Avoiding cynicism and despair, the book begins with an overview of the likely impacts of oil and natural gas depletion and then outlines four options for industrial societies during the next decades: Last One Standing: the path of competition for remaining resources; Powerdown: the path of co-operation, conservation and sharing; Waiting for a Magic Elixir: wishful thinking, false hopes and denial; Building Lifeboats: the path of community solidarity and preservation. Finally, the book explores how three important groups within global society -- the power elites, (the anti-war and anti-globalisation movements, et al: the 'Other Superpower'), and ordinary people -- are likely to respond to these four options. Timely, accessible and eloquent, this book is critical reading for our times.