The basic thesis that Mr. Zubrin presents is that the US government should immediately mandate that all cars sold in the USA be flex-fuel vehicles. These are vehicles equipped with fuel systems capable of handling gasoline, ethanol, or methanol, or any combination of the above. Modern computerized ignition and fuel injection systems make such a modification fairly cheap to implement. This change would open up the market for domestic ethanol and methanol production, which would rise to meet the demand and, because it is cheaper than gasoline, would finally liberate us from our dependence on Middle East oil.

The author is certainly enthusiastic but his book is deeply flawed. The author is an aerospace engineer with a doctorate in nuclear engineering, and he certainly understands the engineering angles clearly. But he has problems with just about everything else, such as politics, history, and economics. He wrote a chapter on the military history of oil -- a bad mistake. He's obviously not well versed in military history. He appears to have slapped together some quick research to support his thesis. Although there's nothing terribly mistaken in the chapter, it bristles with so many trivial errors that it undermines his credibility. He really didn't need this chapter anyway; it struck me as gratuitous material tossed in to demonstrate intellectual breadth -- when in fact it indicated the opposite to me.

I was particularly disturbed when I realized that he fails to back up his thesis with the crucial numbers that he needs. The book bristles with numbers and data, but there is one that is prominent by its absence: an estimate of the amount of farmland that would have to be dedicated to fuel production in order to provide enough fuel to permit us to stop importing oil. I have seen a few estimates, and they are staggering -- the most pessimistic estimates suggest that we'd have to dedicate much of our current farmland to fuel production to grow that much fuel. These estimates depend on a lot of assumptions: energy costs of fertilizer, transportation, processing, and so forth. Mr. Zubrin airily dismisses such concerns with the observation that the technology works. Yes, it works -- but how much will it cost to make that much fuel? How much will our food prices rise if we dedicate that much land to growing fuel? Mr. Zubrin makes no effort to answer these bottom-line questions.

There is also an ungraciousness to his writing. He has some strong things to say about those who have disagreed with him. I cannot recall any place where he acknowledged uncertainty or the possibility that other experts might reasonable disagree with him. To Mr. Zubrin, everything seems clear and simple -- and that scares me. The real world is a messier place than Mr. Zubrin seems to think.

But the most discrediting aspect of this book is its Islamoparanoia. Mr. Zubrin is convinced that Muslims are the spawn of the devil, subhuman monsters intent on rapine and bloodshed. His wild rants on this subject, which cover a goodly amount of space, are embarrassing, and they destroy any confidence a fair-minded reader would have in his judgement. What's sad is that his basic point -- that the USA must end its dependence on foreign oil -- is absolutely right. But he soils that point with his bigoted ravings.

My overall assessment: this is a seriously flawed book that has a bit of good information in it, but you have to put up with a lot of nonsense, ignore the minor bloopers, and follow up with your own research to get the full benefits of this book.

If you are tired of spending your dollars on gasoline produced from oil from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela,and other OPEC countries, many of whom hate the U.S.,this book is a must read. Dr.Zubrin's argument is simple: to become independent of foreign oil, stop using gasoline made from oil and turn to alcohol based fuels; ethanol and methanol. Methanol is the fuel used by the Indy 500 drivers. It's cheap to make and can be made from coal, natural gas and almost any biomass (including the leftovers from the manufacture of ethanol.)One needs a flex fuel engine to use it, but that only costs $150-200 per car. Congress could subsidize this for $150 million per year, and mandate a flex fuel engine for every car sold here. In three years that would put 50 million cars on the roads, creating a market for entrepreneurs to provide the pumps to deliver methanol to the marketplace. It would also help farmers in poor countries as well as take the pressure off of food crops presently used for ethanol and presently driving up many food prices. It is the Saudi's, the farm lobby and the oil company's stranglehold on Congress which is preventing methanol from coming to market. "Energy Victory" sets forth the problems and provides details of the solution to weaning ourselves from foreign oil.

Wow this book is well written and an eye opener. It should be read by all americans. Big oil is using the government to cheat the people.

I felt the book was well documented and the point that the US is being held hostage by the foreign oil producers. The money made by the Islamic Oil producers is being used to destroy the United States through its economy. We have oil and alternate sources of energy and we should be using them.

A serious book calls for a serious review and I will try to provide that. Zubrin covers a lot of ground so I will take this by chapter. First, the author has a PhD in nuclear engineering so he knows the science. The first two chapters provide the rationale for his campaign to replace petroleum with methanol, and to a lesser degree ethanol. The book was written a year ago and the effects of food crop diversion to ethanol have now emphasized the negatives of ethanol. Methanol is made from non-food, non-sugar, sources and is a better compound for fuel. The first five chapters provide his argument that Saudi Arabia is an enemy funding terrorism and the Wahhabi heresy of Islam. He makes good points but is a bit more excited than I would be. Another review makes the point that China will still be buying oil from the Saudis no matter what we do. Still, the price will fall as methanol, nuclear fission and fusion technology provide alternatives.

Chapter 6 tells the story of flex-fuel technology and the remarkable life story of Roberta Nichols, a woman engineer who succeeded in adapting alcohol to motor fuel and doing it cheaply. She was a great pioneer and died too young to see her accomplishments recognized. Chapter 7 tells the story of several politically supported alternatives and explains why they are not practical. One section of this chapter tells the story of a professor whose poorly done research survives as a major argument against ethanol as a practical alternative to petroleum. There is a good deal of technology in this chapter but it is well explained.

Chapter 8 discusses the potential for under-developed countries to benefit from a change to alcohol-based energy production. Methanol can be made from agricultural waste products and offers these societies a future that cannot occur if poor countries are beholden to the OPEC oil cartel. There is some economics and politics in this chapter but I agree with it all. Chapter 9 discusses the Brazilian experience, in which Brazil has freed itself from dependence on OPEC oil. An issue of Time magazine from this spring has a feature story that misrepresents the Brazilian experience so it would be good for those interested to read this as an antidote to the lies of what Zubrin calls the "Malthusians," those who do not want us to solve the problem. They prefer a smaller population, no matter how that goal is achieved. Al Gore is the most prominent member of this group.

Chapter 10 is almost the best part of the book as he describes the true role of CO2 and global warming. He shows the present levels of CO2 are actually rather low when compared to previous epochs, such as the Holocene Maximum, a warm period when humans emerged from Africa and spread across the globe. He does warn that CO2 will become a problem as other societies move to an economic model similar to ours. As they prosper, their CO2 production will rise and that does constitute a risk for the planet. That risk will be reduced and eliminated by the suggestions made in the book.

