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Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World Paperback – September 1, 2004

by Richard Heinberg (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 72 ratings
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If the US continues with its current policies, the next decades will be marked by war, economic collapse, and environmental catastrophe. Resource depletion and population pressures are about to catch up with us, and no one is prepared. The political elites, especially in the US, are incapable of dealing with the situation and have in mind a punishing game of “Last One Standing.”

The alternative is “Powerdown,” a strategy that will require tremendous effort and economic sacrifice in order to reduce per-capita resource usage in wealthy countries, develop alternative energy sources, distribute resources more equitably, and reduce the human population humanely but systematically over time. While civil society organizations push for a mild version of this, the vast majority of the world’s people are in the dark, not understanding the challenges ahead, nor the options realistically available.

Powerdown speaks frankly to these dilemmas. Avoiding cynicism and despair, it begins with an overview of the likely impacts of oil and natural gas depletion and then outlines four options for industrial societies during the next decades:

Last One Standing: the path of competition for remaining resources;
Powerdown: the path of cooperation, conservation and sharing;
Waiting for a Magic Elixir: wishful thinking, false hopes, and denial;
Building Lifeboats: the path of community solidarity and preservation.

Finally, the book explores how three important groups within global society—the power elites, the opposition to the elites (the antiwar and antiglobalization movements, et al: the “Other Superpower”), and ordinary people—are likely to respond to these four options. Timely, accessible and eloquent, Powerdown is crucial reading for our times.

Richard Heinberg is an award-winning author of five previous books, including The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies. A member of the Core Faculty of New College of California, he lives in Santa Rosa, California.

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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    New Society Publishers
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0865715106
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0865715103
  8. See all details
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Customers find the book informative and thought-provoking. They describe it as a brilliant, well-researched treatise on where we are headed and what we need to do.

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5 customers mention "Reading level"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They say it's a brilliant read for those concerned about our fair planet.

"...deals with many issues that are not quite so confronting in this wonderful book and no, I do not think these topics have all been dealt with in..." Read more

"Brilliant read! Informative! Highly speculative though...." Read more

"...Required reading for those concerned about our Fair Planet." Read more

"...Richard Heinberg's well researched treatise on where we are headed and what we could do is essential reading for everyone...." Read more

3 customers mention "Thought provoking"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and informative. They find the account compelling, with a human tone.

"Brilliant read! Informative! Highly speculative though...." Read more

"...Heinberg is not the only one sounding the alarm, but his account is compelling, his tone is human and his writing is fluid...." Read more

"...I found the book to be insightful and thought provoking. I even gleaned a little hope that man-kind would survive the transition...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Tim Johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars As the Chinese curse goes, "May you live in interesting times,
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    I was impressed and educated reading Heinberg's book. He trod paths that other writers have refused to tred-particularly his final chapter where he dares to discuss the subject that even "The Movement" refuses to confront-population and the carrying capacity of the planet. As he admits, the subject is taboo because, even though it is the single most important aspect of the coming calamity, the Movement won't deal with it because of the inevitable political fallout from the religious memberbs of the progressive faction of American politics. Where is the value of democracy if subjects can not be discussed for fear that discussion will alienate certain people and therefore force them into sidesteping hugely important issues.

    Heinberg deals with many issues that are not quite so confronting in this wonderful book and no, I do not think these topics have all been dealt with in other earlier books by other authors. Of course, if a person chooses to educate themselves particularly in this area of planetary collapse then perhaps much of Heinberg's writing is treading over old material. However, if a general reader has only recently begun reading in this area of planetary collapse then Heinberg's information and interpretations are eye opening.

    Perhaps I am poorly read in the field of Peak Oil and its comcomitant inenevitable desatruction of capitalism as an engine of continued indusatrial progress. I have lived through a number of years of last century and nothing that Heinberg says struck a poor note with this collection of information. Everything he wrote is totally in keeping with my previous information. I do not believe that capitalism with its market economy or technology or prayer is going to stop the train that has been set in motion. How we deal with the outcome is the only question and democracy will not provide the answers we need for the same reason that The Movement will not deal with overpopulation. So yes-we are doomed to something far away from the life we are now leading.

