Title: Over a Barrel: A Simple Guide to the Oil Shortage

Author: Tom Mast

ISBN: 0976444003

The following review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures &CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews

Written as a wake- up- call, Tom Mast’s highly readable book, Over a Barrel: A Simple Guide to the Oil Shortage, succinctly sums up in ninety pages the present day danger we face pertaining to the misuse of our energy resources.

The book’s primary objective, as outlined in the introduction, is to influence its readers to take a more active role in promoting less dependence on hydrocarbon fuels, particularly oil. In order to accomplish this objective, the author provides his readers with a general overview of understanding energy, oil’s role as a source of energy, the status of alternatives to oil, and the consequences of inaction.

As pointed out, we consume energy in four broad categories: residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation. The sources of energy are oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and other sources as hydroelectric, biomass (vegetation, animal waste etc), wind, solar, and geothermal sources.

Consequently, in view of the above resources that are available, it is essential that we encourage research and full co-operation between government and industry in order to find long range alternative fuels to oil.

It is also imperative that we understand that oil will not last forever and we must do everything in our power to cut down on its usage.

Did you know for example, that oil was created over 100 million years ago, and in little more than a century, mankind has burned approximately half of all the oil on the planet?

As the author further mentions, it has become increasingly difficult to find new oil reserves and that World oil discoveries peaked more than fifty years ago. Unbelievable as it may seem, the world uses three to four barrels of oil for every new barrel discovered. What this implies and what, according to the author we must understand, is that scarce oil and all the problems that will arise will occur not when all the oil is gone, but when we will not be able to keep up with its production.

The author’s forty years of expertise in the field of energy efficiency is quite in evidence with his brisk, informative and well written text. An additional enhancement is the bibliography that appears at the end of the book.