Chapter 11 goes on to discus other forms of energy, especially the promise of nuclear fusion which, once harnessed, will ensure the future of the human race for millions of years. This is his field and he knows it thoroughly.

Chapter 12 is a well-done discussion of the role of the petroleum engine in the history of the 20th century, from the "Miracle of the Marne" in 1914, when a French division was rushed into battle in a thousand Parisian taxicabs, to the origins of World War II. Chapter 13 finishes up with a summary of the history of Islam and the plans of the Wahhabis to conquer the world and establish a new caliphate to replace the Ottoman Empire.

This is a serious book with a lot of information, some of it rather technical for someone who never studied chemistry. His opinions on political issues are strong and, at times, a bit intemperate. The fusion program has been mishandled. The ethanol lobby has distorted the market, for example maintaining tariffs on Brazilian ethanol that would otherwise lower the price for American drivers.

He is absolutely right on the big issues. We need to get off our addiction to middle eastern oil. He does not get into the production of oil in our own territory and I want to know more about that. I have ordered another book to do so. Bacterial engineering to produce oil and other carbon compounds, as Craig Venter and others plan to do, is not covered. This is a big field and there is a lot of misinformation. This book is a big help and should be read by anyone seeking information on alternatives. I'm not sure methanol is the only answer but it is a big piece of it and this is the place to learn about it.

I was recently sent a preview copy of an upcoming publication, "Energy Victory," written by Robert Zubrin. The book attempts to layout a plan for America to break free of its oil addiction ­ a path that, he claims, current US Policy will never achieve. Although the book's main focus is on energy solutions, Zubrin does spend a significant amount on time on the genealogy of terror, America's tumultuous relationship with OPEC and debunking myths.

Having not paid much attention to the history of terrorism (although I would argue that Americans, should spend more time learning about this), I found this section interesting. It brings to light a little more urgency for Americans to find solutions to replace oil that is purchased from the volatile Middle East - an area that is obviously not friendly to Americans.

So what are the solutions, sensei? Renewable fuels such as ethanol and methanol. Before you start arguing that ethanol is not a solution because it has less energy, this is not true. Ethanol has a positive net energy. Updated in 2004, the most definitive analysis (by USDA) concludes that for every 100 BTUs used to grow corn and process it into ethanol, 167 BTUs of ethanol is produced. In other words, ethanol generates 67 percent more energy than it takes to produce. Zubrin explains that the misinformation has been fueled by ethanol detractor David Pimentel, in conjunction with Tad Patzek, whose research is so out of date and scientifically unsound that his own university, Cornell University, discredits the research.

As ethanol is gaining traction, with the support of the Big Three, especially GM in bringing Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) to market, and more than 50 percent of American's fuel being blended with some percentage of ethanol, and more than 1300 E85 stations across the U.S., Zubrin says that many people are not happy with the developments. "Not everyone is happy with this development, of course, and the reasons are plain to see. The 4.9 billion gallons of US ethanol produced in 2006 took ten billion dollars away from the oil cartel. Thus it is hardly surprising to find the ethanol program regularly denounced by journalistic hired guns and other business analysts associated with oil industry funded think tanks, as well as by ideological libertarians whose sensibilities it offends." Ha, take that!

Zubrin continues in his book to layout long­term plan for reducing America's energy dependence on foreign oil using an "alcohol economy," and spends some time ruminating about how the world can help defeat global warming while simultaneously reducing fossil fuel use. Interestingly enough, he supports raising all countries' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which may come at the short-term expense of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, but over time, as fossil fuels are phased out, greenhouse gas emissions would decrease.

This is not a lighthearted reading for those who want the top line view of an issue. This is a very technical book (scientific terms, chemical equations, etc.) that delves fairly deep into each topic he covers but there are moments of humor that keep the book moving. Ultimately, I liken Energy Victory to the famous 1776 book, Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. Paine authored the first book on freedom from British rule, and Zubrin has authored the book on freedom from foreign oil.

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Brilliant ideas for solving the recurring energy crises once and for all! Must-read for every American, especially politicians. Thank you Mr. Zubrin!

Great historical information on the middle east. Lines out the strategy to become energy independent in short order. Fabulous book.

Gas is $3.80. OPEC continues to bleed us. The Saudi's continue to export radical Islam financed by our oil dollars. Environmentalist continue to obstruct. To counter these factors Zubrin lays out a solid, cogent plan utilizing METHANOL not corn based ETHANOL. This plan uses existing technology not pie in the sky maybe here in 10 years hopes and dreams.

This publication opened my eyes to a potential future free of foreign dependency for energy. I'm surprised that the general public is unaware of several of facts presented in this book. I would highly encourage everyone to read this book

Fantastic book which lays out how we can break free of our national addiction to oil and how alcohol fuels (ethanol & methanol) can compete in the very near future with the oil economy.
The Federal Gov't can play a significant role by mandating that all cars/trucks sold in the U.S. must be able to run on both gasoline & alcohol (flexible fuel vehicles). I would add to this argument by also mandating that a certain percentage of gasoline stations across the country (say 33% to begin with) be mandated to carry at least one ethanol/methanol (E85 or M85) pump.
Outstanding book! Well written and grounded in reality with an engineer's perspective. Enjoyable and informative reading.

I greatly admire Robert Zubrin. I think he is right that we need energy independence and quickly. However, he has bought into a lot of questionable notions as is evident in this book. He buys into the entire "war on terror". It turns out that the "war on terror" is even more of a blatant mountain out of a molehill than the "Cold War" was. Even worse it is a "war" by design "without end" that is likely to eat all our freedoms. He calls Iraqis fighting invaders "terrorists" without distinction. He buys into the notion that Iran in building nuclear weapons despite all intelligence to the contrary. He buys into some huge network of terror when all evidence to date is that such does not exist. He buys the official story of 911 with all of its holes big enough to fly 747s through. He buys into a huge "Islamist" conspiracy against us instead of the relatively isolated nutty terrorist groups that exist in the Muslim world.

If you can wade through all of the above then he gives a sound argument as to how to get to energy independence. I don't agree with his wording of why in all cases but the goal is admirable and the means achievable.

