The Crash Course (PDF)

The next twenty years will be completely unlike the last twenty
years.

The world is in economic crisis, and there are no easy fixes to
our predicament. Unsustainable trends in the economy, energy, and
the environment have finally caught up with us and are converging
on a very narrow window of time--the "Twenty-Teens." The
Crash Course presents our predicament and illuminates the path
ahead, so you can face the coming disruptions and thrive--without
fearing the future or retreating into denial. In this book you will
find solid facts and grounded reasoning presented in a calm,
positive, non-partisan manner.

Our money system places impossible demands upon a finite
world. Exponentially rising levels of debt, based on
assumptions of future economic growth to fund repayment, will
shudder to a halt and then reverse. Unfortunately, our financial
system does not operate in reverse. The consequences of massive
deleveraging will be severe.

Oil is essential for economic growth. The reality of dwindling
oil supplies is now internationally recognized, yet virtually no
developed nations have a Plan B. The economic risks to
individuals, companies, and countries are varied and enormous.
Best-case, living standards will drop steadily worldwide.
Worst-case, systemic financial crises will toss the world into
jarring chaos.

This book is written for those who are motivated to learn about
the root causes of our predicaments, protect themselves and their
families, mitigate risks as much as possible, and control what
effects they can. With challenge comes opportunity, and The
Crash Course offers a positive vision for how to reshape our
lives to be more balanced, resilient, and sustainable.