It's been a heck of a party, but the hang-over will be unpleasant. The author chooses a couple of allegories that are a bit of a stretch, but there is lots to think about here. Nov 2011 ( )

Exactly what it says on the tin. An excellent primer on peak oil and its implixations for the global economy. ( )

Based on a barrel of oil costing over $100.00 , Rubin details how much our lifestyle is connected to oil. Rich western countries were built on cheap oil. Dramatic changes will ensue and rapidly if oil stays in triple digit cost. Economists are known to pessimistic and their projections often wrong. I am hoping this book is off the mark. Unfortunately, I am not sure that he is off base. Highly readable and understandable to non economists. ( )

This is one of the most insightful and level-headed books to emerge from authors who have recognized that the age of cheap fuel is over. Rubin sees a shift to a more local way of life due to the decline of cheap fuel, which also means a decline in global trading of heavy goods. He presciently envisions a range of changes, some difficult, some disruptive, but some that provide interesting opportunities too. ( )

"This is one of the best books I have read that analyzes our current economical woes and predicts what the future will look like when the oil supply dwindles and prices go sky-high (and both will happen for sure, as you will read in the book). And yet the future may look a lot like the past and we will likely regain some of the aspects of the past that we have lost - with smaller village-type communities rather than barren suburbs, more rail and public transit, local foods in our stores (hurray!), and jobs returning to North America. Very enlightening and highly recommended!" THE RBC ANNALIST SAID (WHEN I MENTIONED THE BOOK ) "REMEMBER JEFF'S FIRST PRIORY IS TO SELL BOOKS!" INTERESTING AN EASY READ - PLB