Vaclav Smil is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read nearly all of his 37 books. This is an excellent overview of how Smil has helped shape how people (myself included) think about energy. b-gat.es/2GBQjWx
Smil is absolutely right that the transition to clean energy will not happen overnight. Here is a chart showing that energy transitions can take many decades. 
But I am more optimistic than he is. I think innovation—and the urgency brought on by climate change—will speed up the process when it comes to clean energy.
What we need is increased government and private sector support. Creating a zero-carbon future will take time, which is all the more reason to get started now.
