[aflurry]

Has anyone here read this book? Have any comments?
Link
As I recall, this was the book that led me to the grasp of Peak Oil.
It has been a while though, I would like to reread it now that I have become more immersed in the subject. While he doesn't addrss PO directly he does talk in detail about the idea of overshoot as relates to agribusiness and the green revolution. I was floored by the book and consider Manning to be one of the better writers on the subject.

I am surprised it hasn't been mentioned before (at least not that I could find.) .

[tokyo_to_motueka]

Manning wrote the seminal article "The Oil We Eat".

His work really interests me but unfortunately I still haven't read "Against the Grain" yet.

I was too busy reading:

1. Crossing the Rubicon (Ruppert)
2. Full Spectrum Disorder (Goff - VERY highly recommended!)
3. The Party's Over (Heinberg)
4. Guns, Germs and Steel (Diamond - just started reading it)

I also just bought "The Final energy Crisis" (ed. McKillop)

"Against the Grain" will be next on the list, I hope.

The only thing I would say is that his ideas on a "solution" to food production problems prominently feature genetic modification, which does not appeal to me at all.

[DomusAlbion]

From that review:

"He traces the beginnings of agriculture to the Middle East, where plants were abundant and easily domesticated in coastal areas"

Oh, those guys causing trouble again, eh?

[aflurry]

Yes, "The Oil We Eat" was what made me go out and get the book.

He takes a longer view approach to the current situation. The things he has to say about agribusiness and what passes for nuitrition today are really interesting.

I did not get a sense that he has a real "solution" but it's been a while and my memory is bad. he talks about the virtues of hunting in the intro and conclusion. It was funny to me that almost all of the letters to the editor in Harper's the following month were complaints from vegetarians about his hunting comments.

I say, "If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?"

One of the reviewers on Amazon cites another article in which he promotes the idea of using genetic research to aid traditional hybridization, rather than advocating direct genetic manipulation.

I stand agnostic on this GM issue. I understand some of the dangers, and certainly am disgusted with some of the initiatives planned by Monsanto, etc. But I also see the need for maintaining crop yieds in the absence of petroleum fertilizers. Unfortunately, I have no way of deciding whether that promise is alot of hot air or not.

A more recent article in Harper's described the transition of agriculture in Cuba from subsidized industrial monocrop, to high variety quasi-organic after the fall of the Soviets.

So now there are two islands I wouldn't mind being trapped on post peak: Cuba and Iceland.

Thanks for the list of books. I am planning out my summer reading list.

[I_Like_Plants]

I like the snappy title of one of the similar books recommended, "Diet for a Dead Planet".

[BabyPeanut]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'I') like the snappy title of one of the similar books recommended, "Diet for a Dead Planet".

[aflurry]

And speaking of nuitrition, I also recommend:

Nourishing Traditions
Amazon.com Link

A cookbook by Sally Fallon. The introduction is a hefty and convincing piece of nuitritional theory, which is followed by recipes to put it in play. The focus is on traditional diets. I am particularly interested in the concern given lactose-fermented vegetables, which can be kept for long periods without *refrigeration* and also benefit in the absorbtion of nuitrients from other sources.

Also a pretty large section devoted to organ meats, which i guess i may have to get used to. blech.

[oowolf]

Good Book. Manning lives up in the Rattlesnake in Missoula, MT. Another Montanan that knows the score. The Oil We Eat has appeared on numerous sites and Feb 2004 Harper's.

[seldom_seen]

Another related nutrition title:
Neanderthin: Eat Like a Caveman to Achieve a Lean, Strong, Healthy Body



Highly reccomended, this book has changed many people's lives. Including the author (he cured his diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis).

[tokyo_to_motueka]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', 'A')nd speaking of nuitrition, I also recommend:

Nourishing Traditions

[jmacdaddio]

I recommend the Great Food Gamble, by John Humphrys. I picked it up in a London bookshop on a whim and it was very informative. UK agriculture policy developed a "more is better" approach after Britain became dependent on US and Canadian aid during WWII. They wanted to make sure that they would never again be in danger of starvation, which is understandable, but the consequences are alarming.

It might be hard to pick up in the US, but Amazon UK will carry it.