Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Non-Fiction, Economics, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Energy, Philosophy

Book Review:
''Schumacher on Energy'' is a compelling collection of writings by the visionary economist E.F. Schumacher, best known for ''Small is Beautiful.'' Compiled and edited by Geoffrey Kirk, this book focuses specifically on Schumacher's prescient analyses of global energy policy, written primarily in the early 1970s. Its core argument—that energy is not merely a commodity but the fundamental prerequisite for all economic activity—feels even more urgent today. Schumacher accurately predicted the 1973 oil crisis and warned against over-reliance on imported fossil fuels, advocating instead for a rational, coordinated national policy centered on domestic coal reserves and, by implication, conservation and appropriate technology. While some specific data and references are naturally dated, the philosophical and ethical framework he applies to the energy question remains powerfully relevant. The book challenges the growth-at-all-costs model and forces the reader to consider the long-term sustainability of our energy use. It is an essential read for students of environmental economics, energy policy, and anyone interested in the roots of the sustainability movement. Schumacher's clear, reasoned prose makes complex issues accessible to the general reader.