"A Prosperous Way Down," the last book by Howard T. and Elisabeth C. Odum, considers ways in which the future with less fossil fuel available could be peaceful and prosperous. While history records the collapse of numerous civilizations, some societies and ecosystems have managed to descend in orderly stages, reducing demands and selecting and saving what is most important. The authors make recommendations for a more equitable and cooperative world society, with specific suggestions based on their evaluations of trends in global population, wealth distribution, energy sources, conservation, urban development, capitalism and international trade, information technology, and education. This thoughtful, provocative book, now in paperback, forces us to confront assumptions about our world's future and provides both a steadying hand and a call to action with its pragmatic analysis of a global transition.