the future energy questions posed by
society. However, the text does an excellent job of presenting little-known facts and information
about the development of power and energy, historical events that inspired these new power-and
energy-related developments, how socicty viewed these innovations, why some advances were
accepted while others were rejeeted, and how people learned to develop new energy sources when
the need arose.
Schobert presents many obscure but interesting facts when he explains that many times it was not
the inventor who became known for the invention, but the person who improved or perfected the
innovation. A prime example of this notion was the automobile. Henry Ford did not come up with
the idea of` a horseless carriage. nor was he the first person to develop a working model. What he
did do was develop a reliable vehicle that everyone could afford to purchase
Schobert does an excellent job of putting these types of facts into perspective with attention-
grabbing examples and stories. He provides these interesting examples at the beginning of the book,
which sets the tone for the rest of the book and makes readers want to read this work. For those
inquiring minds, Schobert adds a list of further readings where the reader can locate more detailed
intormation about the topies discussed in each chapter.