num_pages: 176
description: In the waning days of the American empire we find ourselves mired in political crisis with our foreign policy coming under sharp criticism and our economy in steep decline. These trends mirror the experience of the Soviet Union in the early 1980s. Reinventing Collapse examines the circumstances of the demise of the Soviet superpower and offers clear insights into how we might prepare for coming events.Rather than focusing on doom and gloom Reinventing Collapse suggests that there is room for optimism if we focus our efforts on personal and cultural transformation. With characteristic dry humor Dmitry Orlov identifies three progressive stages of response to the looming crisis:Mitigationalleviating the impact of the coming upheaval Adaptationadjusting to the reality of changed conditions Opportunityflourishing after the collapse He argues that by examining maladaptive parts of our common cultural baggage we can survive thrive and discover more meaningful and fulfilling lives in spite of steadily deteriorating circumstances.This challenging yet inspiring work is a must-read for anyone concerned about energy geopolitics international relations and life in a post-Peak Oil world.Dmitry Orlov was born in Leningrad and immigrated to the United States at the age of twelve. He was an eyewitness to the Soviet collapse over several extended visits to his Russian homeland between the late eighties and mid-nineties. He is an engineer and a leading Peak Oil theorist whose writing is featured on such sites as www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net and www.powerswitch.org.uk.
language: English
title: Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects
publisher: New Society Publishers