$20 Per Gallon: How the Rising Cost of Gasoline Will Radically Change Our Lives

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$20 Per Gallon: How the Rising Cost of Gasoline Will Radically Change Our Lives

by Christopher Steiner

3.45 · rating details · 211 ratings · 72 reviews

Imagine an everyday world in which the price of gasoline (and oil) continues to go up, and up, and up. Think about the immediate impact that would have on our lives.
Of course, everybody already knows how about gasoline has affected our driving habits. People can't wait to junk their gas-guzzling SUVs for a new Prius. But there are more, not-so-obvious changes on the horiz...more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published July 15th 2009 by Grand Central Publishing (first published June 4th 2009)

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Oct 28, 2009

Desiree rated it

Interesting look at how the rise of gasoline will actually help our country! The higher the price rises, the more cost effective alternative energy becomes. Lots of suggestions here. MDI is producing a car that runs on compressed air, but is having a tough time getting it approved in the US as it is too lightweight. Detroit has been telling us that hydrogen powered cars are right around the corner, but that is a big lie as there is no readily available source of hydrogen. GM has already wasted a...moreInteresting look at how the rise of gasoline will actually help our country! The higher the price rises, the more cost effective alternative energy becomes. Lots of suggestions here. MDI is producing a car that runs on compressed air, but is having a tough time getting it approved in the US as it is too lightweight. Detroit has been telling us that hydrogen powered cars are right around the corner, but that is a big lie as there is no readily available source of hydrogen. GM has already wasted a billion on this crap, thanks to American taxpayers....T. Boone Pickens touts natural gas, a dwindling resource. If we make hydrogen from natural gas, it makes carbon dioxide, and we all know we don't need any more of that!

Metabolix has a great idea, making plastics out of grain-based sugars rather than petroleum. It is also bio-degradeable, so it won't add to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a 1,000 mile patch in the Pacific Ocean that has more than 3 million tons of floating plastic trash!

The US Government has to step up to the plate and support our rail service. Instead of using out gas taxes to build and repair roads, why not put the money into the railroads? A rhetorical question, one that the powerful lobbyists have made moot. More than four times the amount of freight can be delivered per gallon of fuel by rail over trucks. Not to mention how efficient they are as people movers. All we have to do is look to Europe for examples....

We will also be moving away from petroleum based fertilizers. When you eat corn, soy, tomatoes or potatoes, you are eating natural gas as that is how our fertilizers are derived! Once the price rises high enough, we can go back to using electrolysis and water to make the ammonia that we need, rather than gas. We can also use that same ammonia for powering our cars. What comes out of the tail pipe after combustion is nitrogen and water.

I would definitely recommend this book to our current President. Implementing any of the ideas in this book would not only create tons of green jobs, but also clean our atmosphere and keep our money at home, where it belongs. Obama just came out in favor of rebuilding our electric grid, which is one of the first steps to creating a sustainable future! Wind and solar power needs to be consumed closer to where it is being made, as we lose lots of in on transmission. Also, if lots of us start driving plug-in electric cars, we are going to need that extra capacity.

Sounds like we really can have a bright future with gasoline at $20 per gallon!(less)