Energy Victory by Robert Zubrin's begins by demonstrating from various prime and secondary sources how Americans cannot wait twenty years, nor count on the specific provisions of energy legislation recently passed by Congress to achieve energy independence. The problem is that the lion's share of oil reserves are claimed by Saudi Arabia, a nation historically committed to the spread of Islamic fundamentalism. That particular form of religion seeks to dominate or destroy all who do not submit to their particular tenants. Zubrin gives an excellent narrative history of the evolution of that nation and its intolerant Wahhabist zeal, accompanied by the appalling slaughter of Assyrian Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and Muslims that disagreed with them. Literally, trillions of dollars from oil money continually flow into the Arabian sector supporting terrorist activities and related instructional schools all over the world--including the United States. The essential thesis of the book is that the answer is to defeat the Saudis and their OPEC machine. This, he argues, can be definitely accomplished by fielding a viable energy alternative that costs less and puts former petrol dollars into the hands of American and third world agriculturists--the international free market will take it from there. Addressing various alternatives, he demonstrates how conservation fails, and how hydrogen will not work as an alternative; such an application, he writes, essentially violates the laws of physics. The answer to the problem, and main objective of the book is to promote a Congressional mandate that that all vehicles sold in the United States include a flex-fuel capability including varieties of ethanol, methanol and other farm or natural sources. As noted in the book, there have been calls from the Set America Free Coalition (SAFC) which have been successful in getting legislation introduced in the Senate and Congress. Recent bi-partisan efforts involved Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA). Nevertheless, those efforts obviously have not been successful. Legislation mandating Flex-Fuel in all cars would provide the needed facilitating infrastructure for the further expansion of alternative fuels in a free market. Zubrin points out how alternatives can be manufactured, sold and transported for much less than oil, once the required infrastructure is in place. Of course, the initial alternative source has been corn ethanol. Nevertheless, he sees a variety of ensuing cellulose renewable sources coming about very quickly. The use of natural gas and coal can be used in the interregnum period for firing the process in some cases, others can use methanol.

Zubrin discusses at length various groups and people opposed to alternatives, exposing the failings for instance of the Pimentel study. Taking the study point for point, he convincingly counters its arguments. He also shows how the Saudis have many American politicians and action groups on their pay rolls making PR for alternatives ever more difficult.

The book also promotes the viability of a worldwide trade in what he called a "new alcohol economy and world development." Third world countries play a critical roll in the mass of needed products for this plan. Although, subject often to the whims of narcotics mobsters and charlatans, they could successfully grow assorted common agricultural products and trade in a world market for alternatives. That outcome would also help slow drug trafficking and encourage increased marketing of other international commodities related to farming.

He heralds the Brazilian sugar based ethanol program as a successful model, though there would be differences in the United States. While the program's success varied based on the cost of oil, the ultimate answer was flex-fuel vehicles that use a wide variety of sources. Consequently, a nation that in the mid-twentieth century had to import 80% of its oil, today has become not only energy independent, but an exporter of ethanol.

Global warming is also discussed at length and answered in an amazing manner of twists. Simply put, he argues convincingly that it contributes to our energy problem in a positive manner.

Then, a very fascinating history of oil and power demonstrates how petroleum affected the causes, strategies and outcomes of both world wars.

In the end, Zubrin promotes a variety of alcohol alternatives for immediate needs, but concludes that nuclear fusion provides the most promising future for the world's energy needs into the next century. He implores the United States to get back on track and support research into the viability of that source of energy.

To a historian who teaches Modern American History at the post-secondary level, this book is provocative, granting a semblance of hope for America's future. Although oil has been the world's essential energy source for the last century, escalating world dependence on it, OPEC's violation of international laws regarding price fixing and their baneful use of profits demand change. Politicians: this is a must read! It provides a viable plan for a triumphant American future. Robert Zubrin's Energy Victory is a workable blue print, not only for America, but every nation in the world that cherishes religious and social freedom.

There are three "chunks" to this interesting book. The main one sells hard about why the US must become energy-independent from the oil people who also wish our destruction. Following on this are very good engineering discussions of energy, where it comes from, what will and will not work, why global warming is not an urgently immediate threat (but will be so as the rest of the world justifiably wishes to catch up to us in living standard), and how methanol and flex-fuel cars in particular is the right-now answer to getting unstrapped from the oil kingdoms. The third chunk consists of how the past century's history was determined by oil. All three chunks go together extremely well, oddly enough, even though it would be hard to find many agreeing with every single bit of what Robert Zubrin writes.

There is considerable humor in Energy Victory, and even that which borders on the sarcastic is still quite funny. After all, you will see pure "engineering humor." An example might be Zubrin's warning that if we wish to mine hydrogen for fuel cheaply from the sun, the temperature on approach is so hot that we should consider going at night! It is best to ignore the many external blogs about this book. You will find scores objections (some downright nasty) to Zubrin's claims about using hydrogen as a transportation fuel base, about producing methanol from any organic matter, and about sources & uses of various fuels. Most of these miss the point. "Energy Victory" gives what engineers for centuries call "rough estimates" of all the above claims. A rough estimate is not a wild guess, it is a ballpark statement of reality. E.g., his statement of 9 gigatonnes of carbon being added to the atmosphere is probably off, but not by deal-breaking amounts. His estimates should be taken seriously for what they are - first-order estimates that give an excellent indication of what needs to be DONE. Refinements will naturally follow.

This book serves personally as a reference, both for current use in climate change research, and for future use to see how the numbers really turned out. Buy the book, because the library will not enjoy your marking the thing up, nor will they like you to monopolize checking it out of your system!

After his push to colonize that utterly useless world called Mars (the real wealth of the solar system is in the Asteroid Belt and icy moons, easily available and not at the bottom of a gravity well), Zubrin moves on to another political boondoggle, ethanol.

His arguments fail on nearly every point. The argument about unused farmland is especially irrelevant. Even if all of the arable land in the US were dedicated to alcohol production (including switchgrass, cellulosic ethanol, and methanol), the most we could ever hope to achieve is to replace about 15% of our gasoline usage (representing at most about 10% of our total oil imports dedicated to gasoline production). Let's see, starve the world to replace ~1/10 of one's oil imports? Don't think so.

Most seriously, the energy balance is not there. It takes about 11 barrels of oil to produce the ethanol energy equivalent of 10. That's an energy return of about 1.1 to 1. Actually when one factors in storage and transport issues it's much lower, maybe down to 1 to 1 (breakeven) or even lower (net loss). If you have a company that you are trying to save from bankruptcy, do you pour your resources into a division that breaks even or loses money? Not if you hope to remain in business for long.

Pointing to the success of Brazil provides no solution for the US either. Brazil straddles the Equator and receives about 22% greater solar energy flux than the US does. That, along with a more efficient crop (sugar cane) and a year-round growing season, gives Brazil an energy return of about 5 to 1. One unintended consequence of this "success", however, is that rainforest destruction (remember the rainforest?) has accelerated at an alarming rate due to more and more acres of it being turned into fuel.

Ethanol and other bio-fuels, far from providing an energy "victory" for the US, will only lead to an energy "defeat", and starve the rest of the world in the process.

