Books About the History (and Future) of Oil

Growth requires cheap oil. According to economist and resource analyst Jeff Rubin, by increasing oil prices, governments aren’t moving us towards economic recovery. Instead, they’re taking away growth opportunities. As resources dwindle and energy prices rise, sustaining our economies will become even trickier.

What can we do? And even more importantly, are we doomed?

Starting in the early 2000s, fracking, the process of extracting natural gas from the Earth, became a new and popular method for energy production. The only problem is that, far from the clean energy natural gas purports to be, fracking comes with numerous health and environmental hazards. Go deep into this industry, learning the history of fracking, what technologies are used to make it possible, and how dangerous this process can be.

George W. Bush insisted publicly and prolifically that the oil of Iraq belongs to its people. And the best way to do that was to put oil management in the hands of international companies in the form of long-term contracts. This wasn’t exactly a request. These policies have been staunchly opposed by the Iraqi people, and despite little coverage in Western media, efforts to oppose these international designs have been somewhat successful. 

But the opposition has come with a deadly cost to the Iraqi people. Muttitt goes into the history of the Iraqi occupation to answer why we were there for so long, and why things never improved.

To start his investigation into one of the biggest industries in America, Matthew Yeomans attempted to spend one day without using it. When everything from deodorant to contact lenses uses oil products, this was a challenge that stymied him before he could finish his morning routine. Published in cloth and starting at the beginning of the industry, Oil is a witty and accessible guide to the resource that drives the US economy and is at the heart of myriad global conflicts

Oil has had a place in the heart of American lore for over a century. Called black gold, it’s driven many men to lose everything in search of its elusive treasure. But what is life actually life in the oil fields of America?

Gerald Lynch takes readers through various fields in and around Texas. He details the drilling methods and technologies that make extraction possible. But more importantly, he chronicles how this impacts the working men and women who do these dangerous jobs and make the entire industry possible.

Between 1859 and 1873, Oil Creek Valley was the site of American’s first oil boom and one the world’s largest oil producers. After the Civil War, demand grew, and, almost overnight, the area changed from largely agricultural to entirely oil driven. And the consequences on the local environment were devastating. In less than two decades, this thriving community transformed into ruin. This is the story of what happened.

In sub-Sahara Africa, every week, billions of dollars in oil and gas are produced. But instead of creating a thriving local economy, these areas are increasingly areas of violent conflict. Even worse, the money produced goes into the hands of a very few powerful and corrupt individuals, resulting in higher levels of poverty. And the cycle is seemingly only getting worse. Shaxson sets out to understand how this all started, and what, if anything, can be done about it.

On April 20, 2010, the oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded, killing 11 workers. It created the largest oil spill in the history of US offshore drilling. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the spill went on to devastate not only the natural environment surrounding it, but ruining local businesses and communities. Even worse, this wasn’t the first time British Petroleum chose cost-cutting policies in favor of rigorous safety practices. Poisoned Legacy tells the true story behind the rise and fall of one of the world’s most powerful oil companies.

For generations, Williston, North Dakota was nothing but a small farm town. That all changed when natural gas was discovered beneath its soil. Almost overnight, fracking companies moved in, creating a rush not seen since the Gold Rush. But the promise of six-figure jobs didn’t lead to an economic boom for the town. Instead, tent cities were erected, workers lived out of their cars, schools overflowed, and violent crimes skyrocketed. 

The New Wild West is a warning of what can happen when giant industries with little oversight or regulation are allowed to show up in communities and towns across America.

At the height of his career, J. Paul Getty was the world’s richest man at the helm of a sprawling oil empire. Eight years after his death, that empire was locked in a brutal family feud and boardroom turmoil. In the midst of the drama, Pennzoil reached an agreement with Getty’s son Gordon, only for Texaco to somehow come in at the last second and claim the $10 billion prize. What came next was a scandalous case that rocked the business world and led to shifts in the oil industry that changed it forever.