Power Trip: From Oil Wells to Solar Cells--Our Ride to the Renewable Future

by Amanda Little

Overview

Power Trip is an adventurous, wonk-free, big-picture, solutions-oriented narrative by leading young journalist Amanda Little that maps out the history and future of America’s energy addiction. Infused with next-generation candor and optimism, Power Trip examines the ways in which oil and coal have shaped America as an international superpower—even as they posed political and environmental dangers to the nation and the world. Hard-hitting yet optimistic, Power Trip is a manifesto for the younger generations who are inheriting the earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061885143
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/03/2009
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	723
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Amanda Little’s award-winning columns on green politics and innovation have appeared in Grist.org, Salon.com, and Outside magazine. Her articles have been published in the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Wired, O, The Oprah Magazine, and the Washington Post. She lives with her husband and daughter in Nashville, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Confessions of a Petroleum Addict ix

Part 1 Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Oil: The Story of the American Century

1 Over a Barrel: The Boom and Bust of America's Domestic Oil Empire 3

2 War and Grease: How Oil Built and Sustains a Military Superpower 71

3 Road Hogs: Why a Hundred Years of Joyriding Has Us Running on Empty 129

4 Plastic Explosive: From Baggies to Boob Jobs-Our Love Affair with Synthetics 179

5 Cooking Oil: How Fossil Fuels Feed the World (and Energy Shortages Could Starve It) 237

6 Chain of Fuels: The Story of a 20,000-Mile Spinach Salad 289

7 Short Circuits: Why a High-Tech Superpower Has a Third-World Grid 333

Part 2 Greener Pastures: The Dawn of the New Energy Era

8 Earth, Wind, and Fire: How Renewable Energy Will Dethrone the Powers That Be 391

9 Autopia: Detroit Does the Electric Slide 455

10 City, Slicker: Building Energy-Smart Homes and the Cities of Tomorrow 509

11 Fresh Greens: Not Your Grandma's Eco-Movement-Meet the New Pioneers 561

Acknowledgments 607

Notes 613

Bibliography 713

What People are Saying About This

Jim Cooper

“Charming, fun, and deeply informed, Power Trip is a great way to get a handle on our energy and environmental future. Little talks to the key players across America, digs into the reasons we have so many problems, and finds hope for a better world ahead.”

Jim Rogers

“It’s hard to imagine a book about energy that would appeal as much to a business executive as it would to an eco-activist-or, for that matter, to a soccer mom, a farmer, a politician or a student. Here it is . . . a must-read for everyone.”

Robert Redford

“Power Trip takes a most timely and complicated issue and weaves a fast, fun, and gripping story—one that’s both candid and unflinching in its approach. Amanda represents the best of a new young perspective, a new voice of green.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Power Trip offers a panoramic view of our energy crisis, exploring past, present, and future with hope, passion and humor. Whether you are liberal or conservative, expert or novice, young or old, you’ll find adventure and insight in this book.”

Daniel Yergin

“Lively, engaging and most thought-provoking. . . . Little answers the questions that perplex many-and, so importantly, identifies the key questions that only the future will answer.”

Steven Johnson

“A wonderfully illuminating voyage. Little charts a fresh path outside the usual doctrinaire accounts on energy. Her intelligence and enthusiasm will change the way you think about the future.”

Andrew Shapiro

“Combine the historical intrigue of Jared Diamond, the journalistic flare of Tom Wolfe, and the passionate advocacy of Rachel Carson-and you get Power Trip. Amanda Little’s multifaceted approach makes this the one book about our energy past and future that everyone should read and all will enjoy.”

Bill McKibben

“Energy is the most important story in the world bar none, and no one has ever told it with more verve than Amanda Little. If you want to know how the world works, and why it may not work much longer, this is the book you need.”

