I happen to have a copy sitting at my feet right now and I highly recommend it (why exactly I have it on the floor next to the computer, I'm not so sure). One interesting thing is that there is about 200 pages of endnotes in it that initially left me feeling sort of ripped off, but are very good reading in themselves. He goes through explanations of climate change, peak oil, and EROEI that are nothing new to TOD readers, but he also provides a very interesting take on Roman decline.

I've also got a copy of "The Ingenuity Gap" that I've been reading here and there. It's quite good, but the awful jacket cover and the author photo on the rear flap have been barriers to my reading (he looks like a Sears catalogue "cool dad" model).

While I'm recommending books, I also recently read "Technopoly" by Neil Postman (1989 or so) which was not TOO bad. The book has some fairly serious problems, but I think it provides a thought-provoking look at the effects of technology (including writing, statistics and polls, in addition to the obvious computers and such). I wouldn't put it at the top of any list, but it's alright.

With reference to "why don't we face reality?" While 'Tad' does go into this conundrum, I might argue that TOD's own Nate Hagens is about the best source on that topic that I've come across.

[taking bag of money from TOD staff]