Energy - A Journey Through Energy, Power and the Engine of the Universe - The Alphabets of Science, #5

In Energy, Hugo Wells continues his lifelong mission to bring concise, accessible science to the general public, illuminating the invisible force that powers everything from the beating of a heart to the orbit of a planet. This fifth volume in The Alphabets of Science series explores energy in all its forms—kinetic, potential, thermal, chemical, electrical, nuclear, and radiant—showing how they transform and flow through the universe, life, and civilization.

Wells begins with the fundamental question: What is energy? From the Big Bang to the rise of human technology, he traces the story of energy as the driver of cosmic evolution and human progress. Readers journey through the laws of thermodynamics, the paradox of entropy, and the biology of metabolism, discovering how energy sustains ecosystems and fuels every cell. The book explains electricity as the lifeblood of modern society, the sun as the ultimate source of life, and the promise of renewable energy as humanity confronts climate change.

Written with clarity and narrative flair, Energy blends physics, biology, and history into a compelling account of how energy shapes our world. Wells avoids heavy mathematics, focusing instead on vivid examples and human stories—from fire and fossil fuels to nuclear power and solar innovation.