Oil & Honor: The Texaco-Pennzoil Wars

by Thomas Petzinger Jr.

Oil & Honor( The Texaco-Pennzoil Wars; Inside the $11 Billion Battle for Getty Oil) <> Paperback <> Thomas,Jr.Petzinger <> BeardBooks

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, History

504 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 1987

Reviews

[Jack R.]

Engrossing book on the Pennzoil-Texaco fall out concerning a highly contentious claim (and resulting legal action) that the latter tortiously interfered with former's so-called "contract" in acquiring Getty Oil. With panoramic scope, the reader is introduced to ostentatious oilmen, blowhard business lawyers, odd-ball Getty family members, and cutthroat litigators. Then, the was-there/wasn't-there sale of Getty Oil to Texaco is elucidated in exacting detail, yet the miasma of doubt and evasive leaves one with only a general sense of unease at what comes next. And, to finish it off, Petzinger writes an enthralling narrative on infamous jury trial where Pennzoil was able to win an over $10 billion judgment against Texaco on a tortious interference of contract claim. This trial itself is also a deeply flawed, confounding process-- vulgar attorneys spared in depositions and examinations, malpractice was rampant on Texaco's side, and racist implications and aspirations pervaded the courtroom. Post-trial mishaps only add to the chaos: pretzel logic from federal judges, Pennzoil vindictiveness, and Texaco's preposterous ability to somehow stay afloat in the months after the jury verdict (the book was finished before the company's inevitable bankruptcy). Indeed, my book's end, the only damn part of the book that makes sense is the bafflingly large judgement itself!

[Paula Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could be a John Grisham novel of a hostile take-over...but it really happened. Pennzoil vs Getty Oil vs Texaco vs New York financiers and lawyers vs Texas oilmen vs Texas judges. Hostile take-overs in the 21st century have been effected by what happened in the 1980's with the Texaco/Pennzoil wars. Does a handshake and a verbal agreement make a contract...yes, yes it should.

[Babatunde Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a detail account about three giant corporations caught in-between family feud, ambitions and survival. Honors and dishonor were portrayed with legal surprises and manouvers.
At the end, they all arrive at a huge 11 billion dollar judgement; to the amazement of the country and beyond
Worth reading many times over

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is a good book. Anyone who has the slightest interest in big business journalism, hostile takeovers in the 80's or the crazy world that was wildcatting ought to read this book.