Editorial Reviews

Ambitious and highly readable. . . . [Little] expertly ties together disparate strains of history to make her case. . . . Jargon-free and written with a fine eye for detail-one of the best books on America’s energy crisis to emerge in recent years.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Power Trip offers a panoramic view of our energy crisis, exploring past, present, and future with hope, passion and humor. Whether you are liberal or conservative, expert or novice, young or old, you’ll find adventure and insight in this book.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., co-author of Not a Drop to Drink: America's Water Crisis

“Energy is the most important story in the world bar none, and no one has ever told it with more verve than Amanda Little. If you want to know how the world works, and why it may not work much longer, this is the book you need.” — Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future

“Power Trip takes a most timely and complicated issue and weaves a fast, fun, and gripping story—one that’s both candid and unflinching in its approach. Amanda represents the best of a new young perspective, a new voice of green.” — Robert Redford

“Lively, engaging and most thought-provoking. . . . Little answers the questions that perplex many-and, so importantly, identifies the key questions that only the future will answer.” — Daniel Yergin, Pulitizer Prize-winning author of The Prize: the Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power

“A wonderfully illuminating voyage. Little charts a fresh path outside the usual doctrinaire accounts on energy. Her intelligence and enthusiasm will change the way you think about the future.” — Steven Johnson, bestselling author of The Ghost Map and The Invention of Air

“It’s hard to imagine a book about energy that would appeal as much to a business executive as it would to an eco-activist-or, for that matter, to a soccer mom, a farmer, a politician or a student. Here it is . . . a must-read for everyone.” — Jim Rogers, Chairman and CEO of Duke Energy

“Charming, fun, and deeply informed, Power Trip is a great way to get a handle on our energy and environmental future. Little talks to the key players across America, digs into the reasons we have so many problems, and finds hope for a better world ahead.” — Congressman Jim Cooper, Nashville, TN

“Combine the historical intrigue of Jared Diamond, the journalistic flare of Tom Wolfe, and the passionate advocacy of Rachel Carson-and you get Power Trip. Amanda Little’s multifaceted approach makes this the one book about our energy past and future that everyone should read and all will enjoy.” — Andrew Shapiro, founder and president of GreenOrder

From the Publisher

Combine the historical intrigue of Jared Diamond, the journalistic flare of Tom Wolfe, and the passionate advocacy of Rachel Carson-and you get Power Trip. Amanda Little’s multifaceted approach makes this the one book about our energy past and future that everyone should read and all will enjoy.

Andrew Shapiro

Charming, fun, and deeply informed, Power Trip is a great way to get a handle on our energy and environmental future. Little talks to the key players across America, digs into the reasons we have so many problems, and finds hope for a better world ahead.

Congressman Jim Cooper

It’s hard to imagine a book about energy that would appeal as much to a business executive as it would to an eco-activist-or, for that matter, to a soccer mom, a farmer, a politician or a student. Here it is . . . a must-read for everyone.

Jim Rogers

A wonderfully illuminating voyage. Little charts a fresh path outside the usual doctrinaire accounts on energy. Her intelligence and enthusiasm will change the way you think about the future.

Steven Johnson

Lively, engaging and most thought-provoking. . . . Little answers the questions that perplex many-and, so importantly, identifies the key questions that only the future will answer.

Daniel Yergin

Power Trip takes a most timely and complicated issue and weaves a fast, fun, and gripping story—one that’s both candid and unflinching in its approach. Amanda represents the best of a new young perspective, a new voice of green.

Robert Redford

Energy is the most important story in the world bar none, and no one has ever told it with more verve than Amanda Little. If you want to know how the world works, and why it may not work much longer, this is the book you need.

Bill McKibben

Power Trip offers a panoramic view of our energy crisis, exploring past, present, and future with hope, passion and humor. Whether you are liberal or conservative, expert or novice, young or old, you’ll find adventure and insight in this book.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"Charming, fun, and deeply informed, Power Trip is a great way to get a handle on our energy and environmental future. Little talks to the key players across America, digs into the reasons we have so many problems, and finds hope for a better world ahead."

Congressman - Jim Cooper