Customer Reviews
An excellent broad overview of peak oil - By: S. Lewis, 22 Sep 2008 
There are many books on the subject of peak oil with authors coming from different perspectives. Some come from people who work or have workedin the oil industry (like petroleum geologists Colin Campbell or Kenneth Deffeyss) while others arein journalism like David Strahan (author of the excellent 'Last Oil Shock').
Heinberg's background is social anthropology & this book reflects that. What's good about this book is that it takes a really wide view on the subject. It describes the basic laws of energyin physics (1st & 2nd laws of thermodynamics) & looks at energy use through mankinds evolution. It also has a great history of oils use during the twentieth century including the previous oil shocks, the way General Motors & co stripped US cities of there train systems & much more. It has section on the effects of peak oil from food production to economics.
The writing is packed full of facts but is clear & easy to understand. The chapters are divided up logically & you don't have to be read themin any particular order.
More than any other book I've read on the subject this is the book I most go back to. Even though it's a few years old now the fact it takes this wide overview means it's unlikely to go out of date any time soon.
If you want to learn about the most important & disturbing subject of our times this book is great place to start.
Alarmist - By: A. C. Day, 21 Aug 2008 
A biased & very exaggerated view of a worst possible case scenario, boardering on the 'loony left'. There is no doubt that this is a very important topic that requires considerable consideration from all levels of society but to suggest that the world is on the verge of collapse & that a form of communism is our only hope is unhelpful & misleading.
There's no doubt that the book is well written & researched but if you're looking for a balanced & well argued book on this subject i suggest you read something else.
A warning. - By: C. CHRISTOFOROU, 24 Mar 2008 This book is rather depressing & alarmingin it's outlook, but maybe this is just what we need. We have to face facts.
Richard Heinberg has gathered evidence from a variety of sources to paint a picture of the future if we continue to use & aim to use non-renewable energy sources. The theory is, & it is a theory that is backed up by most experts, that these sources of energy will become far rarerin the future. This will have economic consequences (ie a major downturn over time) as well as geopolitical (ie more resource-based wars). We are already seeing this played out now (oil price shooting up, Iraq etc).
The outlook is gloomy.
Thinking more positively for a second, the book has a great section on the pros & cons of various alternative sources of energy (eg wind/solar etc), & a guess of how the future would look if we took the sensible option. This future is much simpler, & it may not appeal to some, but although not as economically rich as now, perhaps it will be spiritually happier. I believe so.
The book also has a very interesting opening on how we have used energyin the past, all the way up to this oil age.
Although clearly not meaning to be a book about the link between fossil fuel use & global warming (there are other depressing books about that!), I think Richard Heinberg could have included a separate, small section, just to give added impetus to the movement towards renewable sources of energy.
I would also have liked to read even more about why current governments do not make the move to renewables (cost, links with oil/car industry, lobbying etc) - just to see the forces we're up against.
Overall, a great book.
Start here! - By: RenHoek, 14 Sep 2006 Having read many, many books on Peak Oil & the future of modern industrial society, i can say that this is the best & most comprehensive of those works. Anyone interestedin wars, oil or the future of the human race should start here. A fascinating & worrying read!
Read this book now! - By: Jammie, 31 May 2006 Heinberg is level-headed & totally scientific, but he presents a frightening scenario regarding the truth of oil depletion. This is a truth that, it seems, we are being 'protected' from by our dear politicians, who are no doubt seeking to stop us worrying about the future. Heinberg's survey of remaining resources indicates that even if all the alternative forms of energy available were employed, we will still be facing a massive reductionin energy resources - meaning, inevitably, a changein lifestyle.
In his very positive book, Heinberg shows how we can prepare. Essential reading for changing times...
