Customer Reviews

Peak Oil Prep: Prepare for Peak Oil, Climate Change and Economic Collapse

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been reading this book, and am mostly through it - enough that I feel that I can render an opinion on this.

First, please note that I subscribe to the theory of peak oil - it's a question of when, not if - and ecological
living.

Having said that, the book frankly lacks focus and is somewhat sophomoric in its approach. It seemed less focus on life when energy is no longer affordable and more on promoting a certain view of how things should be. Really, he spends very little time writing and more time giving massive blocks of internet references that seemed to have passed his filter of political correctness than utility. For example - he talks about home power generation, and then appears to have ignored an all-purpose website - Home Power magazine -for reasons unknown, other than perhaps the magazine doesn't pass his concept of correctness (after all, it is available at Barnes and Noble). Another case in point - heirloom seeds. A very good idea - but his one source is some kind of communal seed outfit. A fast internet search shows a dozen or so outfits from Burpee on down. I'd prefer working with someone who actually tests their seeds in multiple environments.

Most of the book seems focused on socialized/communal living. For example, he promotes the idea of cohousing - which is fine - but his example is the N street housing complex in Davis California, which adapts the idea a couple of steps further where everyone proceeds to eat in communal settings. There are many other examples that can be found that may be more palable to ones living rather than be forced to come under someone's else's idea of political correctness.

Indeed, he talks about Cuba as a shining example of a country that has passed through Peak Oil, and how wonderful life is there now - ignoring one very obvious fact that Cuba has milder weather than most of the US - at least I am not aware of Havana having snow storms - which makes life much easier. And I didn't need a paragraph on how the US doesn't allow travelers to visit Cuba in a book about survival after peak oil.

Indeed, one of the things he promotes is moving to smaller communities - 5000 people or so. Somewhat elitist - I've run into many, many people who can barely keep food on the table and a roof on their heads, and somehow I cannot see them packing up into a beat up old car and driving to sunnier climes to an uncertain economic future.

Finally, he shows little imagination about how life may really be like when the crunch does hit. For example - one of the things he talks about is using the internet for communications after peak oil starts rippling through the economy. An interesting concept, given that there is a debate among people in information technology as to whether or not the internet is a massive energy hog. Certainly having to run multi-terabyte server farms 24/7 cannot be done with 300 watts.

This is not to say that the book won't get you thinking at least - it will - but some of the insitutional reviewers indicated that it was a blueprint for living after peak oil - I'd call it less of a blueprint and more of a sketch - with many details omitted and not well thought out.

One other thing - he promotes three big ideas - they are using compact flourescent bulbs, planting a garden, and biking to work - and all I can say is - "Duh".

Wow, this is bad. It's poorly written and basically a cut n paste job from many websites on the topic. Do a search on Peak Oil and you will find the same info for free on the top websites dealing with this issue.

The neat thing about Mick Winter's book is that I can choose a simple response form the "Three Things You Can Do" or go all the way. And thanks to Mick, I don't have to spend a lot of time searching; he's already done it for me. So I can now go gradually into some necessary behavior change, or -- if one area matters more to me -- I can really alter my lifestyle! The tools are all here, and the choices are mine.

I really enjoyed Mick's Peak Oil Prep. First, it is extremely clear and easy to read. Second, it provides simple, inexpensive and practical advice on what we can do, individually, to make a difference. Third, it can be read as a reference book or as a straight read. Reading nonfiction is often a chore for me, as I usually lose my thread of thought when I lay fact-based works down; this book has such short, independent sections that putting it down and picking it up again is a delight, rather than a chore. This is also aided by the sense of humor throughout the book. Thanks for a fun and useful book to guide us through the rough times. CGY

I read this book because of my interest in peak oil and I enjoyed Mike Winter's coverage of the issues and the preparations that can be done to mitigate the effects of peak oil. I would recommend this book to anyone coming to the peak oil issue and wonders what they can do to prepare themselves.

This is the scout's handbook--for grown ups. A best buy. It's not just for peak oil prep, but also for coming climate and economic changes. Effects of all three changes are already evident, and they're bound to increase soon.

A comprehensive (growing, preserving, and eating food, and dealing with waste; water; pet care; transportation) and far-reaching book (bartering; population; societal cycles). I also liked the tips on changing our individual behaviors that increase global problems.

By providing lots of online links to accessible information instead of filling space with lists and dense text, Winter used page space efficiently--organizing the layout and text for easy access.

In content and style "Peak Oil Prep" by Mick Winter
helped me creep closer to feeling enthusiasm and
capacity while turning a fuller face towads our
exponentially growing world crisis. From the first
words, it got and kept my attention, offering
pragmatism instead of putting me into fear based
reaction and paralysis. A neat trick if
you can do it while looking around the globe. Thanks
Mick for helping me wake me up a little more without
an overdose of already grim tidings. Good resource,
good humor. A useful handbook for living regardless of
just how deep the crash is or isn't. Thank you, Mick
Winter, for your thoroughness. "

Although many books on Peak Oil seem to be trying to get people to be scared of the future without cheap oil, this one actually has page after page of suggestions of things to do to get ready for a different style of living, and web sites to visit for more information. It covers just about everything, from using CFLs to growing your own food, getting solar, or buying an electric car. Very well researched.
I recommend it for anyone who has "got it" about the Peak Oil Problem.

This is like a 'climate change for dummies' book. Except the 'for dummies' series actually has some merits.

For instance this book in the 'top three things you can do' includes:
a: changing to fluorescent lightbulbs
b: walk or ride a bike
c: plant a garden

Want more peak oil advice? How about "Create a neighbourhood and community arts program." or, "Start a compost pile."

I mean really. This book is obviously for suckers like me who would buy it off the internet on the strength of the title.

I liked this book and I don't regret that I bought it but I like the book a little and not a lot. It's too simple but it's a great starter for the laymen and those who are just waking up to "peak oil." The saving grace of the book is that the author has collected many sources of information and websites, and references other books that are helpful. If you don't have a lot of time searching the web, this book helps taking you to the correct spots. As for his suggestions, I think many of them are a little too simple to help the average Joe and Jane. I do like page 26, Scapegoats, "It's important to realize that no single individual or group is responsible for Peak Oil. In fact, nobody is single-handedly responsible. Peak Oil is simply a geologic reality; a result of the fact that there was always a certain amount of petroleum in the earth; no more, no less. When we as a global society have extracted half of that amount, we have reached peak, and from then on there will be less and less available. No ethnic minorities are responsible, no racial groups, no religious groups, not even any particular political party or political system. It was all of us." Wow! Refreshing to hear someone who knows what they are talking about. Yes, all 6.5 billion of us. When my Granddaddy Andrew Jackson Crump was born in 1889, there were no cars in the USA and only 142 miles of paved roads. When I was born there were only 150 million Americans and only 2.5 billion people on the earth and gas was .25 cents per gallon. It's easy to blame. Blame Republicans, blame Democrats, blame OPEC, blame oil companies. Doing this gives you a villain and allows your brain to shut down and you no longer have to think. Nothing is your fault, it's someone else's fault and you are on the side of the good guys. Nuts! The truth is that we have 6.5 billion people on the earth and we are sucking it dry. The car population and the human population are now growing faster than our ability to dig up minerals and other declining natural resources. 80% of Mr. Winter's book is useless to me, but there are a few links and things I learned which overall made it worth while. Regards, Keith Renick, Peachtree City, Ga.