BOOK: A Dose of Truth Serum - Fracking's False Promise

[Oscar]

A Dose of Truth Serum

Today, we release a critical new book: SNAKE OIL: How Fracking's False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future.

[ http://www.amazon.com/Snake-Oil-Frackin ... ap_title_0 ]

Written by PCI Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg, SNAKE OIL casts a critical eye not only on the environmental impacts of new oil and gas production but also on the industry hype that has hijacked America’s energy conversation.

Editorial Reviews
Review

Those who think fracked gas is a panacea for our energy future would do well to read this cautionary account--it has an undeniable whiff of reality about it. -- Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist

Many long-time observers of the world energy scene have been wondering whether claims being made for US shale gas and tight oil are "too good to be true." Here is hard evidence that they are indeed. America will achieve real, long-term energy independence and security only by doing two things: reducing energy demand and developing distributed renewable energy sources. -- Michael Klare, Director of Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College, author of The Race for What's Left

We are already living with the false promise that fracking would not harm the environment. Now read the facts about the false promise that it will provide an energy-secure future and lots of jobs. Snake Oil debunks all the myths. It is a must-read for our elected leaders. -- Maude Barlow, Board Chair of Food & Water Watch and author of Blue Covenant

Unconventional production from shales has been hyped mercilessly by the oil and gas industry. Richard Heinberg does an outstanding job of purging the myths and bringing sensibility to a dialogue which, unfortunately, has been driven by a brand of thinking on the part of energy producers that closely mimics the mentality of Wall Street. -- Deborah Rogers, founder of Energy Policy Forum, former Wall Street financial analyst

Snake Oil exposes the unsustainable economics behind the so-called fracking boom, giving the lie to industry claims that natural gas will bring great economic benefits and long-term energy security to the United States. In clear, hard-hitting language, Heinberg reveals that communities where fracking has taken place are actually being hurt economically. For those who want to know the truth about why natural gas is a gangplank, not a bridge, Snake Oil is a must-read. -- Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club and author of Coming Clean

About the Author

RICHARD HEINBERG is the award-winning author of ten previous books including THE PARTY'S OVER, POWERDOWN, and THE END OF GROWTH. A Senior Fellow at Post Carbon Institute, he is one of the world's foremost energy educators and communicators about the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels. He is a recipient of the M. King Hubbert award for excellence in energy education and since 2002 has given over five hundred lectures on fossil fuel depletion to audiences around the world. He has been published in 'Nature,' the world's premiere scientific journal; he has been quoted in 'Time' magazine and other major publications; and he has been interviewed on national radio and television in seven countries.

SNAKE OIL is available as both a paperback and Kindle.

WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!

This book is our first using the Community Engagement Model of publishing. Thanks again to the nearly 400 early supporters who not only funded the publication, but also helped Richard shape the content as real-time editors.

Because this is a self-published book, we’re relying entirely on our community to get the word out. Please take a moment and tell your friends and peers via email, social media post or, heck, even in person.

Some suggested Tweets/FB posts:

The anti-fracking book we’ve all been waiting for is here: http://bit.ly/FrackFighters #snakeoil

New book by Richard Heinberg tackles fracking’s false promises: http://bit.ly/FrackFighters #snakeoil

Big Energy lies exposed in SNAKE OIL: How Fracking’s False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future:
http://bit.ly/FrackFighters #snakeoil

This is a critical book for a critical time. Fracking threatens watersheds, drinking supplies, public health, national security and common sense in an ever-increasing number of states and countries. SNAKE OIL empowers activists and citizens everywhere with the truths about a dirty energy fraud.

(Interviews/media inquiries > media@postcarbon.org)

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Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2013

The rapid spread of hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") has temporarily boosted US natural gas and oil production... and sparked a massive environmental backlash in communities across the country. The fossil fuel industry is trying to sell fracking as the biggest energy development of the century, with slick promises of American energy independence and benefits to local economies. SNAKE OIL casts a critical eye on the oil-industry hype that has hijacked America's energy conversation. This is the first book to look at fracking from both economic and environmental perspectives, informed by the most thorough analysis of shale gas and oil drilling data ever undertaken. Is fracking the miracle cure-all to our energy ills, or a costly distraction from the necessary work of reducing our fossil fuel dependence?