The flip of a light switch or the turn of an engine are things that most people take for granted because they are reliable. From the burning of wood and coal to nuclear power, the development of energy sources has been crucial to the advancement of society. But like all major steps forward, each comes with a negative aspect. Richard Rhodes takes a long look at this topic in his book, Energy: A Human History. Rhodes , a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, joined the Knowledge at Wharton radio show, which airs on Sirius XM, to talk about the complicated relationship between humans and energy. (Listen to the full podcast above).   An edited transcript of the conversation follows. Knowledge at Wharton: Everywhere you turn you see something that has been affected by energy in one form or another. Richard Rhodes: Our entire society has developed over the centuries because of access to energy.…