The Ecotechnic Future

Envisioning a Post-Peak World

By: John Michael Greer

Narrated by: Tony Craine

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

The industrial age made possible by fossil fuels will surely decline as these fuels run out. In The Ecotechnic Future John Michael Greer alerts the listener to possible changes future generations may face as these dwindling fuel supplies lead first to a deindustrial age, then to a society which salvages the remnants of our current plenty, and eventually to a time in which people may learn to live in balance with the environment: an ecotechnic society.

©2009 John Michael Greer (P)2010 Polity Audio LLC

Critic reviews

"Greer's work is nothing short of brilliant. He has the multidisciplinary smarts to deeply understand our human dilemma as we stand on the verge of the inevitable collapse of industrialism. And he wields uncommon writing skills, making his diagnosis and prescription entertaining, illuminating, and practically informative. Not to be missed." (Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute)

EROI concept and solar missed

The book presents good insights in various topical area. However, a consistent theme is that fossil fuel is diminishing and nothing can be done about it. Humanities and cultures has to adapt in stages.

In defining the concept of "net energy", the author misunderstand the concept of energy return on energy investment. Yes, fossil fuel and tar sand are low in "net energy" or low EROI and this applies to bioethanol. However, in energy research circles the EROI is not fixed but subject to two factors: source deterioration (or less probable improvement) and technology improvement.
The author is ignoring solar energy and labeling it as low in "net energy" permanently. This is not the case, Currently, solar energy has improved to a great extent becoming in some geographies the cheapest energy source ever (2 us cents per kWh). We expect lowering of this cost further in future. Concentrated fossil fuels are dense, yes, but synthetic fuels can be made using cheap electricity from solar and wind. Transportation can be electric (trains and cars) and the aviation can use synthetic fuels or continue to use fossil fuels (with balancing carbon capture).

Is there possibility of technological collapse? may be. However, it is also possible that humanity under improved renewable electricity could usher a new era of improvment.

Energy is dynamic and improvements and deteriorations are acting at the same time. Energy efficiency in using the energy could reduce the energy needs. It has been demenstrated that a building can be kept worm not by an external energy but thermal energy of the sources inside (human bodies, electrical and electronic equipment).

Negative future is possible but positive future is possible too. We can steer toward a good one.

Best, JH, physicst and inventor

Future world view minus the apocalyptic claptrap

I listened to JMG'S book "Rise and Fall" prior to this one. I would suggest readers do the same. The greater the number of decades you have lived, the better able you are to see the future he outlines. Regardless of your political beliefs or scientific knowledge, you will learn from this text and have much to ponder. Our society is destined to change significantly as petroleum supplies decline and arguably we are just beginning to see these changes. Mr Greer's book describes a future much different than what most people envision. This is an excellent book to encourage your offspring to read if you're a parent.

A possible future?

While some might have issues with the author's religion, the book itself offers an interesting preview of a world that may come, perhaps sooner than we think. Ecotechnic Future synthesizes current issues and debates and posits a possible future of declining energy availability and the consequences for our civilization. While The Ecotechnic Future may be depressing to some, I found the work insightful and thought provoking. It is useful to remember that we are living in a fossil fuel age that is but a blip in the long story of humanity. What the book examines is what may come after our energy rich blip has passed. I'd recommend this book for people interested in environmental issues or people interested in looking at a possible human future via the long duree.

Listened to five times now!

An important book visioning the future. It inspires me to skill up. I listen to it while gardening.

not the apocalypse you were expecting

Would you try another book from John Michael Greer and/or Tony Craine?

I'm definitely getting more JMG books.

What other book might you compare The Ecotechnic Future to and why?

Dmitri Orlov

How could the performance have been better?

Won't work on my Sansa Clip Zip unless I convert it to MP3 first.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Movie? We're living it!

Any additional comments?

Great wake up call from a lot of modes of thinking that turn out to be very old after all. I thought I got some exposure from being an English major in college, but apparently a lot of the good stuff wasn't on the reading list. Would have loved to have this guy as a prof. because he shows the pitfalls of different ways of thinking.

Wow

Second book from Greer and his observational skills and abilities to transform them into wisdom are unmatched.

In depth evolutionary & historic view of our futur

What did you love best about The Ecotechnic Future?

This is a wide reaching historic and evolutionary account and view of human endevours with a view to show that we are heading for the cliff, nature does not care, but that we should change course completely for our own sake. Should be read by anyone who has some sanity left

What other book might you compare The Ecotechnic Future to and why?

Eaarth, The Great Turning,

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some of it is really scary and hard hitting stuff, which is hard to stomach

Any additional comments?

Absolutely worth every minute

Thoughts On Autumn, Written In Late Summer

In The Ecotechnic Future, the ever-interesting, ever well-read John Michael Greer gives us his take on how the world will change as Peak Oil increasingly becomes felt. His viewpoint is appreciated: he gives his theories and predictions without falling into either fantasies of green utopianism or visions of Mad Max-style anarchy. Sober, I think, is the word to describe it. It'll be harder for all of us, and that is sad, but it is what it is.

The book starts with a discussion of general principles before getting into a topic-by-topic discussion of such subjects as Food, Work, Culture, and Science. Those familiar with his other work will recognize his way with words. In describing his writing style, the first thing that comes to mind is Greer-like. Yes, John Michael Greer's prose is very Greer-like.

Tony Craine gives a fine reading. As much as I enjoyed the mad wizard flavor that Kristoffer Tabori gave Greer's "Decline And Fall" (also on Audible), I think Craine did the right thing by reading this book in a dispassionate manner.

Started out well

The book started out very well, with plenty of good information. The last two chapters of the book felt like the author was trying to use the biggest words he possibly could to prove his intellect. Do yourself a favor and just skip the last two chapters.

Not a Futuristic Book

Instead it was a politically-driven, make-a-quick-buck book that dipped into singing to the choirs of anti-humanism and anti-Americanism choirs of its period, pandering to the popular superior-to-thou negativity of the Left while making popular political passing swipes at the Right (a popular thing to do, which sells).

The book's doomsayings have since been proven wrong, mainly due to the usual refusal of the ontrol-crazed Left to acknowledge the self-correcting effects of free unplanned market forces (which best react to chaos).

And to think that there are armies of such negative mentalities out there this very day who are clawing at the edifices that they wished the demise of in their seemimgly safe doomsaying, engaged in blind destruction only to prove their errant misperceptions right and save face, faces not worth saving.

Interesting were the concepts and terminology of ecologists.