James Kunstler's The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century made a huge impression on readers - and one hopes, on policy makers - when it was first published last year. Just now in paperback, it is even more compelling in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which, in addition to causing massive destruction, slowed down oil and gas production out of the Gulf of Mexico. And with the growing demand India and China are putting on the world's oil supply, and the ongoing concerns of an influenza pandemic, we are witnessing many of Kunstler's predications come true at a startlingly fast rate. In The Long Emergency, he delivers a lucid and straightforward glimpse at the global changes that lie ahead of us. It is a controversial hit that sparked debate among businessmen, environmentalists, and bloggers, an eye-opening look at the unprecedented challenges we face in the years ahead, as oil runs out and the global systems built on it are forced to change radically.
Bio
James Howard Kunstler
James Howard Kunstler (born 1948) is an American author, social critic, and blogger who is perhaps best known for his book The Geography of Nowhere, a history of suburbia and urban development in the United States. In his most recent book The Long Emergency (2005), he argues that declining oil production will result in the end of industrialized society and force Americans to live in localized, agrarian communities.
After college Kunstler worked as a reporter and feature writer for a number of newspapers, and finally as a staff writer for Rolling Stone. In 1975, he began writing books and lecturing full-time. He lives in Saratoga Springs, New York .
Kunstler once again offers a succinct and drily humourous analysis of the Empire during the first pahse of its decline & collapse;The majority of americans however will continue to waddle along in their business as usual way....Bye bye......
This talk had two whack elements (though I subscribe to Kunstler's view, 1) Chevron as sponsor and 2) the ubiquitous bottle of water probably offered by the host organization. Can't we return to the glass and the pitcher? Oh yes, and I am watching this online... won't be possible when the blackouts begin.
Saw him some months ago at the world affairs council in sf and he is a very entertaining and well informed provocateur. Love the title of his blog.....
James Kunstler offers a candid analysis of western majority mentality. While at times he may appear cynical, he offers sound and concerning solutions to the problems he addresses.