This is an excellent book, and one of few books where the blurb on the back cover is true, accurate and well-deserved. Paul Roberts has written a clear, concise, objective and reasoned account of the impact of dwindling oil reserves on current and future energy usage, policies and requirements.
It may be the first time I've seen such a holistic view discussed in a book. All aspects of the arguments related to oil and energy are presented and deliberated. Roberts is lucid and reasoned at all times throughout the book, there is no sense of panic in his writing. Rather, he appears confident that technology and willpower will save us - but we have to start using our willpower now!
Roberts acknowledges and awakens the reader to the fact that energy, the supply of energy, and a continuingly expanding supply of energy are fundamental requirements to maintain our so-called western way of life to be maintained, and for the population of the earth to become more evenly economically developed.
We are reminded that we must as individuals, as consumers and as policy makers shape our energy policies to use energy wisely and to promote non-oil energy sources. However, as I mentioned above, there is no sense of panic. Roberts reckons we don't need to change everything now, either for oil reasons or for climate change reasons.
In fact, quite the opposite. He suggests that doing so would cause a highly negative shock to economies, and that spreading the change out over the next 20 to 50 years will lead to more effective and efficient technologies, whilst enabling developing economies to continue growing at a sensible rate.
I reckon everybody should read this book. It will inform dinner party discussions, pub chat, canvassing arguments at election times, and ultimately, policy decisions at government levels.
This subject is one that we must all become familiar with and is one that we can all influence. Ultimately, reform and change starts with you and me, making changes in our lifestyle and our attitudes to energy that really don't hurt that much but will make a difference.
Eventually, we'll have to stop saying "but it doesn't matter what we do because of the Americans attitudes" - even American attitudes are changing. The prices of hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius are high in America now because of the demand for them - 6 month waiting lists!
Read this book - inform yourselves!
It may be the first time I've seen such a holistic view discussed in a book. All aspects of the arguments related to oil and energy are presented and deliberated. Roberts is lucid and reasoned at all times throughout the book, there is no sense of panic in his writing. Rather, he appears confident that technology and willpower will save us - but we have to start using our willpower now!
Roberts acknowledges and awakens the reader to the fact that energy, the supply of energy, and a continuingly expanding supply of energy are fundamental requirements to maintain our so-called western way of life to be maintained, and for the population of the earth to become more evenly economically developed.
We are reminded that we must as individuals, as consumers and as policy makers shape our energy policies to use energy wisely and to promote non-oil energy sources. However, as I mentioned above, there is no sense of panic. Roberts reckons we don't need to change everything now, either for oil reasons or for climate change reasons.
In fact, quite the opposite. He suggests that doing so would cause a highly negative shock to economies, and that spreading the change out over the next 20 to 50 years will lead to more effective and efficient technologies, whilst enabling developing economies to continue growing at a sensible rate.
I reckon everybody should read this book. It will inform dinner party discussions, pub chat, canvassing arguments at election times, and ultimately, policy decisions at government levels.
This subject is one that we must all become familiar with and is one that we can all influence. Ultimately, reform and change starts with you and me, making changes in our lifestyle and our attitudes to energy that really don't hurt that much but will make a difference.
Eventually, we'll have to stop saying "but it doesn't matter what we do because of the Americans attitudes" - even American attitudes are changing. The prices of hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius are high in America now because of the demand for them - 6 month waiting lists!
Read this book - inform yourselves!
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