After his push to colonize that utterly useless world called Mars (the real wealth of the solar system is in the Asteroid Belt and icy moons, easily available and not at the bottom of a gravity well), Zubrin moves on to another political boondoggle, ethanol.

His arguments fail on nearly every point. The argument about unused farmland is especially irrelevant. Even if all of the arable land in the US were dedicated to alcohol production (including switchgrass, cellulosic ethanol, and methanol), the most we could ever hope to achieve is to replace about 15% of our gasoline usage (representing at most about 10% of our total oil imports dedicated to gasoline production). Let's see, starve the world to replace ~1/10 of one's oil imports? Don't think so.

Most seriously, the energy balance is not there. It takes about 11 barrels of oil to produce the ethanol energy equivalent of 10. That's an energy return of about 1.1 to 1. Actually when one factors in storage and transport issues it's much lower, maybe down to 1 to 1 (breakeven) or even lower (net loss). If you have a company that you are trying to save from bankruptcy, do you pour your resources into a division that breaks even or loses money? Not if you hope to remain in business for long.

Pointing to the success of Brazil provides no solution for the US either. Brazil straddles the Equator and receives about 22% solar energy flux than the US does. That, along with a more efficient crop (sugar cane) and a year-round growing season, gives Brazil an energy return of about 5 to 1. One unintended consequence of this "success" is that rainforest destruction (remember the rainforest?) has accelerated at an alarming rate as more and more acres are being turned into fuel.

Ethanol and other bio-fuels, far from providing an energy "victory" for the US, will only lead to an energy "defeat", and starve the rest of the world in the process.

I think this is a brilliantly argued book. I think he does well in establishing the link between petrodollars and Islamofascist terrorism. Of course, the problem created by our heavy reliance on imported oil goes beyond that in our huge balance of payments shortfall. Our reliance on imported oil also slowly drains away our defense and strategic power. Meanwhile, this generation's strategic "wise men" are all on the Saudi payroll.

Most importantly, Zubrin thoroughly debunks hydrogen as a vehicle fuel. I already knew that based on an investment I made in the 1990's. When the consulting engineers said that it would take 22 hydrogen tanker trucks to replace 1 gasoline tanker truck, it was time for me to bail out. According to Zubrin, it only gets worse: it takes more energy to produce hydrogen than the hydrogen reaction produces. The road to hydrogen leads nowhere.

Zubrin punctures a criticism of alcohol fuels that is currently being made. Ethanol made from corn is not causing food shortages. Most of the corn produced in America is used for animal feed and the alcohol extracted from the corn still leaves the corn mash available as animal feed. But alcohol fuel, especially methanol, can be made from practically any plant life. The argument against corn based ethanol is not that it causes food shortages but that it requires heavy federal subsidies when there are other less expensive alternatives available.

The key to his argument is the Flex Fuel vehicle which, with $150 worth alcohol compatible hoses and sensors, can run on various alcohol-gasoline mixtures: E85, M85. These are vehicles you can buy right now with well tested technology. You can buy the vehicles, but in most parts of the country, you can't buy the fuel. Zubrin argues that a federal law is needed to make all vehicles flex fuel vehicles. Zubrin made the argument to the Bush Administration, which declined to support him because they opposed additonal vehicle mandates.

Zubrin didn't make this argument, but I think if flex fuel became a requirement of all vehicles, then the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements and the Air Quality waivers could be phased out. I can't understand why, unless I'm unaware, the domestic auto companies haven't made that argument. It would make their life much easier and less expensive.

Zubrin does make the argument that the CAFE is irrelevant in any event because we will never be able to gain control of fuel prices through conservation. OPEC can set the spigot up and down at will.


Two final notes: Zubrin makes a good case for coal based methanol. Since we have large reserves of coal sitting in the ground because of the sulphur burning problem and acid rain, methanol extraction would allow us to use that resource without the enviornmental damage caused by burning coal. Zubrin also recounts the Brazilian experience with ethanol, which was a very bumpy road when oil prices fell in the 1990's. Getting free from OPEC may require imported oil tariffs because alcohol fuel mixtures are only competitive when the price of oil is about twice as high as the price per gallon of alcohol due to alcohol's mileage penalty. Of course, widespread production and distribution of e85 and m85 might become much more economical than current prices would suggest.

I think these ideas are worth pursuing.

This is an excellent book!! Buy this book! Zubrin has a convincing solution to most of the problems confronting America. and the world. He advocates a Federal mandate that all cars sold in the US should be flex fuel . He shows that this would solve the problems of energy dependence,terrorism, global warming, third world poverty, and illegal immigration.This is a very practical book written by a nuclear engineer with an elegant practical solution to most of our problems. If you don't believe me read this book and make up your own mind.

Zubrin's argument is beyond compelling, and quite effectively brushes aside all the objections to alcohol fuels you see bandied about.

In short, we must mandate all cars sold from now on in the US be flex-fueled (ethanol, methanol, gasoline) or biodiesel (diesel, biodiesel, or straight-vegetable oil). This will crush OPEC's monopoly power and unleash a billion farmers to become mini-oil tycoons. The potential to alleviate poverty in Africa alone makes this extremely worthwhile.

Sure there will be some undesirable side effects to producing so much methanol/ethanol, but the fact is we have no other choice. Corn/soybeans are not the answer. Sugarcane, coal syngas, and random biomass are. Brazil is 100% energy independent, and we can be too. Granted, they don't have a great record on protecting the Amazon, but this is not either/or, they just need to manage their land better and use efficient crops like sugarcane.

We cannot be supplicants to OPEC any longer, and this book shows how to break free.

Warning: the book becomes a bit of a polemic toward the end, but that does not diminish the power of the basic arguments. It's a very entertaining read in any case.

The book makes a very good case, why ethanol should be used when ever possible to save fosil fuel and keep more money within our own country. It also creates good clean honest jobs.

For me, there is nothing off the table when it comes to energy independence.

This book is a great start, but its main focus was on oil which is only one facet.

Nuclear, wind, and the other energy sources, which were discussed, need to part of a complete energy policy.

On the alcohol part of the equation:

1: There are alcohols other the methanol and ethanol.
2: Bio-diesel needs to be included.
3: Agricultural policies must be revise to promote more crop production to keep both food and fuel prices down.
4: There are other non-agricultural sources of biomass for fuels. Sewage is a good example.
5: Cellulose research needs to be increased. This will provide more resources for materials.

I was debating 4 or 5 stars on this book. I gave it 5 because it is such a good start.

