[Guest]

http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2004 ... ob_qa.html

Few months old, but good interview. Basically we've got 10 - 25years before Peak !!!

[Agren]

Because? He say so?

He also doesn't mention, when talking about hydrogen, that it is all but impossible to generate the hydrogen in the first place...

Still, he may be right, anyones guess.

[eastbay]

An excellent first-book reading for those new to the study of Peak Oil. It's written by a reporter/writer with no apparent ties to the oil industry or to science academia.

This book explores in lay terms the origins of the human need for more and more energy moving from wood through coal, and now, to the last days of oil. It surveys alternate energy sources in easy to understand terms. It moves on to explain how energy politics interacts with environmentalist organizations resulting in a no-winners situation virtually guaranteeing that little of substance is being done to lessen the impact of the coming inevitable oil depletion.

Among the few shortcomings are not one chart or graph depicting clearly the peak oil crisis and only a brief review a future without oil.

[BabyPeanut]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Eco ... 5Dj01.html
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')an 15, 2005

BOOK REVIEW
Brave nightmare world
The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World by Paul Roberts

Reviewed by David Isenberg

In retrospect, one of the funniest lines about the US invasion of Iraq will be the one uttered by the war's defenders who managed to insist with a straight face that this wasn't a war for oil.

[EnviroEngr]

Thanks to BabyPeanut, we have:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Eco ... 5Dj01.html

[Yavicleus]

Roberts' book is an excellent intro to Peak Oil for people that don't like reading more scholarly works such as Heinberg. Roberts outlook is far more optimistic and pragmatic, however I think that it's approchability makes it a far better resource as an intro.

Over all though, I liked it. It is very well written, and I have given it to several friends and relatives.

[azur]

I agree, and I too liked this book.

Roberts is not firmly in the Peak Oil camp, and takes a balanced view between the Cassandras and the Optimists.

The book is extremely well researched and written, managing to be an easy read yet highly informative at the same time – it is clear that this is written by a skilled journalist, not a professor.

Recommended.

[MoogSM]

I would also recommend this one as a first read. It's by a journalist, which means that it's pretty well written and not just a straightforward argument such as Heinberg's. I believe Roberts when he says that he didn't come to the writing of this book with a set agenda (i.e. to prove peak oil) but that it became apparent over years of experience.

Roberts doesn't seem to have any bias or axe to grind, so it's hard to pass this off as left-wing propaganda or something else like that.

He's also pretty positive about the potential of alternative energy sources. This can be a good thing, since coming from having no idea about the end of oil to hearing that the world is gonna end AND there's nothing we can do about it is the kinda thing that'll make people dismiss peak oil out of hand. However, his optimism MIGHT allow some readers to not worry at all--"When oil becomes expensive it will stimulate R & D of alternatives, so we'll be fine, nothing to worry about."

The fact that he doesn't really deal with the apocalyptic possibilities of peak-oil events also cuts both ways. On one hand, presenting new peak oil people to the kind of detailed prediction of a post-petroleum world makes it easy for people to write peak oil off as another crazy doomsday prediction. On the other hand, when people realize what the actual potential is here, it might spur them into doing more research and eventual action. He gives two scenarios, spends more time on the good one, and just happens to mention that this one is very unlikely.

This is the best peak oil book that I've read for people unfamiliar with the idea.

[OilyMon]

I enjoyed the history in the beginning of the book and much of the first few chapters, but my interest 'peaked' somewhere near the middle. The book turned into some kind of sappy "we'll make it all better" kind of tripe that is usually washed down with a big gulp of oil, and brought back up with injections of gas. Gas; just like what this book was - just a lot of hot air....

[cat]

Would this be a good book to introduce to my suburban mom book club? I don't want to freak them out, but I would like to introduce them to the subject. The other book I am considering is "Out of Gas" by David Goodstein. Has anybody read both books and could give me a recommendation?

[LadyRuby]

Very good book, doesn't seem overly fatalistic, but fatalistic enough!!

[Graeme]

Just finished reading this book. It's very well written and explains in some detail our present predicament in a balanced manner. In his postscript, he becomes a little pessimistic. However, in the last chapter, he does offer a three point strategy, which is his most optimistic scenario for our transition to a new energy future. From memory, they are importing gas, carbon tax or cap, and fuel efficiency. I recommend this book to all if you haven't already read it.

[WildRose]

I enjoyed this book. It's a comprehensive introduction to PO and a good overview of the oil economy. I especially liked the "How Do We Get There?" chapter, as Roberts objectively outlines strategies for bridging an energy transition. He's not overly optimistic; he presents various technologies and strategies that could work but also presents possible economic and political effects of instituting the changes, while reminding us of the uncertainties of any path.

[WildRose]

Pstarr, you may be right on with your assessment. I wonder if things would have been different if our collective consciousness had been raised about 20 years ago. Maybe, maybe not, even with the excellent information authors like Roberts provide.

[BigTex]

It sounds like this one is a pleasant sounding soft and comforting alarm off in the distance....contrasted with Kunstler's Long Emergency, which is like getting whacked on the side of the head with a boat oar.

[lateStarter]

Even though the book is a bit dated (could use another post-script - 2006 version) the original material is still very relevant. I have read it 2 or 3 times already and still pick it up occasionally when some debate arises about the various alternatives. On every proposed alternative, he always presents the advantages and why it probably or may not work given our current economic and political mind-set. Balanced, informative, and well worth reading.