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Oct 21, 2009

Brenda Rupp rated it

This was not the usual sort of read for me. I was drawn to it by the title. The book was slower reading for me than my romance novels, but I kept with it and finished reading it. I think this book was well thought out, well written and was wrapped up well with the epilogue at the end. The studies being done in the United States, and other Countries are studies I was not aware of, so I learned a lot. The author put a lot of work into this piece, and it became very apparant that our United Sta...moreThis was not the usual sort of read for me. I was drawn to it by the title. The book was slower reading for me than my romance novels, but I kept with it and finished reading it. I think this book was well thought out, well written and was wrapped up well with the epilogue at the end. The studies being done in the United States, and other Countries are studies I was not aware of, so I learned a lot. The author put a lot of work into this piece, and it became very apparant that our United States has a lot of changes to be made in the future or we are going to be in a mess. If you are interested in the studies being done for alternate fuel methods here in the United States this is the book for you to read. I think everyone should be more aware of the direction our world is going in and the solutions we ourselves can put in place to help make a change for the future that matters!
The only reason I did not give the book five stars, is due to author using some words that were beyond the scope of my vocabulary. My husband said, when I asked him what a few of these words meant, that the author probably looked up some words to work in here and there to make the piece sound as if it were written at a higher level. He told me that most authors will write at a level which would be easily read by most who have any kind education in their back ground. I have an associates, I could pronounce the words but had no clue. I would read the sentence and Tom would tell me what the word meant by the way it was used, which I should have been able to do, I suppose, it just didn't need to be done. The author could have gotten his points across without the fancy language here and there, just as easily by using words everyone would understand.
The book really is a must read for those interested in our economy, and our environment. Steiner does show that the rise in prices, when hey happen, will finally drive us to do things to make our lives and the environment much better. This is a very provocative look at what our future holds -- a future that is coming sooner than we think!(less)

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Jul 22, 2009

Gaby rated it

Shelves: nonfiction, reviewed-books, arcs

Synopsis:

Engineer Christopher Steiner argues that the petroleum will become more scarce in the future and that the price of gasoline and oil will similarly increase. He then proceeds to extrapolate how price increases will impact us individually, as a nation, and globally.

The book is organized in a clever manner - each of the ten chapters describes a different scenario based upon the cost of gas. To sum up, here's the list of chapters:

* $ 4 per gallon: The...more

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Mar 26, 2010

Kevin rated it

Pretty interesting read. I have two complaints. The world he foresees is way too good. For example, the suburbs are emptied out and people just move to the city. It's not like there's any potential for conflict there! Also, by necessity, his predictions will be very wrong. Mostly because he really can't predict the future of gasoline. If gas takes 20 years to go to $6/gallon, the entire course of his mapped-out future will be altered due to the different level of technology available at the time...more

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Nov 19, 2009

Shushlibrarian rated it

Shelves: environment, sustainability-local, nonfiction-general, peak-oil

So, in the future, when gas hits $16 - $20 a gallon, I'll still be able to have hot house tomatoes in January and drive an electric car. In fact, everything will be pretty much hunky dorey, just a bit more expensive. Well, we won't be flying much anymore and will have to revamp the rail system. Oh - and the U.S. will start manufacturing our own products and not import them for pennies from overseas. But, no violence. No real disruption or discomfort. Just a scaled-down, more local, even cozy fut...more

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Nov 07, 2009

Dawn rated it

Recommended to Dawn by: NPR

Shelves: 2009, knowledge-nf

My review:

I was disappointed in this book. I expected so much more from it. I had a lot of questions crop up in the beginning, but as I went on a lot of them were answered, so that was good. However I think the structure of the book really caused it problems instead of being helpful. Chapters are grouped by gas price ($4 gas, $6 gas, etc.) and at the beginning this makes sense, but the last chapter have specific topics (Food, Trains, Energy), which lend themselves less to this kind o...more

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Nov 26, 2009

Sean rated it

"$20 Per Gallon" is a nonfiction book written by Christopher Steiner. It covers the topic of rising gas prices and its effects, culminating in the titular $20 per gallon future. The author systematically analyzes what would happen in various industries at various gas price increases. The book is divided both by the different gas prices ($4 per gallon, $6 per gallon, then eventually $20) and by different industries affected (auto manufacturers, Amtrak, and so on). Steiner systematicall...more

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Sep 10, 2009

Gordon Howard rated it

An interesting book, which I recommend highly for those who are environmentalists because it provides the economic argument for the changes it predicts as a result of higher oil prices - an aspect often ignored by environmentalists who tend to look at issues with a moral, not an economic viewpoint.

