When the Lights Went Out, by D. Nye

Author

Casey I. Canfield, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

David Nye's newest book, When the Lights Went Out, is an examination of how the role of blackouts in America has evolved from a minor inconvenience to a potential terrorist plot. He contends that blackouts are a "break in the flow of social time" that reveal fundamental truths about the socioeconomic climate and the role of electricity in our lives. However, his concluding chapter on voluntary "greenouts" feels half-hearted without a discussion of technology-focused initiatives such as smart grid to improve grid reliability and encourage efficiency.

Recommended Citation

C. I. Canfield, "When the Lights Went Out, by D. Nye," IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 7 - 8, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Jun 2013.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1109/MTS.2013.2259658

Department(s)

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Power system reliability; Social factors; Smart grids

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0278-0097; 1937-416X

Document Type

Review - Book

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2013