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Liked It “Loved this book! Very compelling read. The people and their lives come to life as if you know them.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Loved this book! Very compelling read. The people and their lives come to life as if you know them.”
Linda M wrote this review Wednesday, November 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A fantastic history of the oil industry. Everyone should read this.”
Kenneth S wrote this review Friday, August 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“it was so so boring”
jennie s wrote this review Thursday, July 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Lots of amazing information about the search and development of oil resources around the world. Foundational information. It gives a sense of how our search for energy sources has shaped the world we live in today. Must read for someone interested in how we got where we are. ”
Meredith C wrote this review Wednesday, May 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is an important book for anyone interested in geopolitics and history. It may seem dry to trace a commodity through history but after reading a few chapters of this volume, you will see why it is so important. By the time that I had finished it, I could see how the conflict arose that became WWII and I could see the beginnings of the our current involvement in the Middle East.
Mark V wrote this review Sunday, March 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I am ready for Yergin to write a sequel or an update--one is desperately needed.
One more thing, there is an uncanny parallel to the rise of oil in 20th C. geopolitics and global warming. This book should be a companion study to anyone who also has an interest in environmentalism.”
“I am writing a book introduction & not a review. For the simple reason that PRiZE is not a reader’s book. It is more like an encyclopaedia (not exhaustive though) of the age of oil. It can be found readable or unreadable by different persons. Personally, I read it like a novel, at the edge of my seat (bed, rather), longing to go home after work every night, just so that I can keep reading the saga. Inspite of the humongous size of 800 pages, it is most catching, excepting a few parts, which I deem unnecessary. The history of American oil is provided in too much depth, and at times it becomes a mere log-book, recording events without any emotion. But, except the American history, the book is most interesting, maybe because it holds international politics as its stage-partner, and dances away gracefully throughout the act!
honshu5 wrote this review Saturday, February 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The act lasts for most of the book, and Americans lead it, but they are a part of the oil-men, while the politicians form another circle, mainly middle-eastern.
I love the descriptive lengthiness of the book, which most may despise. I would keep it as a historical encyclopaedia, and it turns out well as both for me. I cannot even start to describe the story of oil, as it leads through the discovery & inventors, to business men and the great oil men, to politics and finally nations and the world at large.
The book could have a new chapter on current events, and I would have devoured it readily again! Its an endless read, until the age of hydrocarbon ends!
”
“I read this book over 10 years ago. It gave me a great insight into the recent history of the world, for example, why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the anti-trust legislation in the United States. Daniel Yergin is definitely an authority on the subject.”
Don wrote this review Wednesday, February 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Now I’m reading non-fiction. I do it once in a while to keep my feet on the ground. Too much fiction can leave me daydreaming more than my usual rate.
boomsanjuan wrote this review Sunday, January 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is so far the best non-fiction read I’ve come across. It’s not boring at all!
The book is about the history of the oil industry. I know, oil reminds everyone of how expensive everything is nowadays! I am reading this so at least I can get a better understanding of what drives oil prices. Of course, it’s not as simple as the law of suppy and demand. I’m not yet done reading (the book is as thick as the Bible!) but when I am, I’d probably be able to to explain why it’s not always the fault of the big oil companies. Am I being defensive? Hehe.
So back to my critique. Daniel Yergin tells the story of how it all began in a very concise but artful way. It doesn’t feel like reading from a history book. You actually learn and get entertained at the same time. But the most striking aspect is the content. You would never think that these oil companies, which are in the top 10 of Fortune 500, actually started from scratch. As in zero capital, zero technical know-how, zero idea about oil. How did they get from zilch to a zillion-dollar enterprise? Then go read it!”
“DeWitt”
The B wrote this review Tuesday, December 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Excelent Book with interesting characters
Yogesh Pai wrote this review Tuesday, December 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It is the great story of Oil. Its discovery, exploration, struggle, riches, rags, wars, despair and glory
It spans the whole century includes world wars and how oil made the countries and industries
Great Book with lovely characters like Deterding, Ford, Teadle, Rockfeller, Hitler, Churchill, Enrico Mattei, and many more.
All the Oil companies and Politics, opec xyz
A good big read - its a big book will last along journey/”
