Brilliant

Tracing the fascinating history of human light, from stone lamps to the lightbulb, the story of light is also the story of evolving humanity. The class, social and environmental implications of providing light has shaped historical eras: crude lamps and tallow candles constricted waking hours and drove the crazed hunting of whales for their oil towards environmental disaster. Gaslight helped to create leisure hours in the evening and allowed the emergence of vibrant street life in cities while incandescent light changed the ways we live and sleep. Jane Brox asks the reader to consider the cost of the current grid system for providing light.