Afterburn: Society Beyond Fossil Fuels

Afterburn: Society Beyond Fossil Fuels truly lives up to its name, as Richard Heinberg sets the reader ablaze in thought about a potential present and future reality that is sometimes empowering, sometimes terrifying, and always deeply thought-provoking.A Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute, Heinberg’s writing is rich with data- and experience-fueled arguments that are – to say the least – head-turning. The “novel” is actually a collection of fifteen essays written by the author between 2009-14 (contrary to the introduction, which labels the timespan 2011-14, even though the essay Our Evanescent Culture and the Awesome Duty of Librarians dates back to 2009) and represents an impressive array of accumulated research and serious ponderings about the current trajectory of human society. More than mere musings, though, Heinberg’s presentation impels the reader to question much of what our social, political, and financial pundits present as the status quo.The book’s proposition, in brief, is the all-too-foreseeable yet notoriously-cloaked end of an age of economic growth and consumerism, hopefully to be replaced by a societal structure that embraces localization, low-footprint living, and sustainable practices. This premise is grounded in arguments heavily constructed from the findings of energy analysts and the well-argued assumption that (primarily) oil and its industry are coming to an end – an end much sooner than is touted by media, politicians, and pretty much everyone else. The notion that the future of oil could be limited to just a few decades is sure to confuse and turn some readers off from the book as a whole, especially when cheap US gas prices and promises of easy, alternative-oil extraction methods, such as hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), are widely publicized. However, Heinberg’s detailed explanations of long-standing political and industrial deceptions (that have contributed to the current, false notions of “oil aplenty”) present a head-turning alternative prediction of the road ahead for the energy industry.Another not-oft-heard stance is the author’s position on alternative energy sources. While many renowned thought leaders of energy and environmental economics spend their careers encouraging society to reap the benefits of renewable energy, Heinberg maintains a more sobering position. He suggests that although it is very important to continue building renewable energy infrastructure as fast as possible, we’ve waited far too long to get a jump on renewable energy. As a consequence, the world will most likely suffer from energy shortcomings as we attempt to go 100% green. Essentially, Heinberg emphasizes that a global energy switch to renewables is itself extremely energy intensive and dependent on fossil fuels! Our huge infrastructure that’s already in place to extract, transport, and deliver fossil fuel energy to society needs to be replaced by an equally huge infrastructure to generate, transport, and deliver renewable energy. Chillingly, our oil industry – which is forced to seek out increasingly difficult to extract and economically-unviable oil – may not endure to see us through this transition. Moreover, he spells out several obvious and not-too-obvious shortcomings of a 100% renewable energy industry.All of this amounts to Heinberg’s best-case scenario, where “…nations would transition as much as possible to renewable power, maintaining a functioning national grid or network of local distribution systems but supplying rationed power in smaller amounts than is the currently the case” (p. 155). In this statement readers can discern several recurring themes throughout the essays, namely localization and the end of economic growth.At this point, readers of this review may be wondering what, after all, is so “empowering” about this book? It sounds mostly like gloom-and-doom future projections based on a pessimistic analysis of our energy situation. While all of Heinberg’s essays are cause for a serious mental timeout to pause and take stock of everything we more or less take for granted, they also emphasize the enormous potential for growth and construction of a better society, which could accompany the hard times to come.Part of this optimism is encompassed in Heinberg’s praise of localization and seen in his acclaim of the Transition Movement (which is mentioned over a dozen times throughout the book). Emphasized over and over again are the vast benefits that can come (shown through studies and the author’s personal experience) from a tightening of communal ties via localized efforts to make towns and cities more resilient to the inevitable worsening of climate and economic tipping points. According to Heinberg, there are “…substantial social and psychological benefits from living in a way that’s more localized and communitarian.” While these aren’t substantially elaborated upon in the text, their mention will certainly strike a chord in readers who have already experienced the rewards of building close connections with community and feeling a part of something larger than yourself – whether through volunteer service, a town project such as the building of a community garden, or simply through a good friendship.Quite simply, Afterburn is one of the most important reads of this era – for all ages. However, Heinberg’s post-carbon declarations (in his matter-of-fact style) are sure to rile some readers. If you anticipate this to be your reaction, I urge you: read the book, cover to cover. Soak it in. Consider each argument for its mere possibility of accuracy. Even if the author isn’t completely correct in his premise or future scenarios – which even he says he knows are merely projections based on current evidence and definitely not to be taken as prophecies – it is imperative that society members are at least aware of the broad diversity of predictions sustained by scores of energy experts. As caretakers of our planet and representatives of its dominant inhabitants, we are tasked with properly educating ourselves so that we may respond to the future needs (whatever they may be) of an extremely-rapidly-changing society with the greatest sense of perspective and a sufficient knowledge base to inform our decisions. In my opinion, this is precisely the effect that each of these fifteen essays has. Especially for young millennials, the reading of Afterburn empowers and arms one in such a way that he/she feels educated about and at least forewarned of the inevitable climate- and energy- related challenges we face at the end of, in the words of the author, this “…brief age of cheap, abundant energy.”

From the author of  The Infidels .E=This is an excellent read; filled with copious information on the difficult critical decisions that will have to be made regarding energy use by world society over the next five, twenty, fifty to one hundred years. The author is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the equation. Every US congressman should be required to read this book. Failure by our US government – and all others - with respect to the two key elements; population growth and energy issue will come back to haunt the next generation. There is no question about that. This author speaks from a platform of scientific empirical truth. I would suggest though that he move away from the idea of gasoline rationing in the US and argue for a market approach as I outline in my letter to Paul Krugman in my Blog # 12 on my Web Site. There I suggest a market based solution that will pass increasing costs up the line through graduated taxation with the revenues usd to subsidize alternative sources of energy and the societal adjustments that will be necessary for civilization the proceed ultimately in an upward direction.

