Customer Reviews

Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book offers an introductory presentation of the increasing important concept of "resilience," in this case addressing how two issues,"peak oil" and climate change. After briefly laying out the current science and projections related to these two issues, Ch. 3 "Four Scenarios" defines four possibilities of our non-action or action, seen in trends evident today, e.g. (1) urban duress (the authors use the term "collapse"), (2)urban flight to rural enclaves, (3) the divided city with class-restricted and walled compounds, or (4) the "resilient city," a "vision" whereby communities and regions plan for our uncertain future with actions to build local resources and economies, democratic equity and sustainability. The argument and plea for this fourth option is the core message of this volume, which is presented with optimism and exemplary steps. The authors summarize these positive steps in a concluding chapter, including energy efficient buildings, smart grid transit tied to pedestrian mobility, and local food network. The organization of the book in this straight forward format makes it ideal for class room assignment and discussion.

This is a well written, easily understood, perfect introductory book that discusses urban design/planning and our energy dependency. Unlike other books, its strength is that it is not an architecturally, sociologically or politically weighed down text. Furthermore the text offers several possibilities to improve urban living starting now and how urban centers and rural areas could become sustainable and stable. The authors did an excellent job of knowing who their initial audience would be-the general public- who are not involved in the aforementioned fields but who are interested and concerned by the real threats that the 'oil age' has inadvertantly brought about in our world.

I think that with global warming occuring we all need to get educated. This book gives you some basic information about oil and its effect on climate change.

Anyone who has anything to do with town planning should read this book. Anyone who is concerned about environmental issues should read this book. Anyone who isn't concerned MUST read this book!! It scares the daylights out of me, and will do the same for any thinking person.
The simple message is that it is half-past time to act, and we must all be involved and committed to secure future standards of living.

I only purchased this book because I had to for one of my classes. As soon as class is finished I'm selling it back.

The reason I dislike this book is because of it's assumption that man causes climate change and therefore we need to drastically change the way we live. Although I partially agree with the author about the need to switch from oil to something else (mostly for security reasons), the book is written in a very alarmist tone and suggests that if we don't act 10 years ago that we are doomed.