Prosper! How To Prepare for the Future and Create a World Worth Inheriting

In this alarming work, Martenson and Taggart, co-founders of PeakProsperity.com, predict widespread crisis due to what they describe as unsustainable levels of debt, ecosystem overuse, and a depletion of fossil fuel, and accordingly counsel readers to take dramatic steps to become more self-sufficient. After an introductory chapter on the coming crisis, they assert that "resilience is the key to prosperity," and outline eight types of capital that will help readers "make changes to your lifestyle now." Much of this advice is common sense and has merit for any reader, such as creating a diversified financial plan with liquidity, having a wholesome diet, or considering solar energy options. Other suggestions, however, such as living off the land and creating a "deep pantry" of one year of emergency rations of food and water, will have only limited appeal. Letters from website readers illustrate the authors' philosophy; these describe leaving behind unhappy lives and stressful careers in metropolitan areas in order to live off the grid and pursue survivalist lifestyles. Martenson and Taggart offer many valid ideas for achieving self-sufficiency, but admonitions like "those who cannot, will not or do not see the changes coming will most likely suffer for their blindness" will put off most mainstream readers. (Nov.)