I found Energy Victory to be an excellent read! It's well-organized, with tons of references for people who want to dive deeper into various topics. I skimmed over some of the terrorism parts because I'm more into the science and formulas - so there's something for everyone in this book. I'm already planning my next vehicle purchase to be a flex-fuel vehicle. It's a small statement... but as Dr Zubrin so aptly demonstrates in this book, small changes can lead to big impacts. Capitalism is all about choice. Why not level the playing field and let the free markets decide what energy sources are most popular?

I am absolutely convinced after seeing the author, Mr. Zubrin on CSPAN, that his approach is the answer. He makes the point that flex-fueled cars can allow citizens to gradually make the switch to ethanol cars.

Brazil imports no oil and their flex-fuel program works well. I spoke with a Brazilian and asked him how this approach really works in his country. He was positive about it in every aspect.

Mr. Zubrin has solutions to the "shortage of corn" arguments and other foot-dragging reasons for holding up our switch from oil.

Zubrin's book offers a practical plan to end our dependence on oil without massive government subsidies or regulations.

Zubrin observes that we have many sources of energy (coal, nuclear, solar, etc), but that oil remains our only liquid fuel. At current oil prices, alcohols would be economically viable replaements: ethanol is about $3.50/gal (without subsidies), and methanol is under $1/gal (without subsidies). The problem is that most cars don't run on ethanol, so gas stations don't sell it, and vice versa; it's a classic chicken-and-egg problem.

Zubrin's insight is that we can use existing 'flex-fuel' technology (which allows a car to run on any mixture of gasoline, ethanol, and methanol) to escape the backward compatibility trap. Making a vehicle flex-fuel capable only adds about $100 to the price. If Congress mandated that every new car sold in the US be flex-fuel capable, that would quickly put millions of cars on the road that could run on existing gasoline, *or* on cheaper gasoline/alcohol blends like E-85 and M-85. This would create sufficient demand to make alcohol pumps profitable for fuel station owners, and the whole 'alcohol economy' would rapidly bootstrap itself.

The genius in Zubrin's idea is that it requires only a tiny bit of government coercion to unleash a huge amount of free-market forces.

That's the key idea. The rest of the book fleshes out the details: economics, environmental impact, geopolitical impact (mainly, not sending billions of dollars to people who wish us ill), and even a bit about the chemistry involved -- e.g. how to make higher alkanes starting with methanol, which will ultimately be necessary to replace other petroleum products.

Zubrin's clear and non-ideological thinking is a breath of fresh air. If either presidential candidate commits to implementing this, he/she has my vote.

Whether your concern is the environment, national security, or the American economy this is a must read book. Incredibly well researched Zubrin lays out a realistic plan for breaking the country, and the world, of its dependence on oil. Everyone that is concerned with the implications of this dependence should read this book, and then send the copy to your local Congressman.

Zubrin has a terrific plan to wean the US from terrorist oil - not using food stock, using otherwise unarable land and non food items like switchgrass.

Unlike most such advisors, Zubrin's energy budgets actually work - more energy is available out the back end than goes into making it. It doesn't require any scientific discoveries (pie in the sky), just understandable engineering. We need to do this, and soon.

I read this book twice and was both agitated and hopeful at the same time. Agitated that Zubrin's proposed flex fuel mandate hasn't been adopted yet and hopeful that soon it may be proposed and adopted by one of our presidential candidates or members of Congress. I sent my copy to John McCain and also joined the Set America Free Coalition that Zubrin mentions in this great book. This plan, like Zubrin's plan for manned Mars exploration, is a no nonsense plan that must be adopted. We are the United States of American for Pete's sake! We need to take the initiative and be the leader in this quest for energy independence and with Zubrin's plan God Willing, we will. So write your Congressmen and tell them to propose an initiative to have every new automobile that's sold in America a Flex Fuel Vehicle.

A must read for anyone interested in the current energy crisis. This book lays out the current problems related to energy security, supply, and environmental catastrophe. Great from a technical prospective as well as common sense ideas. Interesting look at the link between terrorism and oil, and the road to energy victory through bio-fuels.

This book woke me up to the things that were being done to the USA and the free world by OPEC and the Saudi ruling family. The book gives the reader the history of the Muslims and their various sects. It, also, provides a path whereby we can get out from under their thumb without a war. The book provides a plan for the US to get away from the need for OPEC oil. It is a simple and highly doable process. Every thinking person needs to read this book

Very thought provoking. Timely review of middle-eastern history and how it fits with the global need for oil. It has shaped my future car purchases.

Having thought about ENERGY VICTORY some more and done some additional research, I have to report there may be several problems with Zubrin's book. This should not be construed that I feel Zubrin's overall strategy is not solid.

Zubrin says on page 75: "Fortunately, however, the claim that the world is running out of oil has no foundation whatsoever." Then on page 76 he says: "The argument that we are threatened with near-term oil exhaustion is simply untrue."

Zubrin seems to be addressing people like Matthew Simmons here yet his book fails to mention the proceeds of Simmon's exhaustive study as reported in his book, TWILIGHT IN THE DESERT. This book was released in 2005, two years prior to Zubrin's book, ENERGY VICTORY, so it's unlikely this was a simple oversight. I first began to be suspicious that Zubrin's book may be biased against Arab-Muslims and/or Saudi Arabia when I looked over the index, and saw no entries for either Simmons, his book or even Dr. M. King Hubbert. I don't see how one can write a book about OIL and not mention these two guys -- Simmons and Hubbert, if even to curse them.

Simmon's makes a case that there is strong evidence supporting the theory that we HAVE reached worldwide peak oil -- or are very close. As Hubbert demonstrated, there is a relationship between NEW DISCOVERIES and PEAK OIL (the moment when production begins to fall every year even though all state-of-the-art technology is brought to bear to increase production). To the laughter of many executives in the oil industry, Hubbert announced that Texas oil would peak between 1965 and 1970. It did and the laughter stopped. Subsequently Hubbert's formula, and an extensive review of numerous technical reports by Simmons, have been applied to world peak. Simmons comes to the conclusion that if Saudi Arabia peaks, for all practical purposes, the world has peaked. This evidence, and the fact that the Saudis are very secretive about their projected production, doesn't help make the case that there are "no foundations whatsoever" to suspect worldwide peak, as Zubrin maintains. On page 244, Simmons says:

"The recent history of petroleum exploration throughout the world confirms that the French Petroleum Institute's "Royal Hierarchy" theory of oil still applies. Saudi Arabia's disappointing exploration efforts over the past 35 years provide no evidence to invalidate it. The chances of finding a great oil giant in Saudi Arabia that has eluded discovery so far must now be deemed remote. It can be said with great certainty, however, that those who think Aramaco(1) has not made a zealous effort to find new oil in Saudi Arabia are simply misinformed."

Simmons seems to be addressing people like Zubrin here.

