Get this important book. Buy it or get it free on the internet at www.withouthotair.com and you are free to use all the material except for the cartoons and those photographs with a named photographer. Why bother? Agriculture is energy-dependent. Much has been written about renewable energy resources and most countries are beginning to embark on policies to address anthropogenic climate change and reap the benefits of sustainable energy. At long last, we have an authoritative, crisply written book that forensically and quantitatively analyses energy production systems of all kinds and energy usage. Myths and unfounded claims are debunked mercilessly. Even though it has a strong UK bias, the data can be readily transposed to address policy choices for any country or trading bloc.

The contents comprise four parts: Numbers, not adjectives (18 chapters including Food and farming); Making a difference (14 chapters); Technical chapters (8 in all); and Useful data. The book is replete with coloured illustrations, pithy – sometimes witty – statements, real data and calculations. A list of web links, an excellent bibliography, a power translation chart, and a carbon translation chart complement the text.

Energy consumption by transport, heating and cooling, lighting, information systems and other gadgets, food, and manufacturing is set alongside actual and potential wind, solar (including biomass), hydroelectric, wave, tide, geothermal and nuclear sustainable-energy production systems. It is the best text book I have read in years.