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The Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Century's Sustainability Crises [Paperback]

Richard Heinberg , Daniel Lerch
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 1, 2010
In the 20th century, cheap and abundant energy brought previously unimaginable advances in health, wealth, and technology, and fed an explosion in population and consumption. But this growth came at an incredible cost. Climate change, peak oil, freshwater depletion, species extinction, and a host of economic and social problems now challenge us as never before. The Post Carbon Reader features articles by some of the world's most provocative thinkers on the key drivers shaping this new century, from renewable energy and urban agriculture to social justice and systems resilience. This unprecedented collection takes a hard-nosed look at the interconnected threats of our global sustainability quandary--as well as the most promising responses. The Post Carbon Reader is a valuable resource for policymakers, college classrooms, and concerned citizens.

WINNER MAY 2011: GOLD MEDAL Independent Publisher Book Award in Environment/Ecology/Nature category.

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The Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Century's Sustainability Crises + The End of Growth: Adapting to Our New Economic Reality + The Crash Course: The Unsustainable Future Of Our Economy, Energy, And Environment
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Post Carbon Reader is an invaluable primer, resource and textbook. This is what you need to know, period." Lester R. Brown, Pres. Earth Policy Institute, author Plan B 4.0 --Earth Policy Institute/Lester Brown

The Post Carbon Reader popularizes realistic solutions to the world's biggest problems...we would be wise to heed their cry and study their solutions. --GreenBiz


"It's not only a good read, it's a brain-enhancing tool that can be utilized to replace fear and inertia with connectedness and purpose, and when the brain is connected with the heart, it can do anything." --Juliane Poirier - Metroactive

The Post Carbon Reader merits attention for many reasons. This book is a place for concerned citizens and professionals in many fields to begin exploring options for this next stage in humanity's evolution.   --Hazel Henderson, Ethical Market Media

The book's overall message is close to apocalyptic, but the quality of the thinking ratchets it up a notch.

The Reader is worth reading and pondering, especially if you can't keep up with all the books on these topics. --PLANNING Magazine

"A must-read for anyone who cares about how peak oil and climate change affect us all."--Transition Voice

"Unlike other books that may be easily filed under 'Gloom and Doom,' authors . . . made sure to explore positive paths laden with solution examples."--Green Flow

"This clearly understandable work is a good sustainable development resource, useful for environmental policy collections."--Choice

From the Inside Flap

"For a comprehensive, integrated overview of the relationship between the human species and its planetary home circa 2010, look no further. The Post Carbon Reader is an invaluable primer, resource, and textbook. This is what you need to know--period."--Lester R. Brown, President of Earth Policy Institute and author of Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization

"The one thing certain about the 21st century is that it will be an era filled with colossal changes: shifting ecosystems, a billion more humans on the planet, at least 2 degrees of climate change, and the displacement of tens if not hundreds of millions of people during that period. The Post Carbon Reader offers an important overview of these changes and a plethora of ideas of how we can cope with them: from strengthening community colleges and planning resilient towns to relocalizing agriculture and creating your own personal preparation strategy (never a bad idea). With many leading sustainability thinkers peppering the pages of this tome and providing many valuable insights, The Post Carbon Reader is definitely worth the read."--Erik Assadourian, Senior Fellow, Worldwatch Institute and Project Director of State of the World 2010: Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism To Sustainability

"This is one of the best readers that I have seen in my 48 years as a university professor. The articles were well-written, up to date, and contained some extremely valuable information. I suggested to the students that they keep the book for future reference, instead of selling it back to the bookstore at the end of the semester. I plan to use it again next year when I teach Environmental Sociology."--Al Williams, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska

"I use various portions of The Post Carbon Reader in all my classes, and I reference it in my public presentations. I also note to all my undergrads doing senior projects, and graduate and doctoral students, that they need to read The Post Carbon Reader"-- Bob Scarfo, Associate Professor, Washington State University, Spokane

"I used quite a few chapters from The Post Carbon Reader. I very much appreciate its forward-thinking orientation as students in Environmental Studies classes too often get overwhelmed with all the facts about how we've messed up the environment. The Reader allows students to see that there are visionary thinkers trying not only to construct blueprints of what a post-carbon society might look like, but also the roadmaps for how to get there. I'll definitely use it again."-- Stephen Zavestoski, Associate Professor, Sociology and Environmental Studies, University of San Francisco

"A terrific collection of essays. Definitely on my 'highly recommended' book list."-- Karen Litfin, Department of Political Science, University of Washington, Seattle

"I've used the book with students, as it's simply the best single-volume reader that offers both background and cutting-edge thinking about issues that are crucial to the future of civilization."-- Eric Zencey, Visiting Associate Professor of Historical and Political Studies at SUNY Empire State College


Product Details

  • Paperback: 523 pages
  • Publisher: Watershed Media; 1 edition (September 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0970950063
  • ISBN-13: 978-0970950062
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 1.2 x 6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Daniel Lerch is Publications Director of Post Carbon Institute (postcarbon.org). He is the author of Post Carbon Cities (2007), the first major municipal guidebook on peak oil and global warming, and the lead editor of The Post Carbon Reader (2010), a collection of original essays by some of the world's most provocative thinkers on the 21st century's interconnected sustainability crises. One of the few experts specializing in local government responses to global fossil fuel depletion, Daniel has delivered presentations and workshops to elected officials, planners, and other audiences across the United States and abroad.

