Wow! That is the only way to describe this book. The author covered the effects of the oil industry on everything, including politics, economies, climate change, and war, amongst other things. I never considered how much oil controls our everyday life. The author presented this information in an easy to follow manner that was interesting to read.

Oil, Power, and War by Matthieu Auzanneau
Chelsea Green Publishing
ISBN: 9781603587433

I was enthralled by the author’s ability to explain the history of oil through captivating fiction-like prose. His research must have been endless and his interspersing of historical observations with his superb literary abilities made this a page turner in the making. The explanation of prehistoric eras with of high carbon dioxide levels, temperatures well above today’s normal averages, water levels 200m above the then normal levels, and the extinction of dinosaurs due to an asteroid hit as were “acceptable” to illustrate the history of oil. I even overlooked the innuendo that this same leap backward to high carbon dioxide and temperatures could possible occur again (the Gore theory that never occurred) within a century “confirming” the Greenhouse Affects. But when I came to page 36 and the passage “Perhaps the black gold industry, long dominated by the Americans, was reluctant to attribute its paternity to the Russians, a Canadian, or a ‘medicine man’ associated with a US president who was unable to prevent the coming Civil War (and who is still considered, along with George W. Bush and Donald Trump, to be the most incompetent figure ever to occupy the White House),” I called it quits. Up to this point I questioned a lot of what was being written, not that I knew differently, but that the observations being communicated seemed only to fit a well composed story, they were not necessarily facts and mere opinions like the referenced passage. At that point I immediately dismissed what the French author most diligently wrote and facts became mere observations. My impression went from nonfiction to historical fiction due to liberal interpretations of information and unacceptable opinions that added nothing to the story, but, conversely damaged a fine written piece of literature.

Ratings:
How well written = 5-Stars (captivating -- ignoring the negatives stated above)
Research = 5 Stars
Facts Presented = 4 Stars (some observations questionable and, thus, merely observations)
Opinions = 0 Stars (unnecessary to promote unproven theories and politics)
Written to ensure 100% nonfiction-believability = 3 Star
Overall = 3 Stars (turned off and can’t accept it as true nonfiction – unwilling to finish)

Reviewer: Rich

Oil, Power and War is probably going to be the new definitive history of Oil. I wouldn't say it replaces Daniel Yergin's The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power, a Pulitzer Prize winner but it certainly builds upon Yergin's book with some modifications. For example, Yergin's book talks about the story of Oil till only 1980 and even then only from the perspective of those who were winners in this game. Matthieu Auzanneau's book continues the story up to most recent times and how Oil has been influential in shaping the political and economic environment. Make no mistake even at 600 pages, shorter than Yergin's book at 900 pages it is still full of facts, and who's who and timelines that the reader is better advised to keep track of as he or she moves from page to page. The plethora of characters resembles that of some russian literature say Anna Karenina but if you really read it without extended breaks I am sure you can keep track of them. The chapters are broken down in short topics that keeps it interesting. Needless to say the book takes you all the way from origin of Oil at organic level to its uses and how it has, it is and will probably continue shaping our world's political, cultural, social, industrial and military situation. The oil dubbed Black Gold indeed has been a single most vital natural resource surpassing King Coal to give us the world we inhibit now. It would be hard to find a single entity, a single object that does not have finger prints of petroleum in its origin.

Overall, this book I think is an extension of it's predecessor The Prize and definitely adds way more information on the current situation as it relates to Oil. With that being said if you are deciding to pick up a definitive book on the biography of Oil and its influence, I would recommend you pick up this new book Oil, Power and War as it is most current on the subject.