Strahan has written a book that contains a wealth of information and which is as up-to-date data as is possible in book form. He makes the very valid point that peak oil is a reality and not a figment of someone's imagination. The science and the figures are there for all to see and the book marshals these very well.

The book misses, though, the obvious conclusion. I have every sympathy for the view that national and international approaches and/or "solutions" have little to offer. Which leaves us with local, grass roots solutions. I found it extremely frustrating that the book completely dismisses these as "lunatic". In an email to me, Strahan pointed out that the only lunacy would be if the national grid were to be broken up. Instead, he argued for an international grid!

Although he says that '...he does a lot of work with Transition Towns', he does not elaborate and explain exactly what his involvement amounts to. Judging from the book, it certainly seems as if he hasn't heard of the transition town movement. When I pointed out to him that the UK Industry Task Force on Peak Oil & Energy Security's recent report The Oil Crunch (2008) said that when a local enterprise goes pear shaped, this may be a disaster for that community but will not have any consequences for other communities. The recent events on Wall Street and elsewhere show us the accuracy of that observation. Strahan did not make any comment on this point in his response to me.

It's a pity that Strahan seems unable to acknowledge this view. This, in my view, spoils an otherwise readable and informative book. I guess if you bear in mind what is an approach that relies on "techno fixes" and the old and tried institutions (that have failed us in the first place) you may enjoy the book.

Martin Toch

Plan C is less of a "how to" manual than the Transition Handbook and more of an invitation to the American people to think deeply about their way of life, the problems and the solutions. Murphy explores the options.

Plan A "business as usual", unrestrained growth and consumption; Plan B, "green technology"; Plan D, "die off". He advocates Plan C, Curtailment and Community.

The priority for society as a whole is to "drastically reduce the consumption of fossil fuel energy and products. That means buying less, using less, want less and wasting less."

People only have any real chance of achieving this through the rediscovery of community values and localisation of food, transport, energy etc.

This is a thoughtful and inspiring read. Although, much of it is addressed to an American audience, the real power of the book is in contrasting community and consumer values (co-operation versus competition) and these are universal applicable.

RTT