Why are so few peak oil authors women? There's been much debate about this, and no one has yet arrived at a definitive answer. But whatever the rea...
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reviews
Jul 30, 2011
All I can say is WOW! This book was great. So far the single best book on sustainable living in a peak oil, peak recession (depression) world. Lots of excellent advice on how to survive a crisis such as a natural disaster, economic collapse and very highly practical advice on how to survive in a "no energy available" situation. It is easy to think that in our modern, 1st world civilization this cannot happen, but in many parts of the world the electricity is only on for a couple hou
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May 29, 2010
Dunrie
rated it: 
Forecasting a future of reduced oil/energy and increased conflict, Sharon Astyk manages to remind us that what is valuable are our relationships with our family and friends and the communities we build.
At times, I found her alarm and her survivalist advice hard to take - envisioning McMansions as the new slums, counseling the reader to check with friends and family for where you can go with your livestock, advising I should have 6 months of food stored....
She is at her mo More...
At times, I found her alarm and her survivalist advice hard to take - envisioning McMansions as the new slums, counseling the reader to check with friends and family for where you can go with your livestock, advising I should have 6 months of food stored....
She is at her mo More...
Mar 23, 2009
Janice
rated it: 
Wow - this book was a real eye opener for me. Not so much the part about needing to be ready in case of a crisis, but more the ways that we can do that. I loved the ease that Sharon used to discussed Peak Oil and Climate without sounding like a text book. Although I don't see my family turning off our electricity any time soon, we have certainly found ways to conserve more. And we are trying to be less wasteful. We are definitely readopting my mother's and grandmother's way of living, "
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Feb 03, 2011
Ami
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I find myself incredibly conflicted with this book.
On one hand, I believe that the author is suffering from an extreme case of "The Sky is Falling" syndrome. Sharon Astyk paints a grisly picture of the world economically, environmentally, and politically. Entire continents without power, skyrocketing poverty, and rampant disease are only a few of the coming scenarios that she believes are on the way.
I also must admit that her extreme "environmentalism" se More...
On one hand, I believe that the author is suffering from an extreme case of "The Sky is Falling" syndrome. Sharon Astyk paints a grisly picture of the world economically, environmentally, and politically. Entire continents without power, skyrocketing poverty, and rampant disease are only a few of the coming scenarios that she believes are on the way.
I also must admit that her extreme "environmentalism" se More...
Oct 22, 2010
Maria
rated it: 
A must read for anyone who's concerned about Peak Oil and Climate Change. When I watched An Inconvenient Truth and A Crude Awakening a few years ago, I began to see the writing on the wall. The problem I had was, not many of the talking heads in these documentaries were offering concrete suggestions as to what ordinary people like me can or should be doing in light of the coming crises. There was a lot of talk about corporate and government policy change, and technological innovation, but as you
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Feb 17, 2011
Poiema
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If the dollar crashes, Americans could find themselves living the way that Grandma or Great-Grandma lived in the days of the dust bowl depression. Would it be B-A-D? Sharon Astyk shows us that in many ways, life might actually be enhanced. Less waste, slower pace, more satisfying work, a greater reliance on community, increased physical activity, local food networks--there could be a silver lining to the dark cloud of economic crisis. I do not share the world view of this author, yet find her co
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Aug 17, 2010
Lisa
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If I could just recommend one book for everyone I love to read, it would be this one. Sharon Astyk writes the incredible blog, Casaubon's Book, which I only discovered after I had read Depletion and Abundance. If you already know about peak oil (peak everything), economic instability and climate chaos, skip to the middle and begin reading her simple and doable suggestions for a meaningful life through simplicity, family, community, gardening, cooking, etc. I don't find her a bit "preachy
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Oct 03, 2009
Susan
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The subtitle of this book—One Woman's Solutions to Finding Abundance for Your Family while Coming to Terms with Peak Oil, Climate Change and Hard Times—pretty much tells the story.
This is not just another of those doom-and-gloom, batten-down-the-hatches-and-man-the-lifeboat handbooks we have seen so many of in the past few years. I've read most of those other books, and while they are helpful in understanding why we are where we are (in terms of energy depletion, climate change, and More...
This is not just another of those doom-and-gloom, batten-down-the-hatches-and-man-the-lifeboat handbooks we have seen so many of in the past few years. I've read most of those other books, and while they are helpful in understanding why we are where we are (in terms of energy depletion, climate change, and More...
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Aug 15, 2009
Shushlibrarian
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book, though I came away desperately wanting to know more specifics on how to prepare for the coming crises. For god's sake, woman, tell me how much food? What kind of pans I should have, how I can heat my house if wood is not an option? Where the heck would I get water in an urban setting? I loved that she is a breast feeding momma who grows and puts up her own food. It's rare to get the family perspective. Survival is a lot different when it's just you or you and a partne
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Jan 09, 2011
Jennifer
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I heard of this on NPR in an interview with Sharon Astyk and was inspired to read more. It's critical that we consider some, if not all of the techniques she details in her book. With the growing population and demand on resources, it's almost essential to begin reading some books like hers in order to better familiarize ourselves with the developing need to find alternative means of survival. It's at least food for thought.
