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The Third Curve
Financial markets are under threat. Growth rates are dropping.
The age-old remedies prescribed to boost economic growth are proving ineffective, if not outright dangerous.
Five years after the 2008 global financial crash, nothing seems to work as per projections.
But what if the rules of the game have inverted?
What if economic growth is eluding us for a reason that we have discounted all this while? What if there are indeed limits to growth?
We need a new lens to understand this inversion of economic reality. The Third Curve provides us that lens. It identifies the root cause of the malady by reminding us of the forgotten relationships between money and energy, capital and resources,
concept and reality.
Only through recognizing the pitfalls of perpetual growth can we truly map a secure future for our business enterprises, ourselves, our children and the planet at large
The age-old remedies prescribed to boost economic growth are proving ineffective, if not outright dangerous.
Five years after the 2008 global financial crash, nothing seems to work as per projections.
But what if the rules of the game have inverted?
What if economic growth is eluding us for a reason that we have discounted all this while? What if there are indeed limits to growth?
We need a new lens to understand this inversion of economic reality. The Third Curve provides us that lens. It identifies the root cause of the malady by reminding us of the forgotten relationships between money and energy, capital and resources,
concept and reality.
Only through recognizing the pitfalls of perpetual growth can we truly map a secure future for our business enterprises, ourselves, our children and the planet at large
- GenresEconomics
261 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2013
19 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 24, 2014
An extremely thought provoking book.
Even though one may know of the ideas of peak oil and over-exploitation of the earth, this book kinda helps put things in perspective.
It does go a little overboard wrt how we are at the beginning of the end - and he may be right - but many of his arguments seem biased/ incomplete.
But the way his core idea is laid out is extremely good, and forces the reader to suddenly pay attention to how wasteful economic activity really is.
Sadly, this book is doomed to be 'just another book' - if only more people would read this book...
I owe quite a bit to this book for making me rethink how wasteful we really are...
Reminds me of Vaclav Smil when he says that humans are consuming a lot more even though we think we are becoming more efficient.
Even though one may know of the ideas of peak oil and over-exploitation of the earth, this book kinda helps put things in perspective.
It does go a little overboard wrt how we are at the beginning of the end - and he may be right - but many of his arguments seem biased/ incomplete.
But the way his core idea is laid out is extremely good, and forces the reader to suddenly pay attention to how wasteful economic activity really is.
Sadly, this book is doomed to be 'just another book' - if only more people would read this book...
I owe quite a bit to this book for making me rethink how wasteful we really are...
Reminds me of Vaclav Smil when he says that humans are consuming a lot more even though we think we are becoming more efficient.
November 16, 2013
This is the first ever work I read on the concept of Peak Oil and perpetual exponential growth, and Mansoor Khan has really ignited the spark in me to read more on this subject. A well written scholarly work.
April 25, 2019
Interesting analogies and thought provoking message conveyed through the lens of peak oil - we cannot expect infinite growth on a planet with finite resources. Yes, it is as simple as that - one of the few authors that calls out the ludicrousness of the expectation directly.
The connection between oil and economic growth is plausible but would have liked to see more robust backing with data.
Debunking of alternate forms of energy seemed a little biased/not well reasoned - would have liked to see a stronger argument where possible or credit given where due.
Would also have loved to see a more holistic coverage of why PEQG is unsustainable - from ethical standpoint, environmental standpoint, etc. - alas it was outside the purview of this book.
The connection between oil and economic growth is plausible but would have liked to see more robust backing with data.
Debunking of alternate forms of energy seemed a little biased/not well reasoned - would have liked to see a stronger argument where possible or credit given where due.
Would also have loved to see a more holistic coverage of why PEQG is unsustainable - from ethical standpoint, environmental standpoint, etc. - alas it was outside the purview of this book.
August 8, 2022
Very interesting read. Reminded me of Satyajit Das's book - 'The Age of Stagnation'. While that debated the seemingly inherent flaws in the economic theory of (misinterpreted as 'perpetual' by governments, the world over) growth, this talks about 'Peak-Oil' and its ramifications. Unfortunately, both of them predict a very dystopian (very-near)future, and each argue their case rather well, backing up with credible evidences. The present book however, paint the clouds-of-despair in a darker shade of black, as herein humanity survives to witness/adjust-to the end-of-oil era, than the comparatively simple end-of-world in the other.
