World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler

In World Made by Hand, James Howard Kunstler bringsto life what America might be a few decades after several catastrophes convergeto destroy life as we know it.  Theseinclude the decline of oil production, climate changes, and a pandemic flu. Thebook provides a hypothetical look at what it would be like start over withoutthe tools or resources we now take for granted.   It takes place mainly in the small town ofUnion Grove, NY which struggles to rebuild its local community. Many rawmaterials are no longer at hand and everyday needs must be fashioned fromwhatever is available. Travel is mostly by foot and is very slow and often dangerous.  Food is grown locally at great expense oftime and energy, and the outside world is largely unknown.  The residents try to rebuild a civil societyout of squabbling factions, including a cultish group of newcomers, anestablished group of town people and a plantation kept by a wealthy land owner.  Their challenges play out in a world of abandonedhighways and empty houses.  The ‘moral’people try to establish rudimentary government to deal fairly with those amongthem who would take advantage of the lack of law enforcement or authority.

Althoughthe author leaves many questions unanswered (how long since everythingcollapsed? what actually happened; how did they originally survive?), it isstill a very thought provoking look at what could be a dismal future.  Given this depiction, we are whollyunprepared as a society if the unthinkable happened.   Overall,I enjoyed the book and found myself wondering how I would survive in such aworld - it is not something I like to think about!