Best Energy & Environmental Books

The full title of this book by Mike Berners-Lee and Duncan Clark is

“The Burning Question: We can’t burn half the world’s oil, coal and gas. So how do we quit?“

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

The world is in big trouble

I used to be sceptical about climate change but the more I read, for and against, the more I started to believe that we face a devastating problem that could destroy the world as we know it.

This book starts really strong and pulls together the reasons why there is little talk and even less action to correct the carbon emissions into the atmosphere. [continue reading…]

The full title of this fascinating book by Tim Morgan is

“Life After Growth: How The Global Economy Really Works And Why 200 Years Of Growth Are Over“.

I gave it Four Stars in my review at Amazon.co.uk. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

I’ve always known that there is a money economy and a things economy. What I hadn’t focused on was how the thins economy is underpinned by energy. The author argues that in effect we have an energy based economy and while the money economy has been inflated by the explosion in debts and Quantitative Easing, the energy economy is deflating.

Why is that?

Because we cherry picked the biggest and best, most accessible, most productive sources of oil, gas and coal first and slowly but surely, the old sources are exhausted and the new sources that are developed aren’t as good. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Jeremy Leggett is

“The Energy of Nations: Risk Blindness And The Road To Renaissance“.

In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

Plenty of food for thought

I enjoyed reading this book as it looks back at the recent past and then looks forward.

The author is a long time believer in early peak oil and the founder of a solar energy company. He therefore believe deeply in his message. Whilst he rails against manipulation or the energy facts and debate by Big Oil and Big Nuclear, he may not be presenting a balanced view. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Thierry Malleret is

“Disequilibrium: A World Out Of Kilter“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.

Here is my book review.

Fascinating pulling together of thoughts

If you have lots of seemingly unconnected thoughts about the future (your own, your country’s or the world’s) and most of them have more downside than upside, this is an excellent short book to read.

It takes a good look at complexity theory in a world full of uncertainty from a high level approach. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Richard Heinberg is

“The End Of Growth: Adapting To Our New Economic Realities“.

In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.

Here is my book review.

Essential reading

This book is a real eye-opener and shows that the common assumption that we can continue to grow the economy at 2% to 3% per year is invalid.

In fact it is complete nonsense. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Richard Heinberg is

“Snake Oil: How Fracking’s False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

Who is telling the truth on fracking?

The author’s previous book The End of Growth: Adapting to Our New Economic Reality shocked me to the core. I’d never previously identified the huge but untrue assumption in economic theory – natural resources are unlimited. This is a bit strange when I was taught that economics was all about the allocation of scarce resources.

That book encouraged me to read more about the theory of Peak Oil and in recent years, the price of oil has risen despite the economic recession. This gave credence to the concept as far as I was concerned. [continue reading…]