The one major flaw in the book is the author's claim that electric cars will not have the same hold on the U.S. that gasoline cars currently have because they will be expensive ($25,000 and...more

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Dec 07, 2009

Sherry rated it

I picked this up at the library on a whim. I was a little bit worried that it would be a long political diatribe either about the need to drill, baby, drill, (clearly, I hadn't paid attention to the subtitle), or else a long political diatribe about hugging trees. Fortunately, it was neither.

The book is what it says it is - a summary on how increasing gas prices will force our society to make changes that will ultimately be good for us.

The book is ordered by gas prices, s...moreI picked this up at the library on a whim. I was a little bit worried that it would be a long political diatribe either about the need to drill, baby, drill, (clearly, I hadn't paid attention to the subtitle), or else a long political diatribe about hugging trees. Fortunately, it was neither.

The book is what it says it is - a summary on how increasing gas prices will force our society to make changes that will ultimately be good for us.

The book is ordered by gas prices, starting at $4 per gallon, which is the price that gas reached in the June-August months of 2008. I hesitate to call them the summer months because while it was Summer to most everyone I know, I was actually in New Zealand. It was the dead of winter. And I calculated the cost that we were actually paying for petrol at almost $8 per gallon. That includes both the conversion of litres to gallons and the U.S. dollar to the Kiwi dollar. I kid you not. Of course, the taxes in New Zealand are higher, and the cost of living in general for that nation is higher. But, no matter where you live, $8 per gallon is substantial.

Because of the high price, we made some really positive changes to our lifestyles, like walking and carpooling more.

Steiner's book doesn't really focus on those tiny changes, and how could he? If gas is four times an amount that most Americans considered absurd, tiny changes like riding a bike are just that - tiny.

His book is broken into chapters of $4 per gallon (which is the introduction), $6 per gallon, $8 per gallon, on up to the final chapter about gas at $20 per gallon. For the most part, I thought this was an effective way of telling his story. Sometimes it meant that he had to leap to some pretty eyebrow-raising conclusions, and I wanted to say, "Napoleon, like anyone can even know that." But, on the whole his arguments are sound.

Two things struck me the most - we use oil for a lot of stuff. A LOT. I had no idea how much of the rubbish that fills my apartment comes from oil. That means when the price of oil goes up, the price of all my junk goes up too.

Second, when the price of oil goes up, the price of transporting all our junk everywhere also goes up. There's just no way around it. You've got to have a way to get your goods to you from their source, and that way almost always involve gasoline. When the price of gasoline goes up, the prices of goods goes up. (We witnessed this last in 2008 as well).

I don't know if all of the things that Steiner believes will happen will happen. Like I said, it's hard to make predictions on something like gasoline being $20 per gallon (and everywhere in between). Most importantly, though, is that gas prices will inevitably continue to rise (he makes a very sound case for this fact at the beginning of the book), and when they do, Americans (and people in other parts of the world) will need to adapt. Hopefully, as Steiner predicts, those adaptations will indeed be improvements to our current lifestyles.(less)

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Jul 02, 2011

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fun, non-fiction, summer-2011, library

Steiner guides readers through various stages of changes to American lifestyle as the price of oil grows ever higher. The areas he explores are not just limited to gasoline, but also to other products derived from fossil fuels such as asphalt and fertilizer. Insight from the book ranges from repeating things most readers will likely already know (a side-effect, no doubt, of preaching to the choir) to examining other facets that most overlook when thinking about life after oil. Overall, the book ...more

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Nov 25, 2011

Katie Trenerowski rated it

Recommended to Katie by: Michal Trenerowski

Shelves: non-fiction

I loved this book for the chapters $4/gallon through $14/gallon. I feel like it started to go downhill after then and everything that I read from $14/gallon was either (A) a stretch or (B) already discussed.

