This is breezy sketch of the electricity grid. It felt like the author didn't want to scare anyone with a difficult topic so instead he attempted a poetic angle. I suppose I must have learned a few things... okay, I have a MS in physics and a maybe 23 year career in electrical engineering.. but only a couple years in power engineering. So reading this book for me was an attempt to broaden my perspective. Which I did do, but this book was not really very effective for me.

An example of limping poetry... at the end, Schewe has this extended sort of parallel discussion of Allis and Apollo, two huge machines. The Apollo Saturn V rocket and the "Big Allis" Allis-Chalmers steam turbine in Queens, NY. It's a reasonable parallel but anyway for me the poetic approach didn't add to the illumination.

The electric grid really is a remarkable and profound ... what? Institution? Structure? It is so pervasive and so multifaceted and so intricate. If you don't know enough about the power grid to be amazed when you reflect on it, this would probably be a good book for you to read. If you know enough to be amazed, this book doesn't really dig in enough to deepen your reflections. ( )

Interesting topic and good focus. Related to adoption of current technologies, energy costs, and energy markets. Some extended analogies did not work well for me. ( )

History, science, and culture for the layman. Beautifully written, should be required reading in all schools and colleges. Brilliant! There are endless lessons here no matter your interests. ( )