Crude Reality: Petroleum in World History

by Brian C. Black

This concise, accessible introduction to the history of oil tells the story of how petroleum shaped human life since it was first discovered leaking inconspicuously from the soil. Leading environmental history specialist Brian C. Black connects the subsequent exploitation of petroleum to patterns in world history while tracing the intricate links between energy and people after 1850. For a century, human dependence on petroleum caused little discomfort as we enjoyed the heyday of cheap crude—a glorious episode of energy gluttony that was destined to end. Today, we see the disastrous results of environmental degradation, political instability, and world economic disparity in the waning years of a petroleum-powered civilization—lessons rooted in the finite nature of oil. This “crude reality” becomes tragic when we measure our overwhelming reliance on this geological ooze.

Considering the nature of oil itself as well as the specifics of humans’ remarkable relationship with it, Crude Reality reveals our modern conundrum and then suggests the challenges of our future without oil. It is this essential context, the author argues, that will prepare us for our energy transition. Black brings to this book a global perspective and a wide-ranging technical knowledge presented specifically for general readers, making its scope much broader than any other survey. Written by a major scholar on the history of petroleum, it is an essential contribution to environmental history and the rapidly emerging field of energy history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 22, 2012

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, very informative.

[Christine Kenney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The back half that focused more on the social and cultural aspects was a lot more interesting to me than the beginning which focused more on gasoline's role in global politics and war efforts. I struggle to get into history as a genre, so most folks would probably rate this higher.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but dry. I didn't care much for the structure.

[Mills College Library]

338.27282 B6272 2012