Christopher Steiner

From a Q & A with Christopher Steiner, author of $20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better:

What are some of the surprising ways you think rising gas prices will change our everyday lives?

I don't think people realize how close our airline industry is to an all-out collapse. The book details a massive airline extinction at $8 per gallon, and in fact, serious change could take place even before then. It's certainly not something that should be celebrated, but the collapse of that industry will open the door to new ones, such as widespread high-speed trains in America, a phenomenon that won't take serious root until plane tickets become luxuries rather than conveniences.

Beyond the airlines, I think people might be surprised to realize that their future might not include Wal-Mart, since they depend on trucking and suburban communities. And forget about sushi or kiwis since they will be too costly to transport. But the bright side of this is that we'll have better locally-owned stores and locally-grown organic fruit, vegetables and meat.

Read the complete Q & A.

Visit Christopher Steiner's website.

--Marshal Zeringue