Rating: 
Summary: 2009, party over- Oops, outta gas!
Review: This is a well written book whose evident purpose is to draw attention to the argument that the recent jump in gasoline prices- due in part to disruption of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico thanks to the 2004 hurricane season- is a harbinger of things to come... that is, sooner, rather than later.
However, that basic alleged fact can be stated rather succinctly, as in the final sentence of the book: "Civilization as we know it will come to an end sometime in this century unless we can find a way to live without fossil fuels."
Since one can't sell a book that's comprised of only a single-sentence, much of the book is spent discussing the basic scientific underpinnings of our energy-intensive way of life, along with the historical context of those discoveries, and important environmental issues concerning energy production and consumption.
Unfortunately, that "digression" is likely to be too complicated for the average reader to digest, while often seeming like little more than a quickie refresher course in thermodynamics for technical types.
I'm in the latter category, and there were certainly a few things in Dr. Goodstein's book that I didn't know (e.g., that thorium is more plentiful than uranium, and can be used in a breeder reactor). Unless you're not technically minded at all, this book is worth the relatively little time it takes to read.
Rating: 
Summary: An Introduction to Energy Physics from Yester-year
Review: This short venture into the issue of Peak Oil by a distinguished physicist is a nice introduction to the important concepts in energy physics for the science-oriented high-school sophomore or for the college freshman liberal-arts student. Moreover, if Joe Voter simply skips Chapters 3 and 4 (where Goodstein presents a rather boring basis for the difference between conservation of energy and utilization of fuels), it becomes a brief, informative, and interesting introduction to the problems of our looming energy crisis for the average citizen. While the general physics presented is at least 99% correct and the energy-related data and projections are also generally sound, the book is not without technical problems. First of all, Goodstein completely dismisses, without justification, all biofuels as having negative value. He is clearly unaware that the most recent USDA studies show grain ethanol to permit energy balance up to 1.77, cellulosic ethanol well above 2.2, and other advanced biofuel options ultimately above 3. Surprisingly, his view of wind energy is only slightly less pessimistic than his view of biofuels. The other major problems center around the nuclear issue. He seems to believe the global uranium reserves are sufficient to supply all the world's energy for up to 25 years. Quite to the contrary, the IAEA indicates the total global uranium reserves (5 million tones) of usable quality are sufficient to sustain only existing nuclear power plants (which furnish less than 20% of the world's electricity), with a 2% annual growth rate, only through 2040. Others believe the usable uranium resources are 30% smaller, and processing the low-grade reserves (hard ores with U content below 0.02%) would be too expensive and result in too much CO2 release. Goodstein also trivializes the problems of developing successful breeder and fusion reactors; and he, like many, suffers from the hydrogen hype syndrome. For a more informed perspective on this subject, see my "Fuels for Tomorrow's Vehicles" or "The Hype About Hydrogen" by Romm. For a much more detailed and up-to-date discussion of all major aspects of energy, see "Energy at the Crossroads" by Smil. The heavy sprinkling of anecdotes from the history of science helps to keep "Out of Gas" interesting, but Goodstein's infatuation with the archaic Stirling engine just accentuates his lack of appreciation for modern engines, power cycles, and engineering in general. The book's success has no doubt in large part been due simply to the coincidence of its release with the rapid rise in the price of gas. Possibly because the book was largely written before the price of oil and gas shot up, it doesn't take a very strong position predicting that Peak Oil may occur within a few years. For the most authoritative treatment of the Peak Oil issue, see "The Coming Oil Crisis" by Campbell. - F. David Doty, engineering physicist.
Rating: 
Summary: physics A, economics F
Review: Yet another natural scientist with expertise in his own field while failing to understand basic economics to sort through the ramifications of scientific findings. 1) as the supply of gas/oil decrease, the price increases leading to less demand 2) the author holds out little hope for technological gains over the next 20-30 years, yet this is completely unconvincing. 3) Goodstein's narrative of the 1973 oil embargo is flawed as he fails to mention US government price controls more than OPEC were responsible for the winding lines at the pump. In the 1980s, a group of Stanford scientists modeled the supply/demand of oil for 1997. They predicted around $80/barrel when in fact oil was under $20/barrel. Goostein's predictions will prove about as accurate. 2 stars for content discussing the natural science aspects.
| 
