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.