First published 2018
Bethany McLean investigates the true impact of hydraulic fracturing on America's economy, politics, and global standing. She examines how shale technology, especially in Texas's Permian Basin, has made the United States the world's largest oil and gas producer. The country appears headed toward energy independence and net export status within a decade, potentially reshaping global politics by weakening Saudi Arabia and breaking Russia's grip on European energy markets. McLean traces the boom and bust cycles that have defined the American oil sector over the past ten years. She explores the financial engineering behind the industry and the mysterious death of fracking pioneer Aubrey McClendon. Her investigation reveals that the shale business depends on attracting massive capital investments while promised returns remain elusive. Investors increasingly question whether fracking economics actually work. McLean demonstrates how the industry operates more on attracting investment dollars than delivering profits, challenging assumptions about America's energy future and oil's role in global power dynamics.
Genres: business, politics, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: financial-engineering, investigative-journalism
Setting: America, Europe, Permian Basin, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Texas
Period: 21st Century
138 pages · Paperback · Columbia Global Reports