Here are some items that really got me thinking after reading this book.
- The importance of alternate or natural energy (i.e. - Windmills, Nuclear, etc.)
- Electric Cars
- High Speed Rail importance and the disability America has because we don't have a high-sp...more

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Jul 23, 2011

Paul Childs rated it

Shelves: economics

This was a quick easy to read book that almost makes you wish for higher gas prices. He makes it seem like all the world's problems would be solved if only we could run out of oil sooner.

While some of the problems he suggests are correct, and it is obvious that as oil gets more expensive things will have to change, I just can't see the $20 per gallon future that he is describing. At some point long before $20 a lot of the people will be forced to give up on oil as a source of energy....more

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Oct 03, 2009

Shinynickel marked it as to-read

Off this review:

$20 per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rising Cost of Gas Will Change Our Lives for the Better
Christopher Steiner (Grand Central Publishing)
The oil-hungry middle class is growing by the millions each year, just as oil production is peaking. The result will be steadily rising gas prices starting in the next few years—and that’s a good thing, according to Forbes writer Christopher Steiner’s provocative and farsighted book. In his vision, pricey oil will lead to an e...more

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Mar 02, 2011

David rated it

Shelves: energy

Steiner's predictions downplay the economic woes that are sure to come with any sustained increase in the price of oil. He suggests that we'll develop an impressive network of high-speed trains because we'll need them in the absence of high-volume airlines. We'll use wind power to generate fertilizers from water because we'll need an alternative to natural gas. We'll switch to electric cars because we'll need affordable replacements for our SUVs. Never mind that we'll be doing all this during an...more

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Nov 14, 2009

Amy rated it

I liked the premise of this book, and got quite a lot of enjoyment thinking about the changes high gas prices are likely to effect here in America. I found his arguments persuasive in the first few chapters (up to about $10/gallon)--I think these prices are close enough that the speculation more or less holds up to a sniff test.

However, while I found the later chapters interesting, there was no logic offered for why the changes he describes will occur in the order presented--if tech...more

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Nov 02, 2009

Charlie George rated it

Shelves: current-events, peak-oil

I ran across this in B&N trying to use an old gift certificate. I'm really looking forward to reading what looks to be the first optimistic peak oil book. It is written by a business-friendly, Forbes-staffer, capitalist vampire, so it may well be utter nonsense, but at least he acknowledges Peak Oil happening soon, now, or even recently.

The particular reason I say it may turn out to be nonsense is because the global economy seems to redline, flatline, and start suffering from termi...moreI ran across this in B&N trying to use an old gift certificate. I'm really looking forward to reading what looks to be the first optimistic peak oil book. It is written by a business-friendly, Forbes-staffer, capitalist vampire, so it may well be utter nonsense, but at least he acknowledges Peak Oil happening soon, now, or even recently.

The particular reason I say it may turn out to be nonsense is because the global economy seems to redline, flatline, and start suffering from terminal arhythmia at an oil price around $100 per barrel, so it doesn't seem likely industrial society will sustain $20/gallon gas for more than a few days, but it is remotely possible, and a very pleasant fantasy. I'll read that.

REVIEW:

I loved the subject matter and the fresh perspective on peak oil and sustainable energy. However, long tracts read like what they almost were: a long-winded, journalistic Forbes article. Entrepreneurship and unproven technologies are held up as the answer to all our ills. If I were being unkind, I'd say the whole book adds up to an elaborate "technology will save us" argument of a kind that has been thoroughly trounced by such peak oil luminaries as James Kunstler and Richard Heinberg.

However, that is too unkind and the book does has substantial value beyond these weaknesses. Foremost, it is refreshing to hear the doom and gloom, while acknowledged, put on the back-burner and an optimistic vision of the future economy trumpeted, with a profound sense of opportunity available for the far-sighted. Heinberg does this with one or two chapters out of each book, but he's a little too low-tech, granola-eating and business- and technology-averse for my taste. I suppose I'm looking for a happy medium.