Zubrin, on the other hand maintains that people like Matt Simmons(2) are in on the cabal (my words) to stand down on world exploration/discovery so they can artificially suppress the supply, thus artificially driving up the demand. On page 77 Zubrin says:

"At jacked-up prices of about $75 per barrel (the assumed price when Zubrin wrote the book), the world's oil producers pulled in about $2 trillion during 2006, instead of the $500 billion or so they would have obtained in a free market. How much of the extra $1.5 trillion do you suppose they will put into exploration? No one knows for sure, but the answer is probably less than 2 percent."

In contrast, Simmons says on page 242 of TWILIGHT IN THE DESERT:

"Aramaco is also indicating that it will step up its exploration efforts for 2005 and 2006. As reported by Kevin Morrison in a story titled "Saudi to Increase Oil Capacity" (Financial Times, February 11, 2005), Saudi Aramaco "plans to double the number of drilling rigs it operates in order to explore and develop new oil and gas fields." Morrison quotes a "Saudi Aramaco official" as saying, "Saudi Aramaco's target is to have 70-plus drilling rigs working by the end of 2005." The increase is said to signal a "shift in strategy for Saudi Aramaco" toward EXPANDING PRODUCTION CAPACITY FROM SIMPLY MAINTAINING IT. Morrison also reports statements by an "oil executive who works in the region" to the effect that Saudi Aramaco has increased its exploration and development budget to $2.7 billion for 2005 from $2.3 billion in 2004, an increase of 17 percent."

Given the above nebulous statements made by several parties and the PUNY numbers for exploration, $2.7 billion, Zubrin may be correct:

"If our goal were increased oil exploration, we would do much better to set up a program, funded at, say, $30 billion per year . . . "

Spending only $2.7 billion per year out of gross revenues in excess of $1 trillion per year is evidence that "the OPEC-inflated oil price is simply a swindle," as Zubrin suggests.

Zubrin says that in 1999 the Saudi oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, said that his country's "all inclusive" cost to produce each barrel of oil was $1.50 and the cost for discovering each new barrel amounted to an additional 10 cents per barrel. So, given the world price of oil today is about $88 per barrel, this is a profit of over $85 per barrel. If OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, IS selling 72 million barrels of oil per day, their net profit would be $6.1 billion per day or the sum of $2.2 trillion per year, as of 2008. Were OPEC to place oil on the market under the "free market system," they would generate a little more than $1.3 billion per day or about $475 billion per year.

So I have to agree with Zubrin, there IS powerful incentive for OPEC to conspire to set prices by artificially limiting demand (i.e., under spending on exploration). The question is: what would be the incentive for Matt Simmons to misrepresent the situation as described above? Wouldn't he as an investment banker make more money getting in on the ground floor of developing new energy companies, such as a universal system of flex-fuel cars based on ethanol and methanol?(3)


-----------------
(1) Aramaco is Saudi Arabia's main oil company.

(2) Simmons is a veteran oil industry analyst, investment banker and CFR member. He is also the CEO of Simmons & Company, a Houston-based investment bank that specializes in the energy industry.

(3) Is Saudi Arabia peaking or is it using people like Simmons to mislead the world in order sell oil at vast premiums? We all deserve an answer to this question because we pay for the oil and we are being asked to support Zubrin's strategy of flex-fuel cars. I am not interested in supporting or vilifying any system just because that system is based on someone's ideological view of Earth's energy problem.

This a book about the future of America. A future we can begin today. Zubrick makes a great case that energy independence needn't be predicated on some futurist automobile yet invented. It is here now. So what on earth are we waiting for??

This book is the Omnivore's Dilemma of this year-- a book so full of common sense you wonder what took so long to write it. Let's put it in the hands of every lawmaker in this country. In every school, in every doctor's office, in every library....

ENERGY VICTORY: WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR BY BREAKING FREE OF OIL argues for a new direction in US energy policies, providing the author's plan for breaking the stronghold oil has on this country and providing evidence that such dependency has resulted in corruption and, more recently, the funding and protection of terrorist movements. His plan suggests if Congress passed a law requiring all new cars be flex-fueled, this would be a major step towards breaking the oil cartel's monopoly on world energy resources. It's a fascinating survey college-level collections interested in energy resources needs to fuel classroom debates and energy studies.

If you think we don't have the technology to make and burn alternative fuels, RIGHT NOW, you are mistaken. The real problem is this: oil equals money. The people with the oil money, many of whom are powerful Americans, DON'T WANT US TO FIX OUR PROBLEM! They are swimming in profits from $100 a barrel crude, with no end in sight.

Robert Zubrin tells is like it is. I don't want to hear from politicians about what we can't do. We have the technology. The question is, are we bold enough to use it? GREAT BOOK.

This book shows why a national energy policy is not only needed but how it is possible. It is only a matter of time before Zubrin's ideas are embraced by one of the 2008 candidates. That lucky person will get my vote.

The only loser in Zubrin's scheme is OPEC. I haven't read one review that pans his ideas, unlike most of the pie in the sky prescriptions which claim to solve our problems. It really ticks me off that ideas like this lay fallow while Rome burns.
Thanks to CSPAN booktv for bringing this book to my attention.

Zubrin is the first person to truly understand what is happening in the world and to the US because of our disastorous energy policy. It really is a shame that our government and media have completely done the bidding of big oil to the detriment of our country.

Interestingly a watered down mandate to add flex fuel cars that Zubrin is calling for in the book was taken out of the latest energy bill by none other than Trent Lott to support Nissan Motors. Yep, a US Senator pimps for a foreign car company to torpedo a program that would help pull the US out of its misery. Then resigns quickly so that he can become a full time lobbyist.

But I think the really telling thing is to watch big tough Bush beg for more oil from the Saudi's on his most recent trip. As Zubrin mentions the White House knows that a simple flex fuel mandate would strengthened the US and get Bush off his knees. But what would happen to Big Oil?

If one ever wonder why the US is in the mess that it is read this book. We don't need "change" we need to throw more politicians in jail. As Zubrin said our energy policy has been a scandal for 30 years.

Energy Victory shows clearly that we don't have to continue funding OPEC and the terrorists they support. If we get moving we could be free from their tyranny in a few short years. Everybody needs to read this book and then push for our government to make it happen! Let OPEC start drinking their $100 a barrel crude!

In this case, Robert Zubrin gives his take on the current war on Islamofascism.
First he lays out the main differences between ourselves and those who wish to destroy us. He then lays out his plan to use what we have to cut our dependency on oil from our enemies by using nuclear power to create methanol from organic matter. He then finishes by stating what is at stake.
It is a cool clearheaded view by a man who knows what he is talking about.

