Yeah, I'm not saying that human power is the most efficient thing out there. But wherever you go, there you are, so human power is great for camping, remote locations, rural areas without grid power etc.
Also, if you are just "wasting" energy, such as riding an exercise bike at the gym, why not generate energy while you are at it.
I also believe that doing something yourself makes you appreciate things much more. If you have ever ran a light bulb off an exercise bike, you know what it takes to power, and are more likely to turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Ever hand-crank your own ice-cream? It's the best tasting ice-cream EVER because of the work you put into it.
One of the exerpts of the book on the web page was an essay on forced human power, including the old treadmills in England they used to make prisons run. It was interesting.
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