Oil: Power, Politics and Pipelines: The Story of Black Gold

by Ian Fitzgerald

This lavish full-color reference guide explores the fascinating history of the substance that changed the modern oil.

In this compelling account, Ian Fitzgerald tells the complete story of oil, from its formation over millions of years to its first discovery and use by humankind to its role as a crucial energy source and the conflicts that have since revolved around it.

Along the way, he covers such themes as technological innovation, cartels and collusions, oil's ever-depleting stocks and the rise of environmentalism, and its staggering influence on politics and business. Taking us from the days of oil barons like John D. Rockefeller and the first refineries of Standard Oil through to the formation of OPEC in the mid-20th century and the rise of fracking in the 21st, Oil explores everything from the creation of plastics to contemporary geopolitics.

Genres: History, Business, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Tanja Berg]

This is a relevant story of how oil powers the world. How it came to be, how it got much of the rich world out of energy poverty and how it will be the end of all of us. Even if we can replace fossil fuels in some places and that we sooner or later must, given that the last well is expected to run dry by the end of the century, it will not be easy. We don't need fossil fuels just to run cars, airplanes and ships. Alternative fuels are difficult to scale and terribly expensive. We also need fossil fuels to create the artificial fertilizers that feed the world. Not to speak of the fact that electric tractors and harvest equipment is not on the horizon. Fossil fuels is also required to create plastics and clothes. We wrap ourselves in plastics to a large extent now, thanks to fast fashion chains such as Shein.

The book has a lot of statistics. I am sure this works well on paper, but it does NOT work on audio. I started skipping through it, which isn't super convenient when walking or doing chores.

[Jolien]

Lots of summing up tables, which does not translate well to audiobook. The book is more an overview of oil with history, geographics and politics.

[Roli Sehgal]

This is a well written non-fiction book by Ian Fitzgerald that traces the history and global impact of petroleum from its geological origins to its role in modern geopolitics, business, and environmental issues.

The book comes with maps and pictures tracing key events in the journey of oil. Its a “complete story” of oil. Key ideas are:
Geology & early use: How oil forms over millions of years and its first human discovery and uses.
Industrial rise: Oil barons (e.g., John D. Rockefeller), Standard Oil, early refineries, and technological innovation.
Cartels & politics: Formation of OPEC, collusion, and oil’s “staggering influence on politics and business.”
Conflict & war: Connections to major 20th/21st‑century conflicts, including the Gulf Wars.
Modern era: Fracking, depleting stocks, plastics, and the rise of environmentalism.

Overall a very engaging read.

[Laila]

I really enjoyed Oil by Ian Fitzgerald. It provides a fascinating look at how oil has shaped the modern world, from industry and transportation to politics and global conflict. The book does a great job of explaining complex topics in a way that is easy to understand, making it both informative and engaging.

What I appreciated most was how it balanced the history of oil with discussions about its environmental and political impact. At times, the amount of information can feel a little dense, but overall it was a well-researched and thought-provoking read.

[Jaan Liitmäe]

Decent but suthor could not stop himself at the end to pretty much condemn all the industry - a bit sad

[Hyacinth]

I am not a history buff and yet I really learned a lot about the oil industry from reading this book. These folks are ruthless. SOme of the names mentioned had my head on swivel.