    Heinberg writes that twenty years ago the Club of Rome said the world has fifty years before the life systems of the planet are damaged beyond repair. I see nothing on the horizone to give me any hope that this prediction won't happen.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • HisDudeness
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ahead of its time
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant read! Informative! Highly speculative though. Many of the forecasted Armageddon style events predicted in this book are beyond their expiration date. I have no doubt that in time, and whose to know for sure, they will come to fruition. Perhaps there was an underlying sense of urgency (panic) for the author to write this book. Perhaps a bit ahead of its time, yet still a recommended read.
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  • Stephen Armstrong
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as The Party's Over...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    While Heinberg summarizes the lit. on oil depletion and fuel shortages, this book branches into imagined political outcomes--basically, the demise of liberal culture, the individual, and our civilization. (Examples: no oil, little fuel, population decline to 3.8 billion humans, etc.) He offers "rational" alternative end-games and scenarios, but his thinking predicates that human beings and societies are and can be "rational." If you accept that, then, OK, this analysis is for you.

    He thinks and believes that policy makers and politicians are not paying attention, however; that is, by not paying attention, they are behaving irrationally. Well, duh. Then what is the importance of "rational" "powerdown" "life-boat" strategies?

    The result? I thought this book was watered down and apocalyptic political science, with some power data interspersed. His other book, The Party's Over, was better.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Seven Zero
    5.0 out of 5 stars My eyes will never be the same.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    From the article titled "Document Says Oil Chiefs Met With Cheney Task Force", in the Washington Post, "The White House went to great lengths to keep these meetings secret, and now oil executives may be lying to Congress about their role in the Cheney task force," Lautenberg said.

    You might find the answer for why we are in Iraq, if you were to read "Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World". This book is not a fiction based peak oil theory written by some fanatic. If the CIA were to have read this book, I think their internal book review would be a shocking confirmation. With the connection in the recent news of Cheney's secret energy meeting with oil execs, the CIA to Cheney, Cheney to the oil industry, the unprecedented preemptive war in Iraq, the facts in this book about how horrible the prospect, limited the options are and awful I feel to contemplate it all, all point to the fact that we, the American people don't want to know the truth, but read it or not, we will know that truth soon as we are forced to deal with it. How bad is the situation? On a scale from 0 to 10, it is off the scale.

    Nostalgia for the good ol' days will seem sad and silly, for these days are the last of the good ol' days. you will not have any problem believing it unless you do not finish it or choose to live in denial. All good things must end and concidering the way the world has squandered a non-renewable resource like oil, it is a soon to be obvious and logical eventuality.

    How much can you afford to pay for a gallon of gas in today's economy? How much will gas cost in a collapsed economy where your money isn't worth 10 cents on a dollar?

    Who could ever have imagined 9/11? Or even what possible reasons there could be for a 9/11 conspiracy? Or presidential election fraud 2 elections in a row? A democratic government that does not have to tell you anything except that, "that information is secret" or "that information would jeopardize the security of" what or who? I can't really say I want to know either.

    What I see now when I go about my days are people of all ages enjoying a good life that they do not know is about to come to an end, objects I use like monofilament fishing line, my toothbrush, anything plastic or that comes in plastic or in part is plastic, clothes, shoes, carpet and more all made from oil. Things I do and once enjoyed without a thought, drive to the store, watch a movie, listen to music, to the radio, and the variety of food available to me, may all be unaffordable even if available in my lifetime, what is left of it anyway. Do I want to feel this way? No. Do I want you to? No.

    In the sci-fi movie "They Live" an economic crisis brings unemployed Nada (Roddy Piper) to L.A. in search of work. What he finds instead is that the ruling elite of the world are aliens in disguise, their aim being to keep humans in a state of mindless consumerism. His discovery comes when he dons a pair of special sunglasses made by a resistance group and sees for the first time reality unadorned. Billboards, store signs, magazine covers--all bear subliminal messages to OBEY, to CONSUME, to have NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT. Money itself says THIS IS YOUR GOD. But worst of all, with these glasses you see which of us are really hideous, bug-eyed aliens.

    Reading "Powerdown" is like putting on a pair of special sunglasses but you can only wish you could take them off. My eyes will never be the same.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • AC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Loved it Thank you!
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  • HLT
    4.0 out of 5 stars An important book, but probably preaching to the choir
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    The main problem with this sort of book is that you won't buy it unless you're already concerned (and presumably at least somewhat familiar) with the issues. Having spent quite a bit of time on the various "peak oil" websites, I found my view confirmed rather than challenged. There's lots of interesting ideas and informative stuff here (I loved the little story about the disintegrating raft!) but the people who need to read it probably aren't going to. Maybe the best approach is to buy it, read it, and then pass it on.
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  • Andy
    4.0 out of 5 stars a narcissistic look into our future
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Peak oil, the slow protracted decline of humanity, resource wars and population collapse do not make good bed time reading. The book is however extremely interesting and does make some valid points about our unsustainable behaviour. Even though it was written around 2003 and is a bit dated in places the authors 'predictions' about the future are not far off. The question is, what group of people do you fit into?
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