- Hardcover: 339 pages
- Publisher: Metropolitan Books (15 April 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0805080643
- ISBN-13: 978-0805080643
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 568,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"In my view, his analysis is spot on and anyone who ignores what he has to say could be in for a shock." --Anthony Giddens, Times Higher Educational Supplement
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have a read a lot of "modern" history and political books recently and been disappointed by almost all of them. Most writers rapidly degenerate into polemic and remain angry for 300 pages. This is a common theme for writers on both the right and the left and it adds little to the debate at the heart of the matter.
Therefore the genius of Michael Klare is to talk about one of the most sensitive issues in the world today (energy extraction and consumption) and let the facts and figures speak for themselves. There is no railing against anyone but the message is clear things cannot go on as they are. He even shows there are positive signs of change but it could all be thrown away by a single unexpected crisis.
The only problem with the book is how out of date it is already becoming. True there will always be a finite amount of oil and recession or no recession we are using it up fast but even though the book was edited in early 2008 a lot has changed since then, Medvedev is now president of Russia, Obama the new president of the US and the world has become mired in global recession. I would love to hear how this has changed things.
However if you want to see why world powers are courting such political minnows as Nigeria or Kazakhstan then this is the book for you. It's sobering stuff but always well explained and non judgemental. This is the intelligent explanation I have been looking for.
If you liked this there's more historical debate and fun at @HistoryGems on Facebook and Twitter
Therefore the genius of Michael Klare is to talk about one of the most sensitive issues in the world today (energy extraction and consumption) and let the facts and figures speak for themselves. There is no railing against anyone but the message is clear things cannot go on as they are. He even shows there are positive signs of change but it could all be thrown away by a single unexpected crisis.
The only problem with the book is how out of date it is already becoming. True there will always be a finite amount of oil and recession or no recession we are using it up fast but even though the book was edited in early 2008 a lot has changed since then, Medvedev is now president of Russia, Obama the new president of the US and the world has become mired in global recession. I would love to hear how this has changed things.
However if you want to see why world powers are courting such political minnows as Nigeria or Kazakhstan then this is the book for you. It's sobering stuff but always well explained and non judgemental. This is the intelligent explanation I have been looking for.
If you liked this there's more historical debate and fun at @HistoryGems on Facebook and Twitter
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Oil and other energy resources are the flashpoints of modern world politics, and they will be at the center of future conflicts. Author Michael Klare analyzes energy politics from a global perspective, presenting his points methodically, from continents to nations to oil companies, eventually working his way down to the pipeline routes that deliver the oil and natural gas to consuming nations. Although, because of this structure, the book at times reads like an almanac, the minutiae do not diminish the importance of the story Klare tells. getAbstract recommends this book to oil industry executives and other serious students of petropolitics.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Rising Powers Shrinking Planet
16 May 2008
Format:Hardcover
I found this book to be thorough, well written, and thought provoking. Though I had read other books about energy, this gave me a better understanding about the political aspects, changing alliances, and the extent of the problem. After several chapters that can be described as doom and gloom, Klare does offer some suggestions on the world's way out - if we make a serious effort to do so. I strongly recommend this book.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Worrisome Scenario
2 Jun 2008
Format:Hardcover
If anyone is wondering why we have such high gasoline prices in this country this book might give us some clues as to the reason(s) behind such increases in price- peak oil. But not just that- it's peak everything! Increasingly as China, India, Japan, Russia, United States, and Canada compete for natural resources, we are depleting them at a very rapid rate. The author thinks we are pretty much at peak oil and will soon reach peak natural gas in the next decade. Due to the increased competition for resources, alliances have been built to ensure access to these resources via weapons trade and security whether it be in Africa, Central Asia, or Latin America. Countries are even competing for the remaining 25% of oil reserves in the North Pole. Michael Klare believes that if this gun boat diplomacy build up continues, we will be looking at another global war which would be catatrophic for the world. Unfortunately, his suggestions for alternative energy sources are of little consolation give that research and development are still at the early stages and in no way can compete with petroleum. I seriously doubt diplomacy will work as Klare suggests given the history of world conflict and the quest for precious resources. I find the current state of world affairs to be very frightening. Nevertheless, this book provides important information that is sure to startle you. So if you want to understand world affairs and politics as it relates to oil and other natural resources, this book is a must. Highly recommend.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
A MUST READ FOR ALL
8 Aug 2008
Format:Hardcover
This book should not be read at night when alone. This book if read sober will scare the s*$# out of you. The truth has a tendency to do that to people. Every US citizen should read this book no matter your job, education, or whatever. Michael Klare hit a home run with this book.
