'There is no author whose books I look forward to more' Bill Gates The New York Times
bestselling author returns with a mind-opening exploration of how size defines life on Earth.
Explaining the key processes shaping size in nature society and technology Smil busts myths
around proportions - from bodies to paintings and the so-called golden ratio - tells us what
Jonathan Swift got wrong in Gulliver's Travels - the giant Brobdingnagian's legs would buckle
under their enormous weight - and dives headfirst into the most contentious issue in
ergonomics: the size of aeroplane seats. It is no exaggeration to say this fascinating and
wide-ranging tour de force will change the way you look at absolutely everything. 'Vaclav
Smil is a phenomenon with an appetite for facts over prejudice and fashion. Essential reading
for anyone who cares about the future' Lord Norman Foster
