Jolly good reads

Climate Change - a brief introduction for scientists and engineers or anyone else who has to do something about it By David S Jenkinson FRS. Available for free download from www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk. A thorough but commendably concise explanation of the science of climate change, written for people with scientific and technical backgrounds who need something a bit meatier than some of the popular titles.
The Efficient Use of Steam by Oliver Lyle, HMSO, 1947 Oliver Lyle was managing director of a London sugar refinery but also a highly competent works engineer. After the Second World War, Britain was caught between fuel shortages and economic growth, and Lyle, who had served on wartime committees for the Ministry of Fuel and Power, was commissioned to write the bible of industrial energy efficiency - which in those days meant efficient use of steam. It mixes anecdote with theory and practical advice in a way which makes the subject very approachable. It inspired me in my career as an energy engineer and writer on the subject. Two favourite bits for me: one where he is challenging received wisdom on the operation of boiling pans, and decides to prove his point by running the entire plant differently over a whole weekend; and the other where he is suspicious of some meter readings he is trying to analyse, and rather tetchily complains that the staff must have been 'too busy clearing up bomb damage to bother taking proper readings'.
Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few, O'Reilly, 2006 ISBN 978 0 596 10016 2 An important book if you want to improve your ability to convey operational information effectively. It draws heavily on the classic 'The Visual Display of Quantitative Information' by Edward R Tufte, stressing the virtues of simplicity and clarity. The main theses are that one is often more interested in anomalies and exceptions than in absolute quantities, and secondly that every drop of ink in a diagram should if possible be used to convey information. There are striking examples of how much can be removed from charts and graphs without losing effectiveness, and a very effective critique of pie charts (which Few hates with a passion; indeed he is no fan of any circular graph format). I found it very surprising how often colour can prove to be superfluous and how much easier we can make the reader's life by using designs which allow the text to lie horizontally. Vertical text was fine when we were reading charts on bits of paper, which we can rotate readily; on a computer screen it obliges us to crick our necks.
Yes! 50 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion by Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, Robert B. Cialdini, Profile Books 2007 ISBN 978 1 84668 016 8 I have always been interested in motivation and awareness-raising and from time to time have been involved in projects relating to the human-factors side of energy management. It's also relevant to me now when selling my services or working in committees. So when this title came up as a suggestion on my audio book subscription, I jumped at it (was it the title?). I sat down to listen; seven hours and six pages of a notebook later I ordered a paperback edition (very cheaply, eBay the way). If you need to motivate people and win them over, read this book at least once, with a good supply of post-it notes to hand.
The Tiger That Isn't by Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot, Profile Books 2007 ISBN 978 1 84668 111 0 This book is about published statistics in general, so it’s not an essential read for the energy manager, but it includes some fascinating insights. The passage on the ignorance of people in high places is amusing but shocking, and the authors remind us how useless league tables can be, and give examples of how people ‘game’ the system to achieve targets. Some of the loonies who create government policy and schemes ought to read this and take it in; but they won't.
Sustainable energy without the hot air by David MacKay. 2008 Download free from withouthotair.com. If you appreciate facts and want dispassionate analysis of the realities of renewable energy (“emissions of twaddle are high at the moment” to quote his preface), you will enjoy this comprehensive and thoroughly-researched book; and if you need ammunition to dispel myths or to counter excuses for inaction on energy saving, it is a must-have, rich in supporting notes and references. Personally I’m more into reducing consumption than substituting alternative supplies, but I started with the free download edition, was immediately captivated, and ended up buying the print version. Totally brilliant.