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Title: The End of Oil : On the Edge of a Perilous New World by Paul Roberts ISBN: 0-618-23977-4 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 15 May, 2004 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.92 (12 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A balanced view of an unbalanced world
Comment: As someone who has taught courses on global energy use and the environment for more than 20 years, I have read a great many books on the linkages between energy, economics, environment, and politics. Usually such books suffer from either an obvious bias, an excess of technical jargon (especially books by economists), or a selective treatment of the subject (e.g., focusing on the promise of solar energy while ignoring prospects for new technology for coal). This book comes closest to balancing all of the topics critical to understanding the global energy situation, and given recent events in the middle east, could not have come out at a better time. I found particularly valuable the concise and lucid treatments of the status of oil supplies (distinguishing the end of the low cost era from plentiful but much more expensive sources), the science of climate change and its relationship to energy policy, the importance of growing demand in China for cars and other energy intensive products, and the prospects for alternatives to fossil fuels including the dream of the hydrogen economy. All topics are up-to-date and well referenced, and the credibility of the book is greatly enhanced by interviews with leading experts. This book is appropriate for students with widely diverse backgrounds and should find a large audience.
Rating: 2
Summary: good with trees, poor with the forest
Comment: Paul Robert's "End of Oil" reminds me of William Greider's "One World, Ready or Not " written 5 years ago. Both journalists trot around the world, writing interesting stories, yet neither will spend one hour learning economics. Greider wrote about some "sustained world over supply" (how does that over supply stay there without the price changing?) while Roberts does not understand price adjustment. He argues there will be a huge price spike in oil that provides a shock to our entire way of life, yet he doesnt talk about how we will all be readjusting during the higher, yet pre-spike period he mentions. It as if nobody but Roberts will be looking ahead.
He then scares us with possible "oil wars" as China and the US among others "compete for oil." Oil is a commodity where the price will increase as demand rises. Countries do not buy oil, companies do. And these refineries buy oil at a basic world price. The US and China pay roughly the same price. There is no competetion among countries for oil no matter how interesting that is for a James Bond movie. Unless one country controls most of the oil supply, this idea of competition makes no sense. Oil is sold at a WORLD PRICE that Chinese and American companies pay to refine. There are business deals that get wrapped up with governments (not a good thing), but due to the WORLD PRICE, the countries are not benefiting in the way the author argues.
And as the price of oil goes up, new technologies come on line, people cut back on trips _gradually_ as prices rise, not _suddenly_ one dark day. Yes, it seems like nothing new can be developed after 2004, exactly what many thought in 1904. Roberts mentions previous technological gains but somehow thinks we won't implement new technlogy/standards until a crisis hits.
Parts of this book cover the trees well, but Roberts does not understand the forest he is poking around in. 2 stars for the trees.
Rating: 5
Summary: Review of the reviews reveals a fascinating story in itself
Comment: I am a science policy researcher who is currently working on the problem of political gridlock in the U.S. regarding energy policy. It was clear to me from the nature and quality of many of the 9 reviews that Roberts' book is perceived as well written, attempts to be thoughtful and inclusive, and avoids polemical language. I have come to regard Amazon's volunteer reviewers as offering a useful sampling of literate Americans' opinions - especially when the subjects of books are nontrivial. This particular mix of reviews tells a fascinating story.
Six of 9 reviews praised Roberts's book for its lucidity, comprehensiveness and balance. Their reviews generally receive good marks for helpfulness from readers.
Three reviewers panned the book - one of whom went to the trouble of listing 8 specific examples of bias or lack of understanding of the problem by the author. None of these negative reviewers give the author credit for compensating qualities. One of the positive reviewers even takes the detailed negative reviewer to task and suggests that reviewer may have not read the book. The 8th reviewer (I assume these reviews are in order of receipt) dismisses Robert's book while indicating that he (she) is not a Bush supporter but has broad knowledge of the oil subject. Interestingly, this reviewer garners the largest number (39) of readers, only six of whom find the review helpful!
OK, folks, we have here a somewhat complicated microcosm of gridlock in American politics! As someone who aspires to professional understanding of the energy issue, I myself questioned or found oversimplifications in some of the negative critic's 8 points, while I welcomed the detail. I concluded that that reviewer tended toward a polarized viewpoint. On the other hand, summary dismissal of that review also suggests polarization by that reviewer's critic, in that he(she) did not express appreciation for the fact that specific criticisms were offered.
Now I can reveal that I have set in motion acquisition of Roberts' book but haven't read it yet! This exchange of reviewer views (and reader statistics) will help me look not only at the detailed technical points, but also keep the perspectives of opinion groupings fresh in my mind as I read. Good work, Amazon and reviewers!
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Title: Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil by David Goodstein ISBN: 0393058573 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: February, 2004 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies by Richard Heinberg ISBN: 0865714827 Publisher: New Society Pub Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: The Oil Factor: How Oil Controls the Economy and Your Financial Future by Donna Leeb, Stephen Leeb ISBN: 0446533173 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: February, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Coming Oil Crisis by C. J. Campbell ISBN: 0906522110 Publisher: Petroconsultants SA Pub. Date: 01 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $33.00 |
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Title: Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict With a New Introduction by the Author by Michael T. Klare ISBN: 0805055762 Publisher: Owl Books Pub. Date: 13 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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