Energy Victory by Robert Zubrin is a very thorough expose of the Arab Oil Cartel's strangle hold on America. He offers a way for America to become energy independent without the Arab oil. This book should be read by every Senator and Representative in congress.

Zubrin's idea is to foster the use of METHANOL ... [ which is NOT the same as ethanol ].

Methanol is cheaper than gasoline, uses less energy to make than ethanol, it is less toxic than gasoline, easier to make than gasoline, ... and IT HAS BEEN USED AS RACING FUEL for many years!!!

The technology for making methanol has been around for maybe a hundred years.

What we really need are some catchy bumber stickers about Methanol.

If each state governor would mandate that every car sold in his or her state had to be able to burn Flex Fuel, the problem of dependence on Middle East oil would be solved almost immediately. It would take only weeks to start rolling Flex Fuel cars off the assembly lines. And it would take six months to a couple of years for the production of methanol to ramp up. In fact, you wouldn't even need EVERY state governor to mandate cars be equipped with Flex Fuel-friendly fuel systems. Perhaps the Governors of California, New York and Massachusetts could start the ball rolling.

The cost of modifying the cars would be minimal. And the free market system would automatically start providing the methanol as soon as enough Flex Fuel cars arrived on the scene.

And if the other countries of the world were to similarly mandate that cars sold in their countries be equipped for Flex Fuel, they would then have the option of enjoying the virtues and benefits of competition between oil producers and methanol producers. Every country can produce methanol using waste agricultural products ... wood chips from fast growing hybrid poplars, for example. Or using waste streams from garbage. Or from coal. The technology is there.

Everyone with an interest in Energy independence should buy and read this book.

At the very least everyone on this thread should Google "Methanol" and read up on it.

Also read here:

http://www.methanol.org/contentIndex...ts&title=Index

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4316961.html

http://www.energyvictory.net/

Finally, you can read this, but do not try this at home:

http://www.jrwhipple.com/sr/fuel_making.html

"Are we still a nation of pioneers? Do we choose to make the efforts required to continue as the vanguard of human progress, a people of the future, or will we allow ourselves to be a people of the past, one whose accomplishments are celebrated only in museums?", so wrote Robert Zubrin from the preface to his first book "The Case for Mars", reminding Americans' that their nation achieved greatness because they, as a people, always sought the future. And in their seeking they found a way free of control and of any check against their collective dreams for themselves and their children's children. In establishing the American age, they would find that national greatness comes from a shared vision as a people for a future lived in freedom, and not just from some happenstance or whim of nature.

Often as a nation we have aimed high and missed the mark, but never have we been a people to settle, to content ourselves with going along for the ride. As "The Case for Mars" asks the question of why we are content to dabble in space post-Apollo, Zubrin's latest action inspiring book, "Energy Victory" asks the resounding question of the American age - why has America remained a contented captive of the Arab Petroleum cartel? And why does America continue to help cultivate, finance and shelter the benefactors of the very forces that we commit our young men and women in the armed services to fight in a struggle of "kill or be killed?"

In "Energy Victory," Zubrin details not only a plan for energy independence, but demonstrates conclusively the absurdity of our present national energy policy. From pointing out the role of Saudi Arabia in spreading worldwide the fanatic Islamic Wahhabi worldview and that worldviews direct ties to our current "terror war," to the use of petroleum wealth in buying influence in the corridors of Washington, our national energy policy is seriously missing the mark of American national interest. For anyone still doubting that Islamic terrorism is a grave threat because of the vast wealth of the oil Sheiks being used to finance it, and the influence that their wealth buys in the corridors of power in the world's remaining "superpower," Zubrin's first sixty pages are conclusive for all but those few still awaiting their second cup of Kool-Aid.

Yet "Energy Victory" goes beyond just building the case about an oil and Islamic fanaticism co-dependency, but sets an ambitious strategic goal of destroying the OPEC cartel and creating an energy independent America that plays straight to our nation's natural resource strengths. Based on Nineteenth century technology and chemistry that is easily understood with no more than a high school chemistry background he argues that to "annihilate the oil cartel, we need to switch the world to a different fuel."

In the chapter "Changing the Energy Trump Suit," Zubrin acknowledges that currently oil is the fuel with the trump role and the United States is by far the worst loser in the energy game with oil as the trump "card." Yet the U.S. energy position changes dramatically when the trump fuel cards are changed to one of the world's other major energy resources of coal, natural gas, or biomass. To make that change in the trump card the U.S. would need to convert coal, natural gas, and biomass into their "energy equivalent in usable liquid fuels," or simply "all we need to do is make alcohol," and in point of fact the simplest alcohols - ethanol and methanol. And while the energy densities, as Zubrin points out, of the alcohols are not that of petroleum based liquid fuels the current price points of gasoline and other fuels make alcohols very attractive and doable, while the strategic imperative of breaking the back of terror's financiers makes an alcohol based energy source a necessity.

The technologies exist today, and have for the last 30 plus years, to convert our automobile production to 100% flex-fuel internal combustion, meaning an internal engine monitoring that burns all mixtures of fuels whether alcohol or oil based. Add to that "Nobel Prize winning chemist George Olah" has shown that "...nearly every synthetic plastic currently made from petroleum products can be efficiently produced through methanol chemistry instead," and it is clear that all that is lacking is the political will to move America in the direction of freedom's power.

As Robert Zubrin builds his compelling case for converting to an alcohol based energy economy it becomes apparent that our national energy problems stem in largest part from lack of political foresight and will, and not from an absence of technical knowhow, resource availability, or even environmental concerns. From President George W. Bush's famous hand-holding stroll at the Crawford ranch with Saudi King Abdullah, to former secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former Senate majority leader George Mitchell both resigning from the 9/11 commission rather than disclosing their Saudi Arabian consultancies, this is a government that is deeply infiltrated by big money...and the Saudi's have some of the deepest pockets. And they know how to use it, like funding for a popular Washington think-tank the American Enterprise Institute, home to many prominent neo-conservative "advisors."

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is a favorite venue for members of the current administration and is a provider of choice for any administration policy in search of a position paper of support. The President's state of the union address suggested Hydrogen Fuel Cell initiative being a fine example of policy being driven by think tank position paper. As they say, it sounds good on paper, but the energy required to create free Hydrogen for fuel cells in fact creates an energy deficit. All of which makes the AEI guilty of yet another policy misdirection.