On the solution/hope front, both prescribe a rather generous dose of austerity as a means of surviving the apocalypse. In the present book however, the sail of 'hope' catches wind and gets to flutter therein for a brief moment, as it makes a case-study of Cuba, which according to the author, has already set forth an example to follow.
While the book was enlightening, what I did fail to comprehend was the author's expectation in spreading awareness of the seemingly-serious crisis at hand in the form of a book, which would at the best evoke intellectual coffee-table conversation's on the matter by the well-read elite. Given the authors credible background(studied in Ivy-league, former successful motion-picture director), he, of all people, should have had all the required connections/resources, to make the subject reach a still larger audience, by targeting a more mass-media to act as the messenger. Also it needed to be followed up, for people to take notice and act/react, if he truly believed in the gravity of the crisis. The author quotes Arundhati Roy, should have also taken a leaf out of her book and try to put the money where the mouth is.
The fact that 'Peak-Oil' phenomenon piqued in 2005, the present book published in 2013, while I - a seemingly well fed/read/JIO-connected third world citizen - learn about it's ramifications in 2022, the book seems to be a lost cause.
On the solution/hope front, both prescribe a rather generous dose of austerity as a means of surviving the apocalypse. In the present book however, the sail of 'hope' catches wind and gets to flutter therein for a brief moment, as it makes a case-study of Cuba, which according to the author, has already set forth an example to follow.
While the book was enlightening, what I did fail to comprehend was the author's expectation in spreading awareness of the seemingly-serious crisis at hand in the form of a book, which would at the best evoke intellectual coffee-table conversation's on the matter by the well-read elite. Given the authors credible background(studied in Ivy-league, former successful motion-picture director), he, of all people, should have had all the required connections/resources, to make the subject reach a still larger audience, by targeting a more mass-media to act as the messenger. Also it needed to be followed up, for people to take notice and act/react, if he truly believed in the gravity of the crisis. The author quotes Arundhati Roy, should have also taken a leaf out of her book and try to put the money where the mouth is.
The fact that 'Peak-Oil' phenomenon piqued in 2005, the present book published in 2013, while I - a seemingly well fed/read/JIO-connected third world citizen - learn about it's ramifications in 2022, the book seems to be a lost cause.
January 23, 2021
Mansoor Khan of QSQT fame writes this easy read book and brings to light the concepts of Perpetual Exponential Quantitative Growth and Peak Oil. Core idea is to highlight how growth in exponential form is not possible as it is based on oil and an improvement can be done through transition model wherein the focus is on local food, alternative agriculture, local materials and products and peak oil awareness.
Aside from the book - He himself has followed this idea through setting up Acres Wild, a farmstay in Coonoor.
Aside from the book - He himself has followed this idea through setting up Acres Wild, a farmstay in Coonoor.
March 8, 2020
This book does brilliant job, in explaining the concept of finiteness of energy available at earth which we want to use for our perpetual compounding growth and fallacies of this argument.
A good short read to understand concept of Peak Oil and possible course correction required by all of us collectively as communities.
A good short read to understand concept of Peak Oil and possible course correction required by all of us collectively as communities.
January 26, 2024
A densely argued piece on the Peak Oil Crisis, The Third Curve really should have seen more shelf time and it's low reach simply points to the very issue this book hopes to bring to light.
Oblivion is hardly a defense, when reality passes judgement.
Oblivion is hardly a defense, when reality passes judgement.
December 21, 2019
Remarkable for me as I didn’t know enough about these ideas.
Might be a bit alarmist but if the analysis is solid there is enough reason for alarm
Might be a bit alarmist but if the analysis is solid there is enough reason for alarm
May 14, 2020
Required Read for Everyone.
October 28, 2023
The book addresses an important aspect of environment in a easy to read manner. Giving a star less because it does not address to social dimension to the environment problem.
January 13, 2015
The book is amazingly simple in concept for any person to read and understand the energy crisis, the world is currently facing. I applaud the efforts of Mansoor khan for raising awareness regarding the Peak Oil issue which will embarrass most of the so called experts and pundits who are preaching to the world that the energy resources of this planet are infinite.
November 14, 2024
Very Relavent, problems author presents, are really alarming and pose an immediate threat which look incredibly hard& complex to solve. It is need of the hour for everyone to be made aware about them.
May 2, 2015
This is a crucial book for our times. Let the truth spread everywhere!
January 27, 2016
Well researched and explained especially the 2008 crisis
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews