Americans are expressing deep concern about U.S. dependence on petroleum, rising energy prices, and the threat of climate change. Greer examines the basis of such fear through three core themes: Industrial society is following the same well-worn path that has led other civilizations into decline, a path involving a much slower and more complex transformation than the sudden catastrophes imagined by so many social critics today; the roots of the crisis lie in the cultural stories that shape the way we understand the world; it is too late for massive programs for top-down change; the change must come from individuals
