The Edge: How competition for resources is pushing the world, and its climate, to the brink – and what we can do about it.

Rarely does one discover a book that is so topical and informed, that covers the geopolitical and environmental considerations on such an important topic. Mr Maxwell speaks from the coal-face, please excuse the pun. However he also maintains altitude, keeping strategic perspectives. It is like a concise encyclopaedia for those wanting to be in the real world.

This book is a real page-turner. Excuisit language and seldom available insight. It makes the reader feel as if (s)he were a proverbial fly on a wall watching big business and finance. The reader may 'recognise' some stories that "hit the press", but the book takes you also "behind the curtains" of the event. Simply excellent!

This is an informative guide to the recent history & current situation regarding global competition for resources, and the fact that the climate is being pushed to the edge by weak political leadership and national vested interests. I found the book depressing for 2 main reasons - firstly I had no idea that so much energy was lost from extraction to end-user, and secondly that governments are putting nowhere near enough effort into getting energy efficiency the primary goal. We waste about two-thirds of the energy produced to get it to the plug, and then waste more by our own inabilities to use energy efficiently. There seems no hope to me that this will end well for the planet & its bio-diversity. I have only scored the book a 4 because all the charts & diagrams in it are in black & white & in a tiny font - they are close to impossible to read.

Maxwell presents all the parameters pointing to action, with links out to the geopolitics of resource use, and ends with a very specific case for taking action on energy efficiency NOW. Not instead of other necessary actions, but as a critical corollary and enabler of long-term success in decarbonization. Why build out renewables if you do not also build out the capacity to use those precious electrons instead of letting them slip away through massive inefficiencies at every step of the chain?

This book was excellent and insightful, what a great read!

A very comprehensive review of the macro picture for global energy supply and demand as market structures and dynamics have changed over the years and have been affected by recent geopolitical developments. A clear and concise presentation of the case for a more sustainable approach not only for energy generation but also for reducing excesses and for a more efficient use of the resources of the planet. An excellent analysis of the interdependencies of technology, finance and human actions. A very good read for anyone who wants to better understand one of the fundamental challenges of this and future generations, irrespective of whether they are an experienced practitioner or a novice in the field.

A comprehensive survey analysing the impact of resource scarcity on geopolitics, economic development and the environment. Maxwell cogently makes the case that demand-side solutions, notably energy and other resource efficiency, have been underemphasized to date and delivers the hopeful message that these policies can play a vital role in achieving sustainable development and mitigating climate change.A must-read for anyone seeking greater understanding of the most critical issues facing global society. Eminently approachable for neophytes, while offering more than ample substance for even seasoned practitioners. Highly recommended.

Clear, comprehensive and smart, this is a great primer on how climate change is impacting the world and the complexities of dealing with it. Unlike other similar books that leave you somewhere between depressed and confused, the Edge is clear and balanced. And where the author does have an axe to grind, it’s difficult to argue against his case that using fewer resources and saving money is not just a Good Thing but central to preventing climate disaster. It’s a powerful call to use less from someone who’s actually done it. That means it’s credible and unusually practical. Policy makers everywhere should read it, take note, then take action.