The author makes a strong case for the declining availability of fossil fuels. What I appreciate the most about this book is its optimistic view of a very challenging future. I felt encouraged to take action. I am developing local resources for water, food, shelter and energy. I hope I will be able to provide for family and friends in my local area. The response we need is a grassroots movement of individuals taking personal responsibility for the management of resources in small communities.

What an important book. Heinberg includes essays on the Climate deniers, Consumerism, local everything, the awesome duty of librarians to preserve information in a form that will not become obsolete or unreadable; basically, the important connections to the collision of Peak Oil and Climate Change. I don't think we've got much time left...

For readers just beginning their conversation with peak oil and climate change (Hubbert’s Curve and the Keeling Curve), this collection of essays explains the thesis expounded by the Post Carbon “doomers” in a clear and compelling way. But, for those of us who have been following the topic for some years, Heinberg does not bring much new material to this, his latest effort. Let me be clear, I am sympathetic with Heinberg’s views (he signed my copy of End of Growth), but based on this book’s subtitle, I was hoping to read more thoughtful speculation on the time after the crash.As pessimistic as Heinberg’s prognostications may seem, I suspect he is holding back on what should be obvious: He knows the climate is poised to do something truly terrible; if not in our time, certainly in our children’s time. It won’t be boiling frogs, it will be cascading tipping points. Should we manage to dodge the bullet of NTHE, our destiny is sure to be pulling plows at the insistence of men with guns. Fate could have it that rapid climate change will hit about the same time our international financial balloon has burst and resource depletion has left us without means to adapt to changing conditions. The fate of civilization? Poof! We’ll be just another layer of debris in the earth’s crust.

Extremely useful information.

I agree with much of what Heinberg writes, but I see his prediction of inevitable regression in response to energy and climate challenges as too pessimistic. He dismisses the amount of change for the good that can happen within the framework of the current society. Though I agree that big changes are ahead.

This is a supremely important and timely book. Richard Heinberg is, quite simply, one of the sanest and most important voices in the world today. This is a highly readable and surprisingly inspiring book. Read it and share it with all your friends. They (and you!) will be glad you did.

Este libro recoge 15 artculos del autor sobre LA SOCIEDAD POST COMBUSTIBLES FOSILES que es urgente desarrollar en el Siglo XXI1) Pues el nivel de consumo actual no es sostenible ni a nivel de Occidente ni a nivel mundial2) Pues el modelo de sociedad industrial basado en el consumo intensivo de combustiblesfosiles no es sostenible ni transferible a otros paises en desarrollo y especialmente a los grandes paises superpoblados: China, india,...3) Pues son los grandes intereses de las multinacionales del petroleo, de los paises del Golfo , de los USA ( petrodolares ) ... y las continuas guerras neocolonialistas e imperialistas ( presentadas como guerras civiles, guerras contra dictadores, guerras entre paises de segundo nivel, guerras contra el terrorismo que es financiado por los intereses antes citados.... ) en Oriente Medio, Africa,... el control del petroleo y gas es la causa principal de guerras y hambre en esas aereas del Mundo.4) El impacto medio ambiental es grave e insostenibleLas futturas generaciones ( pero tambien nosotros) pagaremos caro ( en pocos años) este modelo de desarrollo basado en una energia fuertemente dependiente del petroleo.Da a conocer el MOVIMIENTO USA para desarrollar un MODELO DE DESARROLLO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBLE en la SOCIEDAD POSCARBONO.

I've been a fan of Richard Heinberg since I read the excellent The End Of Growth but this was a disappointment.First it is a collection of articles and I've always thought that's a lazy way to write a book. Inevitably it means that compromises are made since the articles don't join together in a well argued thesis in the way you'd expect a proper book. There is a compromise of detail. An article is usually of a restricted length whilst a book leaves an author free to write without restriction and inevitably as each article is a stand-alone piece, there is some unwanted duplication of points.Second, I expected a book about what happens after fossil fuels and how we can best make the transition. This isn't what we have so the book doesn't live up to its sub title.As the author points out, we have a frightening coming together of problems which means that the world that we've known with its economic growth based on consumerism driven by cheap fossil fuel energy and ever increasing debts is not the world of the future. Sadly vested interests stop us making any kind of successful society-wide transition while things are good.The big imponderable is when will things change for the worse and how steep will be the decline.The book is immediately out of date as it doesn't reflect the crash in oil prices as Saudi Arabia refused to reduce their supply to balance out growth in oil from fracking in the United States. Instead of gradually increasing oil prices, we've had prices halve with an immediate drop in new wells but no reduction in output. The full ramifications aren't yet clear as the impact of bad debts move from the oil industry to finance providers isn't out in the open and nor is the expected short lifespan of fracking production which is likely to then lead to an oil shortage and surging prices.About my book reviews - I aim to be a tough reviewer because the main cost of a book is not the money to buy it but the time needed to read it and absorb the key messages. 3 stars is worthwhile.

Up to date on the great predicaments of peak oil, limits to growth, energy, and local resilience to global systems collapse. Warnings about the unhelpfulness of governments.

Great well researched. An easy read even if the content is a bit scary. I bought three more to give to friends and colleagues. Climate change is the biggest issue of our time. This book illustrates what we must do to avoid catastrophe.