The first two chapters were informative. The first consists mostly of factual things about environmental issues such as climate change, unrenewable energy and water crisis, and deforestation and its consequences. The first chapter also tells us how we are affecting and damaging it. The second chapter tells us about the cultures we live and lived in, and how things got into the current condition. Basically it blames consumerism, capitalism, or any culture that promotes profit over anything without regarding any sustainability of human life. However, the third chapter, which discusses how we can solve these problems, is a bit of a turn off for me, and I didn't complete it. Thom Hartmann's religious view plays a significant part as he formulated this chapter. For example, Thom claims that every little thing we do echoes more than we think and we should never underestimate our actions. To support this claim, he used Harvard's study that says intercessory prayers speed up healing. When I googled this study, what I found out is more studies found less optimistic results.

And unexpected, and warmly welcome, McKenna-infused call to action towards a de-centralised, nature-based way of life thay harks back to our ancient ancestors and dwindling indigenous tribes.

With a somewhat outdated rundown of the current state of affairs concerning natural resources like oil and water, Hartmann explains where we stand now and how we got there. His ideas on how we got here resonate with Riane Eisler's and Daniel Quinn's ideas, all the while having Terence McKenna in the undercurrent with his Archaic Revival.

I honestly did not expect this direction for the book, even as I am currently investiging communities, and am a staunch proponent of the archaic revival, and stand behind the ideas of McKenna, Quinn and Eisler.

The message is at the same time hopeful as overwhelming; creating a 'new' culture from the 'old'. It will prove to be our great work, and one that gives our future generations the promise of prosperity.

Only 4 stars because of the sometimes weak argumentation and lack of depth when mentioning phenomena or historic events, as well as the fact that the info on resources is outdated. 5 stars for the message though.

Recommended for newcomers to environmentalism, activism and/or the archaic revival (return to shamanic, tribal ways of life, as a means to a sustainable and meaningful future) - or if you want to know more about the connection between these topics.

EDIT: There appears to be a strong divide on the rating of this book, whereas many absolutely love it, and others appreciate the first half (the facts) and hating the last 'spiritual' part.

"The Ancients knew something, which we seem to have forgotten."
These words of Albert Einstein are apt in their placement within this book. This is the core of the book, and contains
the true sentiment of what the author was trying to convey, in many if not all aspects of the way we have chosen to live today. With the end of one fuel supply fast approaching (oil), hence the title of this book which I think clever, many other facets of life are discussed in an Older Culture versus Younger Culture format. We all miss the old days...why are we so hesitant to return to them. I enjoyed the details presented in this book, certainly do not agree with everything, but it did do one thing....make me open my eyes just a little bit more, and really see and think that we do all play a part in each others lives, and all of us need to take the lessons taught by those older cultures, put them to use in our own lives, teach them to our young, and above all else, remember them and do not forget them. R.

Saw this author in the DVD "11th Hour." He discusses the difference between living on "current sunlight" and "ancient sunlight."

Current sunlight is the energy we are currently receiving each day from the sun to our food source, etc. Most of our human history involved living with "current sunlight."

Since the Industrial Revolution, we have used "ancient sunlight. Ancient sunlight is the energy stored in the earth from fossil fuels, etc. Ancient sunlight is not an unlimited resource and has supported a human population explosion. He states that by using "current sunlight," the earth could support maybe 1/2 to 1 billion people. And the increase in our bloated population is conributing to our environmental problems.

Here's a Gore vidal quote used in the book:

"Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. either the host dies, or the [parasite] dies, or both die."

The author also discusses our view of nature. We can realize that we ARE nature, and that viewpoint will dictate how we treat our environment. When we see ourselves as "separate" from nature, we think of nature as a resource to be exploited.