Inside the Spiral: The Passions of Robert Smithson

Abstract

and provide larger space for compassion. Thus, instead of waiting for the next Godot-like technological leap to solve its worries, humanity needs to move into a more realistic perspective of what is sustainable and what is not in terms of technological expectations, as Smil suggests in Chapter 5, devoted to “Techno-optimism, Exaggerations, and Realistic Expectations.” Smil reminds readers of the costs and consumption involved with the society we live in (e.g. 370 million tons of plastic per year, 150 million tons of ammonia, 1.8 billion tons of steel, and 4.5 billion tons of cement). One certainty is unshakable for the author: To tackle any problem efficiently, we need to know the facts and start with data accompanied by the exploration of their underlining principles and the macro-systems within which they emerge. Such exploration could move us to be either surprised, indignant, or confident, but the need remains to be continuously and timely informed and aware. This book is an educative overview of the overpromises that too frequently accompany claims about technology, from new cures for diseases to AI, about which the author is definitely impatient: