A Pipeline Runs Through It: The Story of Oil from Ancient Times to the First World War

A Pipeline Runs Through It is a comprehensive history of the oil industry, from its pre-industrial origins to its development in the mid-nineteenth century and the establishment of a dominant oil industry by the early twentieth century. It reveals the social, economic, political, and geopolitical forces involved in this transition and highlights the violent, exploitative, and environmentally destructive aspects of the oil industry's growth.

Format: Hardback
Length: 768 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Fascinating revelations have emerged from Max Hastings' Sunday Times article, shedding light on the intricate and captivating world of petroleum. Steven Poole of the Daily Telegraph praised the book for its wonderfully detailed and colourful portrayal, describing it as an essential read for anyone interested in the subject. Michael Klare, renowned for his expertise in international relations, hailed it as a groundbreaking work that delves into the social, economic, political, and geopolitical forces driving our transition into the modern oil age.

A Pipeline Runs Through It offers a fresh and comprehensive exploration of the complex web of factors that shaped this pivotal period. It traces the origins of petroleum from its pre-industrial beginnings to the large-scale production that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century, ultimately leading to the establishment of a dominant oil industry by the early twentieth century. This remarkable journey is peppered with tales of imperialist violence, political disenfranchisement, economic exploitation, and environmental destruction.

One particularly striking aspect of the book is its exploration of the impact of petroleum on indigenous communities. The near total eradication of the Native Americans of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, as a precondition for the emergence of the first industrialized oil region in the United States, has barely received the attention it deserves. Similarly, Britain's invasion of Upper Burma in 1885, which was perhaps the first war fought, at least in part, for access to oil, is only briefly mentioned. The growth of Royal Dutch-Shell, which involved the genocidal subjugation of people of the Dutch East Indies and the exploitation of oil in the Middle East, arose seamlessly out of Britain's prior political and military interventions in the region.

In a novel analysis, the book sheds light on the British navy's increasingly desperate dependence on vulnerable foreign sources of oil, which may have played a catalytic role in the outbreak of the First World War. The rise of petroleum transformed light, heat, and power, leading to a global energy crisis that would shape the course of history for decades to come.

A Pipeline Runs Through It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex and multifaceted history of petroleum and its profound impact on society, economy, politics, and the environment. It provides a comprehensive and insightful perspective on the forces that shaped our modern world, challenging our assumptions and prompting us to reevaluate our relationship with this vital resource.

Weight: 1276g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 51 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241558225