Nov 20, 2008
PJ
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I read this on the tail of Orlov's Reinventing Collapse, and while the two share a similar forecast for future events and the breakdown of our society, this one offers more of a pragmatic roadmap for how to weather the storm. It's a bit more positive, but I'm still very indebted to Orlov for setting the stage as a preparation for this book. Lindsay is reading this and loves it too. Hopeful.
Jun 15, 2010
Helena
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I feel that "like" is the wrong word for this book. It's actually a pretty terrifying read, breaking down peak oil and climate change into understandable terms and telling us what could happen. The good news is that she also tells you how you can help, and how you can start preparing. I'd like to read it again, but that will have to wait, as someone else has requested the library copy I've got.
Nov 11, 2010
Patrick
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While I may not totally agree with Ms. Astyk's timeline, I certainly agree with the majority of her points about where we are headed and what needs to be done to get out of it or deal with it ourselves. This book is definitely more pessimistic than her book "Independence Days", which I enjoyed a bit more. Depletion and Abundance is, if I could some up, more about the importance of community building than strictly about preparedness in the more survivalist sort of sense.
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Apr 29, 2010
Laura
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I have read so much about peak oil and the approaching collapse of civilization as we know it that this book was more "preaching to the choir" for me. Found myself paging past all of the doom and gloom. I know! I get it!
However, it did challenge me to reconsider how much energy I am using and how to get along with far less. This chick managed to reduce her energy consumption by 90%. Wow.
I figure if I can reduce 10% each year, I can keep ahead of the electric c More...
However, it did challenge me to reconsider how much energy I am using and how to get along with far less. This chick managed to reduce her energy consumption by 90%. Wow.
I figure if I can reduce 10% each year, I can keep ahead of the electric c More...
May 17, 2011
ashley
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I wanted to LOVE this book, I really did. I had followed Sharon Astyk's blog for a while, but felt that the book needed to be edited further. I struggled through it, but ultimately feel that I best appreciate Astyk's observations in blog post format.
Sep 05, 2009
Bethany
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The author is pretty extreme. I wouldn't say that I agree with her on everything - I was a little freaked out with her ideas about population control - but she also had a lot of very practical, very useful solutions to living a simpler, less energy intensive life. I did find that to be helpful and informative. Overall, I think it's a worth-while read. However, I would read it with a grain (or 2) of salt.
Apr 22, 2009
Jill
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A bit of a scary book, discussing a future with less resources and many more challenges. However, it's a good read, and the author is hopeful, and presents things we can do now, and in the future to help. I recommend it.
Jul 20, 2010
Christopher
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The best of the "doomer" books I've read thus far, Sharon Astyk is passionate and practical, providing an excellent overview of how and why we arrived at the end of oil without a plan for a replacement energy source.
Jun 22, 2009
Ej
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Sharon Astyk makes me want to leap up and start canning. Reading Depletion and Abundance changed how I eat, started me gardening and inspired me to think long term about climate change and peak oil.
Feb 25, 2010
Jen
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There is nobody who writes quite like Sharon. What a knack for inspiring others to take on projects that others think are crazy, but which make perfect sense when you really think about it.
Sep 29, 2008
Jennifer
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OK, the current news is depressing, and maybe you're thinking that it's time to pack it all in and live in a shack back in the woods. And I'm kind of with you on that. But Sharon? She's already got her place in the country, and she is doing some AMAZING things with it -- even though she's working her tail off with four kids and a husband and a lot (I mean, A LOT) of farming and food preservation and living more simply -- and she's enjoying life. THAT is what we have to remember: hard times m
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Nov 29, 2009
Elizabeth
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I am mostly skimming through this book as it seems to go on a bit about the same thing. I enjoy the offset thoughts.
Around Part 3 I really got into reading instead of skimming. I found many of her ideas very interesting and I liked hearing how she lives out the ideals she proposes. Overall I just did not get behind the world is going to fall apart soon so be PREPARED.
Around Part 3 I really got into reading instead of skimming. I found many of her ideas very interesting and I liked hearing how she lives out the ideals she proposes. Overall I just did not get behind the world is going to fall apart soon so be PREPARED.
Sep 11, 2009
Susan
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Well, we'll either look back at this book and laugh at her babbling "The sky is falling", or look back at it and say "She saw it and tried to show us." Personally, I think about 75% of her recommendations are harmless, easy, and we should do them because it truly is the morally right thing to do.
Jan 31, 2012
LaCreta
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Good read, interesting info and I loved the emphasis on homemaking and self sufficiency!
Feb 09, 2012
Catherine
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Wonderful book explaining what peak oil and climate change are and how we can rework our lives to cope and ultimately thrive. There are many concrete suggestions that urban apartment renters can follow to make our lives greener and more sustainable. The author meets us where we are, and makes the ultimate goal of living a family-centered life on the land (even if the land is a suburban yard w/garden) seem reasonably attainable. I love this book!
Oct 23, 2008
Di
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I learned a great deal from this one. The book is auto-biographically written by Astyk to relate her low-input lifestyle and encourage/educate others to do the same. She's clearly well educated on the topics of energy, agriculture, and education, so her arguments come less from an extremist, doomsdayer and more from a realistic, academic perspective.
I appreciated the information and I hope to move towards her way of living.
I appreciated the information and I hope to move towards her way of living.
