Recommended Books By Dr. Roger L. Cory From His Personal Library

Roger has been studying the issue of peak energy for more than ten years - long before it became fashionable. Since he has one of the most comprehensive energy-related libraries, we have asked him to submit his top ten peak energy-related books with his personal comments with highlights of each book’s value to the energy-minded investor. We have added a hyperlink for each book which will go directly to the Amazon Books website for those wishing to own a personal copy. Mammoth maintains no affiliation with Amazon.com and receives no money for you purchasing through our links.

This Pulitzer Prize winning book is the definitive book to be owned by those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the history of oil. Although it is nearly 900 pages in paperback form I read it over a long weekend and found it impossible to put down. When you understand the booms and busts of the energy business from the 1850’s to present, you understand the history of oil and natural gas and have a modern perspective that is illuminating. A must-have book for all those who seek to understand the complexities of our energy-dependent world.

Twilight in the Desert
by Matthew Simmons :

Mr. Simmons is anything but a shill for the peak energy industry. He heads one of the largest consortiums of international bankers in the world. His Houston-based corporate headquarters provides large multinational loans for the largest energy-producing corporations and countries. Simmons brilliantly outlines the importance of the country of Saudi Arabia to world oil production. Through his extensive worldwide contacts he was able to gain access to exclusive data regarding production records of Saudi Arabian oil fields including the famous Ghawar Field—once home to one-eighth of the world’s known supply of oil. Once you read this incredibly powerful book revealing never-before seen field reserve studies from the Middle East, you will view energy depletion in a completely different way. You will learn that if Saudi Arabia is past peak energy then axiomatically the world is past peak.

This book is for those interested in a more technical treatise on peak energy. Although now a bit older than most books, Mr. Campbell details the rise and fall of hydrocarbons from their creation millions of years ago to today. Campbell is one of the best-known and most respected energy engineers in the world and details with brilliant accuracy the amount of total energy that the world has consumed and then extrapolates the downside of the energy depletion curve with magnificent clarity. His study on the decline of energy mega fields (500 Million barrels of oil equivalent or greater) has become amazingly accurate since 2000.

The Long Emergency
by James Howard Kunstler

There may have never been a book that has so boldly attacked the impact of peak energy as this one. Kunstler’s writings may not be for everyone. He is direct and unabashed in his approach. His comments regarding the impact of energy depletion on our modern suburban lifestyle is unparalleled. This book is not for the faint of heart but once you complete it you will never see our modern society quite in the same way again. James Kunstler also maintains an updated website with new articles released monthly. I highly recommend you visit this site (hyperlink) on a regular basis to read his evolving views.

High Noon For Natural Gas
by Julian Darley :

This is the first book that I am aware of that begin to make a cross connection between oil depletion and natural gas depletion. In the past oil has been the primary focus for energy depletion advocates. Darley brilliantly introduces the concept of “BOE” (Barrels of Oil Equivalent) which connects the issue of energy much broader than oil reserves. This book also introduces the issue of natural gas being the only viable hydrocarbon alternative to the valuable energy elements within crude oil. This is a must-have for those investing in or following the natural gas market

Hubbert’s Peak/ Beyond Oil
by Kenneth Deffeyes

These books may be purchased on Amazon.com together with a slight discount. Together they provide an excellent understanding of how and why an oil or natural gas field begins to decline and why the pressure loss from the oil and/or gas production creates such a strong and precipitous decline. Deffeyes is considered and international energy depletion expert. These books are filled with a large number of graphs, charts and projections for further energy decline curves.

Over a Barrel
by Tom Mast

Want to understand peak energy but don’t have time to read a 900-page book? If so, this is your book. In less than 100 pages, Mast does an excellent job at introducing the depletion problem, understanding oil, gas and alternative energy. Mast is an expert’s expert with more than 40 years of industry experience and advanced degrees from some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Resource Wars
by Michael Klare

This book was released in 2001 and updated in 2002 after 9/11. He might as well have written it this year! Klare has amazingly detailed where he predicts energy-related conflicts to continue and the most vulnerable choke points in the world for terrorists to use against western interests. His predictions have been uncannily accurate and this is a must-read for anyone interested in the geopolitical issues surrounding energy acquisition and depletion.

The End of the Oil Age / Eating Fossil Fuels
by Dale Allen Pfeiffe

Pfeiffer is best known for a consistent release of articles on issues of energy depletion and is well known in the peak energy community. His book on eating fossil fuels was originally released as a multipart series on the Internet and is the first major publication connecting the issue of energy depletion versus our global agriculture area.

A Thousand Barrels a Second
by Peter Tertzakian

Yes, this refers to how much oil our planet is currently consuming. This is a sobering fact for people in every country. This book is one of the newest releases and Tertzakian does an outstanding job at detailing the drop-off curves for energy development from around the world. The author is magnificently trained in energy development, geophysics, economics and finance. He makes bold and very specific predictions on the energy problems that will begin to appear from 2007 - 2010 as well as some startling thoughts regarding our current rate of energy use and what life may look like from 2010 -2017.