Private Empire

by Steve Coll

First published 2012

From the remote jungles of Equatorial Guinea to the gleaming corporate towers of Houston, "Private Empire" reveals the sprawling influence of ExxonMobil, the world's most powerful oil company. As Steve Coll delves into the company's inner workings, he uncovers a culture of secrecy, political maneuvering, and unchecked power that has allowed ExxonMobil to amass staggering wealth and influence, even as it faces mounting environmental and human rights challenges. With unparalleled access and meticulous reporting, Coll paints a damning portrait of a corporate juggernaut whose tentacles reach deep into global affairs.

Genres: history, business, political-science, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: corporate-corruption, investigative-journalism

Setting: Equatorial Guinea, Houston, United States

Period: 21st-century

685 pages · Hardcover · The Penguin Press

More by Steve Coll

• The Bin Ladens
• Ghost Wars
• Directorate S
• The Taking of Getty Oil
• On the Grand Trunk Road
• The Achilles Trap
• The Deal of the Century

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