Power Trip: The Story of Energy

An excerpt from 'Globalization.' U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and others on the 1970s energy crisis.

An excerpt from 'Globalization.' Energy is critical to the Port of Los Angeles.

Learn how energy enabled rapid globalization, both as both a widely traded product and as a facilitator for moving goods globally. In the ancient world, globalization was always a goal, but modern forms of energy provided the missing link.

An excerpt from 'Culture.' The energy implications of owning vinyl vs. streaming music.

An excerpt from 'Culture.' Do we owe our enjoyment of art and antiquities to oil fortunes?

An excerpt from 'Culture.' Oil changed the way we moved about -- and the products teenagers wanted.

Culture and modern energy go hand in hand. Our fashion, music and art all have been impacted by modern energy. Wealthy industrialists with fortunes made from energy funded much of modern culture, using energy systems to spread culture across the globe.

An excerpt from 'Entertainment.' As fans flock to football stadiums, energy is consumed. How much?

Entertainment both shapes and reflects our attitudes about energy. Modern energy enabled mass entertainment like popular music, movies, TV shows and video games, which impacted our society. Energy changed sports with climate control and modern lighting, and amusement parks help familiarize customers with energy breakthroughs.

An excerpt from 'Work.' Do energy transitions have a negative impact on workers?

Modern energy transformed work over time. From farm to factory to office and the “work from home” revolution, energy is embedded in our systems of employment. What is the future of energy and work?

From oil spills and coal mine explosions to dam failures and nuclear meltdowns, we can learn much from disasters related to energy. At the same time, energy is the key to solving natural disasters and the looming disaster of climate change. In what ways does energy make our lives safer or more dangerous?