Customer Reviews

All essays are very well written and easy to understand, even to the lay person. Joao Cortez  |  11 reviewers made a similar statement
This book is THE resource for the latest and greatest minds in sustainability. Green City Times  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Post Carbon Reader;A Sobering view of our Predicament November 10, 2010
Format:Paperback
The compendium goes a long way towards educating the reader to the unpleasant truth of our global situation; it really gets us out of denial. But it does something else which, in my view, is much more valuable. It gives us things WE can do to ameliorate our circumstance. While the situation is dire, and we cannot ignore what is coming, we CAN be proactive with this situation.

There are many excellent pieces in this work. Thought-provoking and penetrating in scope, the authors look at population growth, food, water, sustainability, ecological economics, peak oil and a variety of other related subjects. I highly recommend this work as THE definitive primer for those who really want to understand where we are and how we might do something positive about it.

David K. Banner, PhD
PhD Mentor in Leadership and Organizational Change
Walden University
Minneapolis,MN
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Cream of the Crop November 10, 2010
By Andrea
Format:Paperback
I've a library full of books about sustainable living and resilience building. I've also books on transportation, food harvesting, economics and more.

But it's all right here. The world's brightest minds commenting on the various pickles we're in and best of all proposing real world solutions that are achievable.

IF we have the will. Jury's out on that one.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for the 21st century November 12, 2010
Format:Paperback
I particularly like this book because I can pick and choose the area that interests me at anytime and then delve into the erudite and very readable texts - which frequently come up with perspectives I've encountered before.

Climate change and fossil fuel depletion mean that just about all the critical systems we rely upon, particularly in industrialised nations, are going to change. It's imperative in order to control CO2 emissions and inevitable because of peak oil. This book does a really good job of looking at all the key areas and exploring what that future might look like and the paths we might take.

Although the authors are predominantly american, the book feels very applicable to the UK and Europe generally.

In a few years, this'll become one of the best-thumbed reference volumes I've got on my shelf.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars This should be reqired reading in all schools
If our younger generation are to be able to have a hope of dealing with the mess they are about to inheret they had better be well prepared, this book is the best primer on the... Read more
Published 13 days ago by norm
3.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as stated
Not the greatest book I've ever read for class. Mainly essays all about the environment and how we can help it.
Published 15 days ago by Jennie He
5.0 out of 5 stars Great essayists in one book
This book is really a jewel. It assembles a group of great thinkers on sustainability. Not only great thinkers but great writers. Unmissable,
Published 1 month ago by F. VALDES Perezgasga
3.0 out of 5 stars Really only partially the way through.
I don't enjoy the sentiment of doom and gloom, but am glad to understand what is behind all the environmental clamoring. The authors are insightful and thoughtful. Good education.
Published 2 months ago by Chelicera
2.0 out of 5 stars Somehow I expected more...
This book has received quite some acclaim in certain circles.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but I find a lot of this boring, not consistent, and sometimes downright... Read more
Published 2 months ago by van der Lugt, Marinus
3.0 out of 5 stars Rather repetitive
My feeling is that the book discussed tnets that have been under scrutiny for several years now. There's not much updated information and/or arguments.
Published 2 months ago by maria teresa la valle
1.0 out of 5 stars Alright already
Mr. Heinberg has written the same thing in prior books. Maybe the same thing plays fresh to non readers of his other books, but not to me.
Mr. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Richard Sperrico
4.0 out of 5 stars Post Carbon Reader
The Post Carbon Reader is a must for people who are interested in the future their children and grandchildren will face. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Brian T
1.0 out of 5 stars Shale Is Here To Save The Day Which Will "Sustain" Us For Hundreds of...
Even the IPCC (see below*) is now admitting their past AGW reports were unreliable so the only solution is for the Greenhouse Anti Carbon Alarmists to put their money where their... Read more
Published 10 months ago by firmterra
5.0 out of 5 stars A New Civilization
We have reached the "limits of growth," as the editors have so aptly revealed, and the world as we know it must change: but how. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Robert S Bogner
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An Incredible Read
The Post Carbon Reader is a very important book. Its encyclopedic breadth can be overwhelming at times but it's filled with useful takes on big issues in sustainability along with new takes on topics such as education, healthcare and personal preparedness, all from the perspective of peak oil and... Read more
Nov 1, 2010 by Erik D. Curren |  See all 2 posts
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