As America sits in front of their TV stuck in a deep trance about American Idol or the latest screw up by some movie or pop star the world has been changing. Everyone still thinks things are like the way they were in the 50s, America sits on top of the world. I only wish things were like that. The recent spike in gas prices at the pump shows us all how things are NOT like the 50s.
This book shows the reader just how the world has changed. He chronicles the change in both the world and the world oil market. Rising powers, thus the name of the book like China and India have drastically increased their thirst for oil. This increase demand on oil from those two countries and others have changed the world oil market. At the same time the safe fields in places like Texas have dried up. This has forced the oil providers to go deeper into the world's sewage ponds to get that oil.Those ponds are increasing more and more violent and less and less stable. These two things are creating a unique market paradox. Prices have jumped as we all have seen.
The rising demand various countries are experiencing is pushing countries to work harder to secure that oil. Klare does a great job documenting how China is aggressively doing whatever it takes to secure that oil. Oil is no longer just a good. It is a strategic asset for almost every country. Every country defines not only growth but survival in terms of oil availability.
As a result of this new view of oil nations are posturing like crazy all over the country to ensure that their interests are taken care of. That is where the scary part of the book enters into things. The modern day suburban opinion is that man has evolved out of war. That is behind us. Of course the people that believe that are the ones who don't go to war. People forget two of man's bloodiest wars started by accident, over night. Klare puts it best:
"As the desire for ever scarcer energy supplies builds, the potential to slide across this threshold into armed conflict and possibly great power confrontation poses one of the greatest dangers facing the planet today"
After reading the book you will see what he is talking about. It pans out in the news almost everyday. Those readers who are Christian believers will really be shocked. The story of competition for oil reads a great deal like the prophesy of the end times spoken about in numerous books of the bible. It also reads like the old Hal Lindsey book in the 70s about the "Late Great Planet Earth".
Klare ends with a call for diplomacy to work things out. He is right about calling for that. However I doubt it will work. When you are cold from no oil or hungry or have your national pride wounded because of oil related problems nations might not be in the mood for diplomacy.
As America sits in front of their TV stuck in a deep trance about American Idol or the latest screw up by some movie or pop star the world has been changing. Everyone still thinks things are like the way they were in the 50s, America sits on top of the world. I only wish things were like that. The recent spike in gas prices at the pump shows us all how things are NOT like the 50s.
This book shows the reader just how the world has changed. He chronicles the change in both the world and the world oil market. Rising powers, thus the name of the book like China and India have drastically increased their thirst for oil. This increase demand on oil from those two countries and others have changed the world oil market. At the same time the safe fields in places like Texas have dried up. This has forced the oil providers to go deeper into the world's sewage ponds to get that oil.Those ponds are increasing more and more violent and less and less stable. These two things are creating a unique market paradox. Prices have jumped as we all have seen.
The rising demand various countries are experiencing is pushing countries to work harder to secure that oil. Klare does a great job documenting how China is aggressively doing whatever it takes to secure that oil. Oil is no longer just a good. It is a strategic asset for almost every country. Every country defines not only growth but survival in terms of oil availability.
As a result of this new view of oil nations are posturing like crazy all over the country to ensure that their interests are taken care of. That is where the scary part of the book enters into things. The modern day suburban opinion is that man has evolved out of war. That is behind us. Of course the people that believe that are the ones who don't go to war. People forget two of man's bloodiest wars started by accident, over night. Klare puts it best:
"As the desire for ever scarcer energy supplies builds, the potential to slide across this threshold into armed conflict and possibly great power confrontation poses one of the greatest dangers facing the planet today"
After reading the book you will see what he is talking about. It pans out in the news almost everyday. Those readers who are Christian believers will really be shocked. The story of competition for oil reads a great deal like the prophesy of the end times spoken about in numerous books of the bible. It also reads like the old Hal Lindsey book in the 70s about the "Late Great Planet Earth".
Klare ends with a call for diplomacy to work things out. He is right about calling for that. However I doubt it will work. When you are cold from no oil or hungry or have your national pride wounded because of oil related problems nations might not be in the mood for diplomacy.
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