”World Made By Hand” Reviewed

Earlier this week, I received James Howard Kunstler’s new 317-page hardcover novel entitled “World Made By Hand.” A number of books have been written on the subject of oil depletion, but this novel offers a different approach.

It is a fictional story which takes place in the future, at a time when the fuel for powering machines and generating electricity has run out. Things which are presently taken for granted have become scarce, like rubber tires and blank paper. Climate change has had a major impact, frequently producing thunderstorms and driving temperatures to over 90 degrees.

“World Made By Hand” tells of a former computer software company executive’s adventures living in a small town located in rural New York. It is often suspenseful, with a substantial amount of action. The story begins after the current society – chain stores, automobiles, television, suburbs, paved roads, etc – has largely collapsed. Inflation greatly diminishes the dollar’s value, so that very little can be purchased for under $500.

It is interesting to read Kunstler’s detailed descriptions of various methods used by the townspeople to remain productive in these new circumstances, including alternative food preparation techniques, foot-powered dentistry, and a gravity-fed water system. At the same time, he moves the story along with frequent unexpected twists in the plot. Although generally a serious book, it is not without a bit of humor here and there.

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