"Over a Barrel: A Simple Guide to the Oil Shortage" is a concise summary of the urgent oil shortage issue, written to be read by every adult. It provides a clear, balanced, and factual picture of the medium-to-long range role of oil in supplying the world’s energy needs, as well as an understanding of the many technical and social implications of the oil alternatives.
This book explores such concepts as peak oil and the resulting impacts that will follow in its aftermath, including worldwide oil production declines and increasing oil demand. Kenneth Deffeyes claims in his book Hubbert's Peak that in sixty years, production of conventional oil will be one-fifth of the present volume. How will our oil supply be able to meet the demand? Tom Mast gives us a unique insight into this dilemma and the issues of alternative energy sources and alternative fuels research.
"We can drive an SUV loaded with people and luggage twenty miles for the price of an ice cream cone."
"Alarmingly, we have not even settled on the technologies for oil alternatives"
"The transition to a hydrogen economy, if it comes at all, will not happen soon."
"A battery supplying energy to power a vehicle gives portability to all the sources of energy that can be used to generate electricity."
"The time has come to banish apathy and become more proactive in smoothing the transition from oil to energy alternatives."
