Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper: How Innovation Keeps Proving the Catastrophists Wrong

Bryce's premise is basically, "humans are smart - we'll figure it out, we always do". I agree and enjoyed Bryce's examples of human ingenuity, which he pulls from multiple industries. Bryce makes great points countering what he calls "catastrophists", showing in one example how the "end of oil" has been predicted over and over again for the last hundred years. You'll come away more at ease with the state of the world and a bit more optimistic. Overall I really enjoyed the book but Bryce, who is a self-proclaimed optimist, at times comes off pretty negative when talking about folks he disagrees with, President Obama and Amory Lovins in particular. It's unfortunate since Lovins is another optimist who embraces efficiency and many of the same ideas Bryce promotes. Definitely worth reading - I look forward to reading more of Bryce's books.

Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper is a fascinating examination of the process and progress of innovation. Author Robert Bryce has picked a wide range of examples, from cellphones and computer chips to steam engines and Tour de France bicycles, explaining how each of these became smaller, faster, lighter, denser or cheaper, and often all of the above. Bryce writes exceptionally well and is able to explain concepts that are quite complex in very readable, easily understandable prose.No concept is more crucial to his narrative that that of density, especially as applied to energy. Thin diffuse sources especially solar, wind and biofuels have become popular with politicians and the media, and are touted as the answers to all energy-related issues. Bryce shows that these energy fads are impractical largely because they all lack density and therefore need enormous spaces to replace even one coal-fired electric power plant. One can only hope that politicians read the book and move toward more effective energy policies as result.While Bryce shows that solar and wind cannot be the answer for the world's energy needs, he does not simply endorse the status quo. In fact, he sees the future of electric power as a shift from coal to natural gas in the near term and eventually from gas to nuclear power (or as he calls it, N2N). Bryce is a technological optimist and he is expecting advances in nuclear energy to make reactors smaller and above all, cheaper in the years ahead. Bryce makes the case for nuclear power effectively. Because nuclear power emits no carbon dioxide, he regards it as the only realistic option that would reduce any consequences from climate change while at the same time providing reliable electricity to people everywhere.So often books about technology are grim tales that foresee potential catastrophe and conflict. Not Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper. It is a fine book, with a positive message about technology and its potential to better the lives of everyone on Earth.

Mr. Bryce’s new effort, previous books include – Power Hungry, Gusher of Lies, and Pipe Dreams, amongst others, is concerned with “a celebration of the trend toward Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper. It’s also a rejoinder to the doomsayers, a rebuttal to the catastrophists who insist that disaster lurks just around the corner.” [Loc. 394]. The author does not wish to suggest there are not problems which need to faced and dealt with, some of these very serious, but the book argues that our future does not lie in our past. That is to say, the future does not lie in forsaking hydrocarbons but in the smarter use of these; the more effective use of these. Hence the title, “Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper.”A part of Robert Bryce’s answer lies in the belief, well founded belief, “we need to embrace the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that is continually making things Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper [Loc.408]. If there is a bias in this book it is towards a recognition rather than an ideology: “we must recognize the countless Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper technologies that have come before us as well as those that lie ahead” [Loc. 427].This book places a great deal of emphasis on energy and power systems. By looking into the past and then dealing with the present the author attempts to point the way to the future that is sustainable without having to forego technology and return to a hunter-gather state.The book is profoundly hostile to Luddites and left-leaning environmentalists. There are also several occasions where Mr. Bryce lambasts the Obama presidency. To be honest, the book would have been stronger without the partisanship. Also, the book firmly falls into the camp of small government but is in no way connected with the idiocies of the Tea Party, or the demented state of the American Congress—they also come in for some contemptuous criticism.Mr. Bryce breaks his argument down into four parts:1. The push for innovation, its consequences, and an analysis of the neo-malthusian de-growth agenda of the left wing environmentalists.2. This part of the argument is largely historical – dealing with where we have been and how the innovations of the past have helped us. Robert Bryce also examines where we are going and the companies leading the way.3. Smaller examines the need for cheaper energy and how market demand has been pushing innovation forward which has led to Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper.4. Part four looks at how and why we must embrace not a de-growth strategy but a smaller faster future…the more intelligent use of hydrocarbons that will reduce carbon emissions. As the author argues, “we must move past fear of technology to an understanding that technology isn’t the problem; it’s the solution” [Loc. 4800].The fundamental argument of the book is that the solution to our problems is not in renouncing technology but in making is more efficient and thereby greener – two energy sources Bryce believes have merit is Natural Gas and Nuclear Power…rather than renewables, solar, and wind.It is a very interesting book and worth the time of everyone interested in the future.5 out of 5 stars.

A must read for everyone who is stymied by premonitions of global warming. While Robert is not technically a scientist and most of his arguments are jaded, though he tries has to masquerade them as clever stats, I am still going with a 5star for the effort he took to be a contrarian in the world of global warming experts. The world energy problems can only be solved by continuing to burn fossil fuels. Most of other technologies ( except Solar) are mere blip in the energy needs of a country and developing nations shouldn't be buying on to this logic atleast for another 50 years.

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