My Reading List
Here is a list of books I’ve read over the last few years on the subject of peak oil, this are roughly in the order I read them. I include this list to show the kind of material that has influenced my opinions on the subject recently and as a recommended reading list for anyone else. If you want to know anything about these books don’t hesitate to contact me. Feel free to add any comments on these books or recommend others.
Although every book has a link to Amazon (for ISBN, publisher information and reader reviews) I’d recommend ordering and buying from your local independent bookshop. Not only will this help your local economy but also give the shop staff the chance to flick through a book they might otherwise not have seen.
On the shelf
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Energy Beyond Oil: Could You Cut Your Energy Use by Sixty Per Cent? Paul Mobbs |
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The Future of Russian Gas and Gazprom Jonathan P. Stern |
Currently reading
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High Tide: News from a Warming World Mark Lynas |
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Half Gone: Oil, Gas, Hot Air and the Global Energy Crisis Jeremy Leggett |
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The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century James Howard Kunstler |
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The Dollar Crisis: Causes, Consequences, Cures R. Duncan |
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Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Petroleum Dependency Michael T. Klare |
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Beyond Oil: The View from Hubbert’s Peak Kenneth S. Deffeyes |
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The Limits to Growth: The 30-year Update Donella H. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, Dennis L. Meadows |
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The Real World Economic Outlook: The Legacy of Globalization - Debt and Deflation Ann Pettifor (Editor) |
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Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble Lester R. Brown |
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High Noon for Natural Gas: The New Energy Crisis Julian Darley |
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Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World Richard Heinberg |
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Resource Wars Michael T. Klare |
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The End of Oil: The Decline of the Petroleum Economy and the Rise of a New Energy Order Paul Roberts |
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Hubbert’s Peak: The Impending World Oil Shortage Kenneth S. Deffeyes |
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Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies Richard Heinberg |
January 9th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Chris, I’m really impressed that you’ve read three books already this year
January 10th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
I haven’t read the Gazprom book or Paul Mobbs’ book yet… they are waiting for me on the shelf!
January 21st, 2006 at 6:05 pm
i’ve read twilight in the desert
its a bit hardcore but worth a read really seeing as how middle east oil is so rediculously important to the world economy
January 25th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
I haven’t read Twilight… mainly because I think I know basically what it says, I’ve hear Simmons speak on the subject and read many of his interviews so it’s not at the top of my reading list.
September 22nd, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Your thoughts on these would be most interesting. Brief synopsis, which are best for what reasons, etc.
January 26th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Interesting selection Chris.
The other books that have set energy in context for me are:
Joseph Tainter, “The Collapse of Complex Societies”
Jared Diamond, “Collapse”
Jared Diamond, “Guns, Germs & Steel”
I’d also add Richard Heinberg’s “Oil Depletion Protocol”, which came out in the latter half of 2006