The Grid

Archival Summary & Scope

Cultural anthropologist Gretchen Bakke’s *The Grid* offers a revelatory examination of America’s electrical power grid, often called the world's largest machine. An engineering triumph of the twentieth century, the grid is now aging and poorly suited for our modern energy future, hindering the adoption of new sources like solar and wind. Bakke delves into its fascinating history, current flaws, and essential role in national life. She argues that a complete reimagining of the grid for the twenty-first century is crucial, highlighting how diverse groups of Americans are already driving this complex revolution. This perceptive and entertaining account unveils the grid's problematic present and its potential for a brighter, cleaner future.