The story I will be telling for my paradigm shift project is a story as old as time: the story of energy production (Specifically in the United States). Energy that started in a simple form as a chemical energy in the muscles of humans and animals. Although incredibly simple, this form of energy is why we are here today. There is no telling what life would be like if horses and other animals didn’t drive the economy for almost two centuries. But then energy progressed into something so complex that life is unimaginable without it.

But where did it start? And where did it go? How are we here today? These are all questions I will be thrilled to answer in my speech. These questions are incredibly important because everything we do involves energy. Driving cars, making food, brushing your teeth, and typing on your laptop all involve energy. But what if it were to disappear? What would your life look like if modern energy like gasoline ceased to exist?

This hypothetical could turn into a reality if something is not done. It is common knowledge that approximately 40 years of oil are left on earth. This means that at some point in my life, there will be no petroleum left. My car will not take gasoline, and oil will not lubricate my engine. This is what drew me to this topic. I love the idea that we have a major issue, and we can do something about it. That is why it is crucial that we understand where we are and where we came from.

My story will start in the 17th century and finish in the modern day. I will examine the transgression between the energy sources of wood, coal, oil, and renewables. I will include inflection points like the creation of the steam engine and internal combustion engine to show how these transgressions took place.

The book I chose is titled, Energy Production in The United States. It was written by author Hans H. Landsberg. Landsberg is an executive on the Council of American Economics. His credentials started when he received his Bachelor of Economics in London and then his master’s at Columbia University. This book will be the backbone for all my research on the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Since this book was written in 1968, it provides a fresh account of these past centuries.