[Veritas]

Thanks for the replies, on the topic of books not necessarily PO related but relevant to civilization, I have in my library here "Collapse" by Jared Diamond. I read a few chapters of it but didn't really get into it much, I'll probably give it another look once I'm through a few of the directly PO-related stuff.

And yeah if this is the wrong forum by all means move the topic. I saw the book one but it looked more like a place for reviews and wasn't sure a general inquiry belonged there.

[Dreamtwister]

"The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli

[savethehumans]

"Blood and Oil" by Michael Klare. Gives you a wonderful overview of the past, present, and future of resource wars.

[seldom_seen]

It's also important to understand the ecological underpinnings of our current shituation. For that I don't think anything can touch "Overshoot" by William Catton.

A quick read of Garrett Hardin's "The Tragedy of the Commons," is also reccomended if you haven't read it.

[Loki]

There are an endless number of books you could read. But your thread title asked where you should start. By far the best advice I've ever seen on this board is this:
Get out of debt, get in shape, get some skills.

For books, I personally think you'd be better off reading about gardening, first aid, gunsmithing, "primitive" skills, carpentry, etc., rather than reading every peak oil book ever written.

And if you're absolutely set on grad school, I'd strongly suggest doing something that will give you solid real world skills. Engineering, horticulture, medicine, etc. I have an MA in history and am a Ph.D. candidate in geography. I'd definitely take a different path if I had a chance to do it all over again.

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Loki', '
')Get out of debt, get in shape, get some skills. .

[Veritas]

I've noticed a lot of emphasis on getting out of debt as being very important, why is this near the top of the list for folks?

Doesn't it presume that the monetary system, financial institutions, and enforcement agencies will endure in an environment where people are reduced to near-subsistence living? (if not subsistence living, debt shouldn't be as much of an issue since you'd have disposable income to meet your payments).

Just wondering what I'm missing on the debt thing, since it didn't occur to me naturally as something related to life after PO.

[WisJim]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Veritas', 'D')oesn't it presume that the monetary system, financial institutions, and enforcement agencies will endure in an environment where people are reduced to near-subsistence living? (if not subsistence living, debt shouldn't be as much of an issue since you'd have disposable income to meet your payments).

[kjmclark]

You should check out Joseph Tainter's "The Collapse of Complex Societies" as well as Diamond's "Collapse". As someone mentioned, Deffeyes' books are excellent, and "Twilight in the Desert" should be required reading in business schools.

The debt thing isn't bad advice, but IMHO people take it too far. Debt is a problem during deflation, and excessive debt or excessive interest rates on debt are a problem for personal finances in general. But if you have moderate debt, during a period of inflation, or have assets/income to cover the debt, some debt isn't something to worry about. In inflation, having debt can be a good thing, since inflation eats away at your debts over time. In a hard, fast crash debts won't mean much anyway. In general, keep debt modest and keep healthy debt/equity and debt service/cash flow and you should be alright.

The other problem with debt is what you do with the money. If you spend it on a McMansion in the burbs with an Escalade and BMW to go with it, you may end up with big problems. If it's mortgage debt on a few acres in the country, it may be a great idea. On a smaller scale, if you spend it to buy a plasma TV, it was probably a waste, but if it went to buy a woodstove, it may be a great expenditure.

[poetic_j]

I thought I would signup and start doing research for a website a group us are working on; Mostly dealing with governmental corruption.

I am thinking though that we should also do research on peak oil and resource depletion as this appears to be of some importance.

I will just be perusing the forum, but if I have any questions I hope that you won't mind me asking for a little information.

Kindest Regards,

Poetic J

[grink1tt3n]

Which government? Or is that a stupid question.

Also, keep in mind that the outlook here tends on the negative.

[poetic_j]

The US government primarily, though we will also be dealing with issues with other world governments.

I was thinking about using this quote from thomas paine and placing it in the header of the site.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hen my country, into which I had just set my foot,
was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir.
It was time for every man to stir.

[Commanding_Heights]

Hi and Hello All

I'll make it short and sweet. I've been lurking a while and love the boards. A lot of smart people on here! I'm an avid reader but understand I still have a lot to learn. At the moment I'd calssify myself as a doomer with a glint of optimism. Hopefully I can make a meaningful contribution

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Commanding_Heights', 'H')i and Hello All

I'll make it short and sweet. I've been lurking a while and love the boards. A lot of smart people on here! I'm an avid reader but understand I still have a lot to learn. At the moment I'd calssify myself as a doomer with a glint of optimism. Hopefully I can make a meaningful contribution

[WildRose]

Welcome, CH.

"a doomer with a glint of optimism" - I like that!

[americandream]

So waddya want...a badge?

[katkinkate]

Welcome mate. I always welcome a new perspective. Don't be afraid to 'speak' up.

[toolpusher]

well thanks for the welcome

my previous experience in the oil business started in kansas and oklahoma. in oklahoma city, i worked on some real nice leases situated within and around the will rogers world airport. then i moved on to work in the permian basin. that place was incredible, oil everywhere, entirely fantastic. one time i was doing a well and we were going to shut it down, but in the very last sample up came a nice show that saved the day, what a stroke of luck! i took a trip down south during the first horizontal drilling boom around pearsall. i did a number of wildcats that were exciting. its really cool being out in the middle of nowhere, seeing stuff for the first time and not knowing in many ways what to expect. these are the kinds of situations that demand you perform at your highest level and always have your wits about you. big old thick meaty diamondback rattlesnakes were everywhere, and it was a good idea to check your sleepingbag before you crawled into it! unfortunately, one night while i was away, the bit apparently encountered what everyone was looking for but what few expected, and the crew was not prepared. the driller was killed, the rig was burned down, and the rancher saw a good chunk of his royalty check go up in flames.

i did lots of office work, but it was being out in the field where i really felt i was doing my job. many times i was the only true supervision on wells that had millions of dollars riding on them. being out there next to massive rumbling diesel motors and creaking hydraulic equipment, watching the bit make hole and monitoring all the instruments and samples, working your ass off but still taking time to listen to the radio and savor the moment, those were good times.

now all i do is sit in front of a computer and do research. i am intently focused on the oil price right now. it could be the buy of a lifetime. where to allocate capital, and how to diversify, those are the critical questions at this time. i'm kind of turned off by the oil stocks, to me investing in the raw commodity makes more sense and should give one the ability to sleep better at night. thats probably why i joined this place, it helps me focus my thoughts.

as far as peak oil goes, i think we are there, but the market doesn't recognize it. its funny that the people who control the prices are not always the ones who are the most knowledgeable.
positions in crude, heating oil and gasoline are all too well balanced now. demand is not yet ready to fall. i see this as the calm before the storm.

when will we have to pay the piper? when will the wolf come knocking on the door? well, i think its curious that it hasn't happened yet.

[venky]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'a')s far as peak oil goes, i think we are there, but the market doesn't recognize it. its funny that the people who control the prices are not always the ones who are the most knowledgeable.

[firestarter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('venky', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'a')s far as peak oil goes, i think we are there, but the market doesn't recognize it. its funny that the people who control the prices are not always the ones who are the most knowledgeable.