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Original Essays | September 23, 2009

Jonathan Lethem: IMG Stops: On Those Things My New Novel Forgot to Be About, Maybe



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The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience

by Rob Hopkins

The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

We live in an oil-dependent world, arriving at this level of dependency in a very short space of time by treating petroleum as if it were in infinite supply. Most of us avoid thinking about what happens when oil runs out (or becomes prohibitively expensive), but The Transition Handbook shows how the inevitable and profound changes ahead can have a positive outcome. These changes can lead to the rebirth of local communities that will grow more of their own food, generate their own power, and build their own houses using local materials. They can also encourage the development of local currencies to keep money in the local area.

There are now over 30 "transition towns" in the UK, Australia and New Zealand with more joining as the idea takes off. They provide valuable experience and lessons-learned for those of us on this side of the Atlantic. With little proactive thinking at the governmental level, communities are taking matters into their own hands and acting locally. If your town is not a transition town, this upbeat guide offers you the tools for starting the process.

Review:

"Meant to be a guide and motivator, the handbook discusses how several U.K. towns are preparing for the twin threats of climate change and peak oil....It's a handsome book, thoughtfully designed, which may make its message a little more palatable to oil addicts on this side of the Atlantic." Robert Eagan, Library Journal

Review:

"If ever there was a book that empowered the reader, this is it. I'm struggling here to escape metaphors about having a tankful of petrol in my belly, but that's just what it feels like. Rob tells us that fossil fuels multiply the physical force of each human being by 70 times. Well, this book can do the same, but in a social way rather than a brute mechanical way, and to a positive end rather than a destructive one. It's not only a powerful read, but an easy one too. It flows along like a well-written novel, full of illustrations, well designed and produced. Anyone who has met Rob or heard him speak in public will recognize in its words the humor, power and humility of this remarkable person. The book is of course a product of the cheap oil era. But if we can create things of this quality, when the post-peak times come we have little to fear."--Patrick Whitefield, Permaculture magazine

Review:

"The newly published Transition Handbook is so important that I am tempted just to confine this review to five simple words: 'You must read this book!'"--Richard Barnett, Ethical Pulse

Review:

Library Journal--This book happily describes the British grassroots "Transition Towns" movement. Meant to be a guide and motivator, the handbook discusses how several U.K. towns are preparing for the twin threats of climate change and peak oil. Hopkins, a teacher of permaculture and natural building and a cofounder of the Transition Network, urges a community response—local sustainability made fun—in which groups grapple with issues like food, transportation, energy, building materials, and waste and even develop their own local currency. Hopkins takes our "addiction" to oil literally, and so we will read of "post-petroleum stress disorder," and see applied addictions psychology helping to ease the townies' withdrawal symptoms. It's a handsome book, thoughtfully designed, which may make its message a little more palatable to oil addicts on this side of the Atlantic. [ See the author speak about his book and ideas at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGHrWPtCvg0 ]

About the Author

Rob Hopkins is the founder of the Transition Network. Having successfully created an Energy Descent Plan for Kinsale in Ireland, which was later adopted as policy by the town council, Rob moved to Totnes in Devon and initiated Transition Town Totnes, the first UK town to address the issues of life after peak oil.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Michael O'Brien, September 26, 2008 (view all comments by Michael O'Brien)
After struggling with the challenge of how to put global warming and peak oil and gas into a positive framework, I was really excited to read Rob Hopkin's approach and the responses from the communities he has worked with. If you are seeking ideas on how your community can deal with fear and uncertainty, and turn those legitimate concerns into a course of acceptance, vision, and action, this book will be a useful guide.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781900322188
Subtitle:
From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience
Author:
Hopkins, Rob
Foreword:
Heinberg, Richard
Author:
Heinberg, Richard
Publisher:
Green Books
Subject:
Natural Resources
Subject:
Development - Sustainable Development
Subject:
Sustainable living
Subject:
Energy conservation
Subject:
Petroleum reserves.
Subject:
Energy policy
Subject:
Energy consumption -- Social aspects.
Subject:
Energy policy - Citizen participation
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Publication Date:
September 2008
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
240
Dimensions:
9 x 9 in

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