This sweeping historical narrative traces the global competition for oil from its earliest days through the modern era. Yergin chronicles how petroleum transformed from a simple commodity into the foundation of geopolitical power, examining the rise of major oil companies and the nations that sought to control them. The book reveals how the pursuit of black gold shaped international relations, sparked conflicts, and created immense fortunes while reshaping the global economy. Through detailed accounts of corporate boardroom battles, diplomatic negotiations, and resource wars, Yergin demonstrates how oil became the prize that nations and companies would fight to possess. The story encompasses the full scope of petroleum's impact on world affairs, showing how this single resource came to influence everything from military strategy to economic policy across continents and generations.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, world-history, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corporate-boardroom-battles, diplomatic-negotiations
Setting: Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century
Tankobon Hardcover · Japan Broadcasting Publishers Association