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.Reinventing CollapseThe A Word
Product Description
This new edition is an update on the growing similarities and differences between the collapse of the Soviet Union and the current unravelling of the United States. With sharp wit and dry humour, Dmitry Orlov shares his personal experiences in post-industrial living and argues that US collapse is survivable given the right attitude and preparation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are just too many books about peak oil and other imminent economic, social and ecological crises, which all seem the same. They go over familiar ground and display no new insight or real depth of thought. I'm tired of reading them. Too often the author is a recent convert to these views and lacks the authority or background to contribute anything new, concluding feebly that the reader should learn about gardening and drive a smaller car. Well, duh! as my kids would say.
What a refreshing change to read Orlov's quirky and thought-provoking book which takes the basic premise of looming crisis for granted, and gets straight into delivering his first-hand insight into the collapse of the Soviet economy in a fresh, non-mathematical way (there are no graphs or tables of data) and how most people survived it. Not only that, but all delivered with the wickedly dry wit of a native Russian, living in the USA, who is clearly tired of hearing Americans crowing that they won the Cold War.
To give an example from the introduction, Orlov mentions a survey of Americans which asked, "Will you be able to afford to retire?" (one third said no). Without stopping to go over familiar arguments, Orlov proceeds immediately to strip away the euphemisms and assumptions, and translate the question as "Will you survive when you are too old to work, if not, what are you doing about it?". From his Russian experience, he then adds "Here is a bad solution: get drunk a lot."
Although aimed squarely at an American audience, this book is just as valuable for Europeans, and I recommend it to anyone who realises that our high-consumption, supermarkets-and-jet-planes society cannot last much longer, and is interested in thinking right through what that really means. Orlov treats his readers as intelligent people who will reach their own conclusions, and do not need to be spoon-fed with fatuous recommendations. It's a treat.
What a refreshing change to read Orlov's quirky and thought-provoking book which takes the basic premise of looming crisis for granted, and gets straight into delivering his first-hand insight into the collapse of the Soviet economy in a fresh, non-mathematical way (there are no graphs or tables of data) and how most people survived it. Not only that, but all delivered with the wickedly dry wit of a native Russian, living in the USA, who is clearly tired of hearing Americans crowing that they won the Cold War.
To give an example from the introduction, Orlov mentions a survey of Americans which asked, "Will you be able to afford to retire?" (one third said no). Without stopping to go over familiar arguments, Orlov proceeds immediately to strip away the euphemisms and assumptions, and translate the question as "Will you survive when you are too old to work, if not, what are you doing about it?". From his Russian experience, he then adds "Here is a bad solution: get drunk a lot."
Although aimed squarely at an American audience, this book is just as valuable for Europeans, and I recommend it to anyone who realises that our high-consumption, supermarkets-and-jet-planes society cannot last much longer, and is interested in thinking right through what that really means. Orlov treats his readers as intelligent people who will reach their own conclusions, and do not need to be spoon-fed with fatuous recommendations. It's a treat.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This totally essential book covers the territory that no-one is willing to talk about. Once the banks fail (which they almost have) - and the economy fails, what then? This book draws lessons from what happened in the collapse in Russia in the 1990s - and how people did survive. Not always well - but they survived.
I was 3/4 the way through this at midnight and was determined to finish it so drank a double expresso - it's that riveting - for those who do want to know what might happen.
If you don't want to know, look at his blog ClubOrlov, and get really worried about what is likely to be on its way. Then you might want to read it!
I was 3/4 the way through this at midnight and was determined to finish it so drank a double expresso - it's that riveting - for those who do want to know what might happen.
If you don't want to know, look at his blog ClubOrlov, and get really worried about what is likely to be on its way. Then you might want to read it!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Makes some valid points about the structural weaknesses of the United States but ultimately descends into something that reads like a Putin funded rant against America. A sadly wasted opportunity because there are lessons from the collapse of the Soviet Union for America and there is every chance that the US will enter into real as opposed to relative decline.
It's a bit like watching Russia Today.
It's a bit like watching Russia Today.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Provocative And Daily More Relevant !
States collapse. The Anglo-Saxons have not seen it but Poles have, Germans have three times in one century, Austrians have, Russians have, Yugoslavs have .... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Black Prince
Very Interesting
Struggled to get into this book then found it very interesting. Certainly created plenty of afterthoughts on the way forward for the US economy.
Published on 28 July 2009 by AP Crocker
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