Book description
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.
CHRIS MARTENSON, PhD, MBA, is an economic researcher and
futurist who speaks to audiences around the world on The Crash
Course. He runs PeakProsperity. com, a popular website on the
global economy.
Chris began his career as a scientist, earning a PhD in pathology
from Duke University and an MBA from Cornell. He became vice president
of a large international company and believed he had achieved the
American Dream, living with his family in a large waterfront home in
Connecticut. He was jolted out of complacency by the bear market of
2001 and used his background in finance to investigate the workings of
our monetary system. What he discovered changed his life.
Today Chris lives with his wife, Becca, and their three kids in rural
Massachusetts, where they enjoy a more resilient and independent
lifestyle, with fewer things, better relationships with their
neighbors, and a higher quality of life.
