Today, unless they have been camping in the wilderness or backpacking in a “third world” country, people in Western countries take electricity for granted. It has become ubiquitous in our modern world and we have come to depend on it--indeed, some individuals with particular medical conditions could not remain alive without it. Williams looks at how the use of electricity has developed over the last century and the areas of our daily lives that have been impacted by its growth.

Each of the 23 chapters focuses on a specific area of development in the use of electricity, the people involved, and the outcomes for society. Williams begins with an introduction, detailing early efforts to use electricity through the establishment of small electric power stations for lighting public areas, and the prominent individuals behind these initiatives. The second chapter continues this theme, highlighting the problems and lack of coordination in most of these early endeavors. Chapter 3 discusses the progress of lighting from gas light through electric arc lights, and on through to the efforts of Swan and Edison, while chapter 4 considers electric-powered public transportation and discusses how streetcars, trams, and electric trains allowed for cities to grow by supporting transport into expanding suburbs. Williams then moves into the history of electricity production and the various public and private ventures into generation over the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with some good examples provided from both the US and the UK. Chapter 6 then looks at the impact of electric power on industry and the dramatic growth of industrial power that resulted, particularly in the clothing, textile, and automotive industries that have laid the foundations for our modern consumer society.

In chapter 7, Williams discusses the impact of electrification on printed media (newspapers in particular) as well as the cinema, while chapter 8 looks at the dramatic impact on communications with ships at sea resulting from the development of wireless telegraphy. While not at first an obvious benefit of electricity, its impact on medicine (as well as some quackeries) is discussed in chapter 9--various medical shock treatments, defibrillation, and x-rays are covered. Chapter 10 then examines the development of the chemical battery from Alessandro Volta’s original device of 1800, through to the latest lithium-ion battery. Also covered are some of the devices (such as flashlights) that use batteries. The growth and economics of electricity distribution grids is considered in chapter 11. The initially diverse voltages and frequencies of the early grids, as well as the inevitable growth of government regulation, are discussed. The growth in the use of electric appliances such as kettles, toasters, and so on in private homes in the 1930s is discussed in chapter 12, and the impact of World War 2 on generation, distribution, and usage is the subject of chapter 13. Williams then discusses the dramatic impact that the telephone has had on society. A detailed history is provided from early telephone adoption through to their now ubiquitous presence. Chapter 15 covers the use of electricity in vehicles, from electric starter motors through to electronic engine management, while chapter 16 looks at the reorganization and nationalization of the electricity distribution grids in Britain in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as the growth of nuclear power generation.

Next are two chapters devoted to the development of technologies that allowed the spread of domestic refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, and clothes dryers. The significant impact that these changes had, particularly on the lives of women, is discussed in chapters 17 and 18. Chapter 19 looks at electric-powered elevators and escalators in department stores, high-rise apartment buildings, and underground railway stations and the impact that these have had on the growth of cities. Chapter 20 briefly looks at small electric household appliances, and chapter 21 covers the impact of electricity on household central heating and air conditioning. Electricity’s replacement of fossil fuels for heating in particular had a profound effect on the air quality in cities. Williams then looks briefly at the development of electric power tools, particularly portable tools for home use, before the final chapter summarizes the impact of the discoveries and developments in electricity over the last century.

The chapters are presented in a consistent format, each finishing with detailed references. Each chapter can largely stand alone, and so the book is, in effect, a collection of short, focused essays on aspects of the history of the use of electricity in our world. There is a good table of contents, a detailed bibliography, and a good index. This is an interesting treatise on the impact of electricity on our world. Williams’ book differs from others on this subject in the diversity of aspects covered and by also considering their social impacts on our society. A very enjoyable book.