Fossil Future Audiobook By Alex Epstein cover art

Fossil Future

Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas—Not Less

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Fossil Future

By: Alex Epstein
Narrated by: Alex Epstein
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About this listen

The New York Times bestselling author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels draws on the latest data and new insights to challenge everything you thought you knew about the future of energy

For over a decade, philosopher and energy expert Alex Epstein has predicted that any negative impacts of fossil fuel use on our climate will be outweighed by the unique benefits of fossil fuels to human flourishing--including their unrivaled ability to provide low-cost, reliable energy to billions of people around the world, especially the world’s poorest people.

And contrary to what we hear from media “experts” about today’s “renewable revolution” and “climate emergency,” reality has proven Epstein right:

  • Fact: Fossil fuels are still the dominant source of energy around the world, and growing fast—while much-hyped renewables are causing skyrocketing electricity prices and increased blackouts.
  • Fact: Fossil-fueled development has brought global poverty to an all-time low.
  • Fact: While fossil fuels have contributed to the 1 degree of warming in the last 170 years, climate-related deaths are at all-time lows thanks to fossil-fueled development.

What does the future hold? In Fossil Future, Epstein, applying his distinctive “human flourishing framework” to the latest evidence, comes to the shocking conclusion that the benefits of fossil fuels will continue to far outweigh their side effects—including climate impacts—for generations to come. The path to global human flourishing, Epstein argues, is a combination of using more fossil fuels, getting better at “climate mastery,” and establishing “energy freedom” policies that allow nuclear and other truly promising alternatives to reach their full long-term potential.

Today’s pervasive claims of imminent climate catastrophe and imminent renewable energy dominance, Epstein shows, are based on what he calls the “anti-impact framework”—a set of faulty methods, false assumptions, and anti-human values that have caused the media’s designated experts to make wildly wrong predictions about fossil fuels, climate, and renewables for the last fifty years. Deeply researched and wide-ranging, this book will cause you to rethink everything you thought you knew about the future of our energy use, our environment, and our climate.

©2022 Alex Epstein (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Engineering Politics & Government Power Resources Public Policy Paleontology Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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Unvarnished truth in a sea of lies

Highly recommended for anyone looking for straight, uncompromising truth about energy, the environment, and human flourishing. This book cuts no corners and pulls no punches, and the results are self-evident. If you are seeking an alternative voice to the constant stream of politically correct and impossibly convenient ESG claims that only prop up globalist agendas at the expense of individuals, this is the book for you.

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11 people found this helpful

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A must for anyone concerned about the environment

Very éloquente presentation on how we must redirect the conversation. And how honest and truth are only their for the advantaged of human life. Human flourishing should be the main topic of the conversation.

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everyone should read this book

excellent book. Analysis from all angles including how to make the argument for sticking with fossil fuels and nuclear into the foreseeable future. Very well done!

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Much bette than I had anticipated

I already knew many of the arguments to be presented and was familiar with the logic, but was still really surprised by the robustness of Alex’s argument and how incredibly well researched he was. There were numerous stats or perspectives I was aware of, but hadn’t even understood to what degree they were unrealistic until Alex went deep into the issues. Happily impressed. He is truly on an extremely low time preference mission to bring sanity back to the discussion and put human flourishing back as our top priority. Excellent book

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Well Done!!

In 2016 and 2020 I voted for Bernie Sanders mostly for economic reasons but I loved his stance on Climate change.
One of my best friend is a climate change podcaster who I listened to regularly and really enjoyed, learning how I could make the world a better place by using less fossil fuels.
It wasn’t until I learned what actual money is and how it works, did I come to learn and think about the importance of energy. I highly recommend listening to Robert Breedlove episodes 1-9 the Saylor series to understand energy and money.
I had heard Alex Epstein on a few podcasts and I finally decided I needed to know more and bought his book “Fossil Future” I was not disappointed!!!
Well thought out and eye opening!!!

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Finally “the other side” and a novel approach

As most people will probably already have experience the religion like climate dogma, it is really nice to see a different approach to argue for a human flourishing centered argument. This is not so much about the climate science, but about the underlying philosophical beliefs.

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I love this book!

I am obsessed with books like this. This book helped me to understand how the knowledge system is distorting the negative effects of fossil fuels. I can now help people to understand that the world( meaning people ) need to use more fossil fuels not less. Thank you for writing this book it is so helpful.

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What almost no one knows

Our dependence on fossil fuels is a moral imperative and it would be detrimental, immoral, and impossible to live 1st world lives and also restrict their use to any degree.

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Gratitude over fear.

Like many in my generation, I lived most of my life in fear of the consequences of the use of fossil fuels. I held in mind the dysphoric view that lurking just around the corner was catastrophic change in climate due to our use of fossil fuels that would mean suffering and major changes to life on Earth. Meanwhile, my entire life I was kept safe, warm and clean by fossil fuels. I got to travel the country, the world, experience other cultures, celebrate our shared humanity. I was able to devote my time to efforts such as education, self care, sports and spirituality by the extra time afforded to me by the abundance of low cost fossil fuel energy. After reading this book, I find my heart full of gratitude for the incredible gift that fossil fuels have been to my life and will continue to be. I don't live in fear and I see the roots of where that fear emerged. This book has been and will continue to be an incredible enhancement to my life. I hope this book influences many more people in my generation so their minds and hearts can be full of gratitude instead of fear.

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A Clear, compelling analysis of the flawed $ utterly immoral narrative that dominates our society

Please read this honest & comprehensive analysis! The lack of consideration given to human flourishing throughout academia & media is unconscionable. If allowed to continue unchallenged, it will sadly condemn millions to starvation & poverty.

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