Arithmetic, Population and Energy by Dr. Albert Bartlett

The retired Professor of Physics from the University of Colorado in Boulder examines the arithmetic of steady growth, such as 5% per year, the doubling time for such growth, and the large numbers one gets when steady growth continues over modest periods of time. The examination then turns to what happens when one has steady growth in a finite environment. These concepts are applied to populations and to fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. A series of recommendations is given for dealing with the problems that are revealed by the very simple arithmetic.


"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function!" (Dr. Albert Bartlett)

"We have to educate all of our people to an understanding of the arithmetic and the consequences of growth, especially in terms of populations and in terms of the earth’s finite resources. We must educate people to recognize the fact that growth of populations and growth of rates of consumption of resources cannot be sustained." (Dr. Albert Bartlett)

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