The United States is in steep decline. Plagued by runaway debt, a shrinking economy, and environmental catastrophes to rival Chernobyl, the United States has been retracing the trajectory of the Soviet Union in the early 1980s toward national bankruptcy and political dissolution. By comparing a collapse that has run its course to one that is now unfolding, Dmitry Orlov holds a unique lens up to America's present and future.

As Orlov's predictions continue to come true, his writing continues to gain mainstream acceptance. This revised and updated edition of Reinventing Collapse examines the circumstances of the demise of the Soviet superpower and offers clear insights into how we might prepare for the events that are unfolding here.

Orlov gives no quarter to prophets of doom and gloom, finding plenty of room for optimism, if only we focus our efforts on personal and cultural transformation instead of trying to perpetuate an impossible status quo. This challenging yet inspiring and surprisingly upbeat work is a must-read for anyone concerned about peak oil, the environment, geopolitics, international relations, and life in a resource-constrained world.

Dmitry Orlov is an American engineer who was an eyewitness to the Soviet collapse and has written extensively on the subject of the impending collapse of the United States.

Autorentext

Dmitry Orlov is a Russian-American engineer and writer who was born in Leningrad and immigrated to the United States at the age of 12. Orlov lives off the grid, sailing his boat up and down the Eastern Seaboard and commuting by bicycle. He is the author of Reinventing Collapse and blogs regularly at Club Orlov.

Inhalt

Preface to Second Edition Introduction

1 The Soviet Example The Collapse of the Soviet Union: An Overview Back in the USSR A Rude Awakening The New Normal My Premise

2 Superpower Similarities The Myth of Inclusiveness Better Living Through Science Industrial Food Production Consumer Goods Information Technology The Cost of Technological Progress Militarism World's Jailers Evil Empires Bankruptcy Collapse of Legitimacy

3 The Collapse Gap Collapses in General Energy Housing Transportation Employment Families Money Consumerism Food Medicine Education Ethnicity Religion Inevitable Conclusion

4 Collapse Mitigation The Collapse Party Platform Political Solutions Private Sector Solutions Activism and Apathy Boondoggles to the Rescue! Investment Advice The Future is Rated "B" Starve the Beast

5 Adaptation Loss of "Normalcy" Smelling the Roses Comforts and Necessities Surviving Radical Cashectomy The Revised Playbook Lowering Your Standards Playing the Part The Settled and the Nomadic

6 Career Opportunities Asset Stripping Drugs and Alcohol Providing Security Serving Your Country Alternative Medicine Alternative Transportation Social Work in the Home That's No Way to Run a Business! The Permanently Unemployed Consumer How (not to) Organize a Community

Conclusion Index About the Author