James Howard Kunstler speaks by phone with Arthur E. Berman, who is a petroleum geologist and consultant to the energy sector; editorial board member of The Oil Drum; associate editor of the AAPG Bulletin; director of The Association for the Study of Peak Oil. Berman has published more than 100 articles on petroleum geology and technology and has made more than 50 presentations in the last year to professional societies, investment conferences and companies. He speaks to Jim tonight about the history of shale gas “fracking” and a lot of the “magical thinking” surrounding the prospects of America becoming “energy independent” through fracking.
Arthur E. Berman, Petroleum Geologist: Magical Thinking and Fracking
By James Howard Kunstler, originally published by KunstlerCast
February 7, 2012
James Howard Kunstler
James Howard Kunstler lives in upstate New York and is the author of about 20 books, 14 novels and the rest are non-fiction. These include The Geography of Nowhere, about the suburbanisation of America, The Long Emergency, about the energy predicament and financial predicaments of our time, and the prospects for collapse, and Too Much Magic, an update of The Long Emergency about wishful thinking and technology. He also recently completed a four book series of novels set in the post-collapse American future under the rubric ‘World Made by Hand’.
Tags: Education, Fossil Fuels, Industry, Natural Gas
Related Articles
Life without oil: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is a warning for global systems under strain
By Mark H. Burton, North West Bylines
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is disrupting supply chains just as previously suppressed government reports warn that ecological breakdown and resource depletion are converging into systemic collapse. This may be a preview of what lies ahead if we don’t confront this reality.
May 29, 2026
In conversation: Dave Murphy and Tom Murphy – What if the energy transition is not enough?
By Tom Murphy, David Murphy, Ben McCall, Planetary Limits Academic Network
In the concluding installment of this discussion series, Tom Murphy and Dave Murphy wrestle with whether a just energy transition can truly be sustainable, or whether modernity itself is a dead end on a finite planet.
May 26, 2026
The emerging coalition challenging fossil fuel politics outside COP
By Julian Reingold, Open Democracy
Nearly 60 countries launch coalition to accelerate the energy transition against the backdrop of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
May 22, 2026