Another strong plus was Steiner's treatment of the localization of future farming and produce production and delivery. Same goes for his examination of the future connection of our country by high-speed rail. I've read many authors' mention these things in passing, waving hands and leaving everything vague, but Steiner, in journalistic fashion, speaks to advocates on the front lines and paints a very detailed portrait of these and other processes, in glowing hues.(less)

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Jul 15, 2010

Greg rated it

Shelves: 2010, peak-oil

This book anticipates the effect of expensive petroleum on various industries, focusing on the ideal form of each industry as adapted to expensive energy. Unlike other books of this type, it doesn't dwell on the inevitable disruptions in each industry and in our daily lives and maintains a positive tone throughout.

Part of me is thankful for this collection of optimistic scenarios, some of which were truly inspiring. Part of me thinks this book isn't scary enough. If gas prices cl...more

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Mar 23, 2010

Kristina Pecora rated it

Shelves: socially-conscious-book-club

I enjoyed reading this book because the author has a solid, coherent style that makes sense. I had the impression the entire book, however, that he isn't an expert in the field, but a journalist writing on this topic, forming his opinions on the basis of the arguments of the experts he interviewed. This impression was confirmed by the last chapter, in which the author expounds on the glorious potential of Nuclear Power. I didn't think that's where he'd been leading me all along, and I was upset....more

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Feb 28, 2010

Dave rated it

Fascinating book, but Steiner tends to downplay the enormous havoc sure to accompany oil scarcity. When discussing the death of commercial aviation, the interstate highway system, Wal-Mart, the suburbs, and the so called American Way of Life, he reluctantly admits that these wrenching changes will hurt, but then moves on to a blindingly sunny analysis of how our lives will be changed for the better. It's nice, but at times doesn't feel all that real realistic.

Also, this book reads l...more

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Jul 27, 2009

Alison (Ali of Worducopia) rated it

Steiner acts like he can see the future. Yes, he backs up every assertion with facts and figures, but some of his predictions may turn out differently than he expects, and I'm sure there are other visions of the future. Still, this book adds a fascinating perspective to North America's current lifestyle. In the scheme of things, our dependence on petroleum products is a tiny blip on the radar of humankind--a blip that we're destined to leave behind at some point. We might as well suck it up and ...more

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Jan 30, 2012

Chris rated it

I really enjoyed this book, basically what happens when gas hits various prices (btw, starting flying places NOW) [and sell your SUV]. On the whole, he presents a really positive picture of what will happen, that is, unless you live in the suburbs in which case your home will largely be worthless in thirty years, etc., etc. In any case, he's kind of relentlessly optimistic--basically we'll all become Portland, which is nice, but a little naive. But, whatever, it's good to read a positive book...more

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Nov 28, 2010

Nick rated it

Shelves: 2010-reads

Phenomenal! This book paints a picture of what it will be like as gas gets exorbitantly expensive. This book has made me rethink everything around me. When you stop and look around, our world is oil. Plastics, fertilizer, cars, etc. There will be a revolution as the price of gas increases. Although this book paints a fairly rosy picture and assumes the best, I don't necessarily think things will go quite as smoothly as predicted. Brace yourself for the biggest complain session in the hi...more

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May 04, 2010

Kevin rated it

· review of another edition

The title of this book sounds absurd at first glance. I remember as a kid hearing my grandfather talk about the Great Depression. I remember thinking as a kid that would never happen in my life time. Then at age 30 in 2008, are markets all but collapsed in a matter of days. July 2008, crude oil spiked to 147$ a barrel. My point is simply this ... read this book and you'll be convinced that energy prices are going to go through the roof in the not too distant future. It is a good futurist, what i...more

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Nov 27, 2011

Kevin rated it

Shelves: non-fiction

Had such promise early on. Things were going from $4/gallon to $8 and $10/gallon and there were some very interesting changes that were occurring. Problem is, they got a bit dull after about the $10/gallon.