Robert Zubrin's "Energy Victory" is an easy read, compelling in exposing the dangers of Saudi Arabian Wahabbism, disturbing in detailing Saudi influence peddling at the highest U.S. government levels, and completely understandable in portraying the strategic planning needed to bring the United States into an energy independent future. With "Energy Victory" the question is no longer about a blue print to follow in building a secure American future, but in how to compel action from the political class that may have become too compromised to serve America's national interest. Reforming that American political system is an approaching crusade, but without question a first step is to get this book and become an informed constituency.

I've always found Robert Zubrin to be an entertaining if not intense engineer whose frustration with our space program was only matched by his dedication to taking matters into his own hands. I remember seeing him on the Discovery channel in a mock-up space suit covered in mud having "a bad day on Mars". Has this strange little man seen too many episodes of Star Trek? Or... is he one of those unusual people that make the great changes in history actually happen? Time will tell if the latter is true. But I believe it is certainly possible.

From the first time I heard Zubrin promote this book on the airwaves I've wanted to read it. It's been very hard to find but somehow, my mother-in-law found one copy in a store in Vegas. I unwrapped it Christmas morning and finished it the following night. I won't waste time going over all the details of the book as the other reviews have that covered. All I can say is that Energy Victory just may be the most important book of this century (so far).

I believe this because, as a conservative, I think that using our best weapon, free-market economic competition, to put the world's biggest monopoly in it's place is no less than brilliant. The save-the-world side of me is thrilled at the idea of the entire third world having the opportunity (reference "pursuit of happiness") to lift themselves out of poverty, not to mention the way it'll please the global warming crowd. Overall the advantages of Zubrin's plan to switch the world to an alcohol economy are such a no-brainer that anyone with presidential aspirations ignores it at their own political peril.

My business depends on driving long distances with a substantial load towed behind a big, gas-guzzling pickup. I want to switch to flex-fuel. And I mean yesterday! That's the obvious reason for me. Saving our country would be another, followed by others that include the following.

A few days before Christmas I asked the girl behind the counter at the local bookstore if they had this book in stock. She seemed a bit confused as to why they hadn't received any copies yet. (I got the book eventually so any theories about oil execs fueling their yuletide fireplaces with cases of the things are now on my mental back burner.) The neat thing was that this girl was a typical California bookstore employee, sporting a liberal attitude with matching piercings and t-shirt. She asked what the book was about. I told her it's about giving big oil a competitor by switching the U.S. and eventually the world to an alcohol economy. Her eyes lit up and she said, "That sounds like a book I have to read too". Not only does Zubrin offer a solution to well... almost all the worlds ills, but maybe that day in December when a conservative book-buyer reached out to a liberal we may have finally started to mend our divided nation. I am going to talk to some highly liberal friends... well, associates, this week. We may find common ground for conversation for the first time in years. Wish me luck.

In all seriousness though, I must conclude with two statements:

The first I address to Rudolph Giuliani. Sir, I like and respect you. You seem like you possess more common sense than both houses combined. Your leadership during some very dark days was needed and appreciated. But don't expect that alone to give you the title of President. I have a suggestion: If you want to seal the deal you should read this book and employ it's tactics to the letter. I truly believe you could then surf a wave (of Methanol) into the Whitehouse. If not I will vote for whomever does.

Secondly, to Robert Zubrin, thanks for having the guts to write this book. It was very well researched and very well written. I enjoyed every moment (even the scary ones). Now, I just hope that it does the job... for all our kids' sake.

Now stop reading reviews and buy this book.

Peace people.

I'm not going to make this polite like Al Gore might. This is the first step towards energy independence for the United States, the path to energy development for the world, and a 1-2 punch to the Gulf States that are funding terror against us. Bob Zubrin has shown us the way in one swoop. He's totally convinced me. It's not everyday you read a book that changes your mind on so many key issues and leaves little to disagree on of import. I understood the situation with Saudi Arabia & the rest of the oil cartel states, terrorism, etc, as well as the stinking red-herring of hydrogen. But alcohols and mandating flex-fuel cars at an additional cost of almost zero on the consumer end? That's just downright genius. Really, I don't know how else to put it.

Fusion power, probably from a massive Manhattan Project-level effort, will need government funding at some point to free us of fossil fuels for power generation in general. I still believe that and Zubrin does not attempt to refute Fusion or the eventual desirability of pure electric cars. However, he's convinced me to be realistic about the engineering hurdles of Fusion and pure electric's short-term prospects in the marketplace. That is a global climate change solution. This, however, is a strategic security & economic issue.

Bringing the troops home, invading the west coast of the Persian Gulf, saving the rain forest, hybrid cars, and yes, even health care...everything else is frankly secondary. FLEX-FUEL VEHICALS MUST BE MANDATED AS OUTLINED BY ZUBRIN. You want a flex-fuel hybrid-electric? Great, but voluntary. Love the kick standard petrol gives? Fine! But the competition that results will put us on our way towards this victory, a victory for the entire world against terror and the cartel. Get this book, read it, spread the word. If it doesn't get you excited about this solution in an era of growing despondence and despair, either you're an idiot or you're part of the elites of this country (or another) who are benefiting from the current oil monopoly.

Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil
Like many other reviewers, I am a retired professor of Engineering (State University of New York at Buffalo). From 1956 to 1966 I was successively engineer, senior engineer, and fellow engineer at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, one of two contractors to the Naval Reactors branch of the Bureau of Ships. I well remember an occasion when the navy decided to build an oil-powered carrier, after many nuclear powered surface ships were in action, because an oil-powered ship was "cheaper." Oil was then $2 a barrel. Some of my colleagues were researching what a barrel of oil really costs including delivery costs to the middle of the ocean, and were ordered not too continue, because their job was engineering, not policy. I wonder what the economics would be today with oil at $90+ per barrel. The original cost of a nuclear powered ship includes all the fuel it will ever need. You never need to buy fuel in a hostile port.

This is an excellent book which truly takes into account the facts of the OPEC oil cartel, the technical feasibility of alcohol fuel, and the economics of energy with all costs included.

Among my other qualifications to review this book is being a past owner of a flexible fuel vehicle. It ran excellently on Ethanol, at a miles per dollar cost which was slightly less than running on gasoline. I used Ethanol partly out of scientific curiosity and partly out of patriotism.

The flexible fuel vehicle was a wheelchair van. Unfortunately, the wheelchair rider passed away, and I switched to a Prius which fit my needs better. The Prius proves that 45 MPG is practical now. I have sacrificed nothing by using the Prius, not even money because I bought one of the first 70 000 so got a tax rebate which covered the extra cost of the hybrid.

The author does not say so explicitly, but the only bargaining tactic the Saudis understand is to walk out of their stall in the bazaar and buy nothing, then buy something good in our own country.

So, all the authors' points are correct and the only thing needed is the will and the intelligence to do what is right. Buy this book!