Episode · Cheeky Pint · 2025-10-28
Books mentioned on Casey Handmer of Terraform Industries on solar maximalism, hard tech, and reclaiming the Salton Sea
Description Casey Handmer is the founder of Terraform Industries, who is developing a machine that makes synthetic natural gas from sunlight and air.
John Collison recommended Red Plenty by Francis Spufford and The Origins of Efficiency by Brian Potter, and discussed Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Red Plenty
Red Plenty by Francis Spufford is a celebrated novel that offers a fictionalized account of Soviet economic history and industrial planning during the Khrushchev era.
Recommended“There's a fabulous book called "Red Plenty" by Francis Spufford that is kind of a fictionalized account of this.”
Where to get it
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The Origins of Efficiency
The Origins of Efficiency by Brian Potter is an insightful industrial history book published by Stripe Press that investigates the evolution of manufacturing, construction, and technological progress.
Recommended“In Stripe Press's newest book, "The Origins of Efficiency", author Brian Potter breaks down precisely how that progress happens.”
Where to get it
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Cadillac Desert
Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner is a classic environmental history book that traces the aggressive transformation of the American West through massive water management projects and dam-building initiatives by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Discussed“If you've read "Cadillac Desert", it goes into some detail here. That's a great book.”
Where to get it