Maybe there were too many raw numbers thrown around. It's hard to conceptualize $25,000 costs versus $250,000 costs. While it was probably very significant, many points by the author using numbers were lost on me. Maybe it was the delivery. Maybe it was my losing interest. I don't...more

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Sep 27, 2011

Mark Schlatter rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: shreve, overdrive

There's lots of good stuff in the book, especially when the energy discussion intersects the author's civil engineering background. I especially liked the coverage of cogeneration, the need for a high-speed rail system, and the distribution possibilities for electric car batteries. But I felt like the attempt to break down what happens at $6 a gallon gas, $8 a gallon gas, etc... were too forced. I would preferred a focus on sectors of the economy (and how rising gas prices would affect them) ...more

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Dec 09, 2009

Clif Hostetler rated it

Shelves: current-events

Some day the $4 per gallon gas prices experienced in the summer of 2008 will be recalled as the good old days when gasoline was a bargain. In the long run, the author contends, the coming high prices for gasoline will be good for us.

Our addiction to oil, Steiner's research says, has contributed to all manner of ills, among them pollution, long and stressful commutes, poor nutrition, and insufficient exercises. As world demand for oil grows and supply plateaus or shrinks, the price ...moreSome day the $4 per gallon gas prices experienced in the summer of 2008 will be recalled as the good old days when gasoline was a bargain. In the long run, the author contends, the coming high prices for gasoline will be good for us.

Our addiction to oil, Steiner's research says, has contributed to all manner of ills, among them pollution, long and stressful commutes, poor nutrition, and insufficient exercises. As world demand for oil grows and supply plateaus or shrinks, the price will climb inexorably to unprecedented levels.

If Steiner is correct or even half-correct, then the direct hit to our collective wallets will become so pronounced that it will force most of us to change the way we live our lives and the way our country works. The good news is that we could eventually come out on the other side with numerous, significant societal improvements.

The inevitable effects the author foresees include the evaporation of demand for houses in far-flung suburbs, trains supplanting planes as the dominant form of long-distance travel within the country, and the gradual disappearance of disposable plastic items. In that context, Steiner sees healthier lifestyles, improved environmental quality, and many other benefits large and small.

The book takes time to describe some of the technologies that have (and don't have) a good potential to be of use in an economy where oil and its derivatives are expensive. It also speculates of which products and means of travel will be greatly diminished (hint: don't invest in airline stocks).

The book is divided into chapters discussing changes that will take place at each step along the way; $6/ gallon, $8/gallon, $10/gallon, and so on to $20/gallon. Predicting the future is not an exact science, so not everything is going to necessarily happen as described in this book. But the author provides enough statistics and reasons to back up his forecasts to make them very believable.

The author doesn't say much about how fast we will reach $20/gallon gas. One place he says we'll reach $10/gallon in ten years. So I suppose it follows that we can expect $20/gallon in twenty years. It is my own thought that the future will go in one of two directions. Either we will experience $20/gallon gasoline in the not too distant future, or we will have a depressed world economy. One thing we have learned from the past year's economic recession is that fuel purchases are greatly reduced when the economy crashes. That is part of the reason why current prices (late 2009) are less than $4/gallon. Viewed in this way, $20/gallon prices would be indicative of a vibrant world economy, which would be good news.
(less)

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Apr 07, 2011

Heather rated it

Recommended to Heather by: my husband (via npr)

Shelves: scifi-fantasy-speculative

Nostalgic, utopian... but *definitely* thought-provoking!! Steiner outlines changes that will occur as gas rises from the current $4 per gallon up to $20 per gallon.

The most interesting things were:
* finding out just how many products in our lives are based on gasoline and products
* realizing that if gas prices go up enough, travelling far (by plane) will be too expensive :(

However, I'll go with his vision of this future. It's predominantly exciting and posi...more

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Nov 08, 2009

Charlie rated it

This book takes an interesting turn in the energy debate. It bypasses the debate entirely. Instead of trying to convince the reader that global warming is happening, or that society is obligated to convert to clean energy, Steiner examines how America will react to the rising cost of a gallon of gasoline.

