Crude tells the unexpurgated story of oil and its crucial role in everyday modern life. This story is about far more than fuel and light. In addition to fueling our cars and illuminating our cities, crude oil and its by-products fertilize our crops, pave our roads, and make plastic possible. Without nitrogen fertilizer, about two-fifths of the world's population would not be alive. The Western world's newborn babies are caught by hands in petro-plastic gloves, swaddled in petro-polyester blankets and warmed by oil-powered heaters. The few remaining wood products (such as this book) are extracted by oil-powered machines travelling on oil-cove red roads. The modern world is soaked, drenched, saturated in oil. Crude tells the gripping tale of how it came to be. A great human drama emerges, of discovery and innovation, risk, the promise of riches, and the power of greed. From an Australian author.

Table of Contents

Preface: For the love of oilIntroduction: Oil is bornChapter 1: The eclipse of coalChapter 2: Exile from TethysChapter 3: Into the coldChapter 4: Rockefeller's ghostChapter 5: Refining the huntChapter 6: AftershocksChapter 7: The curse of crudeChapter 8: Carbon perilsChapter 9: Running on emptyChapter 10: Challengers, old and newConclusion: Death throes

Reviews

This is not a Michael Moore-style anti-corporate rant - Shah writes beautifully, with dispassionate, elegant clarity - and it is all the more powerful for it.' (Stephen Poole, the Guardian)... this disturbing book could hardly be timelier.' (Graham Williams, Sydney Morning Herald)