Each chapter is a price point ($4, $6, $8, etc.) highlighting the changes in American society at each. Steiner points out the effects of rising costs to fundamental industries and ho...more

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Sep 09, 2009

Christina rated it

Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Christina by: Rolling Stone

Shelves: journalism, non-fiction

Christopher Steiner's book "$20 Per Gallon" reads almost like really good science-fiction.

It starts with the premise that we've reached peak oil production (True.) and that we're not even close to peak demand because China and Africa are finally getting around to developing (True.), and that gas prices will go up pretty drastically when we reach peak demand (True, again.)

Steiner, a writer for "Forbes," looks at the likely consequences of the increases ...moreChristopher Steiner's book "$20 Per Gallon" reads almost like really good science-fiction.

It starts with the premise that we've reached peak oil production (True.) and that we're not even close to peak demand because China and Africa are finally getting around to developing (True.), and that gas prices will go up pretty drastically when we reach peak demand (True, again.)

Steiner, a writer for "Forbes," looks at the likely consequences of the increases in chapters cleverly numbered with the dollar figure.

At $6 per gallon, Steiner says, the SUV will die (Yay!) and any car companies that can't produce fuel- and energy-efficient vehicles will die with it.

At $8 per gallon, he says, most major airlines will die (jet fuel ain't cheap, after all, and airplanes use a lot of it). Fewer airlines means fewer airplanes, which means higher ticket prices (Boo!). Most college students won't be able to afford to go to colleges a few states over and go home for holidays and breaks, and most people won't be able to fly to other states to visit friends and relatives. So, Steiner says, we're going to see more people living closer to home. Oh... and Disney World will die, too, since most of its patrons rely on planes to get there.

At $10 per gallon, Steiner writes, people will start driving exclusively cars that use electricity or alternative fuels. (That's great if my Corolla is paid off before then.) Cities will start spending huge amounts of money to improve their public transit systems (New York already is).

At $12 per gallon, he says, there will be a mass migration from the suburbs back into the cities.

I'm partway through the $12 chapter and Steiner seems to be missing something... The migration into the suburbs started in the 1950s and 1960s, and was planned to disperse the population so that there would still be plenty of people if the major cities got nuked. So, I'm hoping that by the time we reach $12 per gallon, all of the nations with nuclear weapons will have gotten rid of them somehow, because a bombing in the renewed urban environment would really suck.

Steiner's topic is certainly intriguing. His writing is excellent, as is his story-telling. And I'd be extremely interested to see someone try to dispute his research because it looks very solid.(less)

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Oct 17, 2011

Sharon rated it

Shelves: kindle, overdrive

A ridiculously fun and articulate speculation of a future with very limited gas.

I guess some of these things may come true, but for me, the point of reading this was just to indulge in imagining a world that plays out the way I want, with people consolidating into cities and taking rail instead of private cars to most places.

The author does lots of research and talks with lots of experts, but I'm skeptical of how rigorous any prediction can be, given that most of what we can ...more

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About Christopher Steiner

Christopher is a civil engineer and a staff writer at Forbes magazine. His book, $20 Per Gallon, was released on July 15, 2009 by Grand Central Publishers.

Intrigued by rising gasoline prices in spring 2008, Christopher Steiner conceived of the concept for $20 Per Gallon when he wondered, simply, how will our lives change in a future of higher gas prices? A civil engineer and a staff w...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5833677-20-per-gallon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255808899m/5833677.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5833677-20-per-gallon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]$20 Per Gallon: How the Rising Cost of Gasoline Will Radically Change Our Lives by Christopher Steiner[/url]

$20 Per Gallon: How the Rising Cost of Gasoline Will Radically Change Our Lives

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