The Boom, Russell Gold
The Boom, Russell Gold
3 Rating(s)
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The Boom
How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World

Author: Russell Gold

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Unabridged: 11 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/08/2014


Synopsis

The “best all-around book yet on fracking” (San Francisco Chronicle) from a Pulitzer Prize finalist: “Gold's work is a tour de force of contemporary journalism” (Booklist).First invented in 1947, hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has not only become a major source of energy, it is changing the way we use energy, and the energy we use. It is both a threat and a godsend for the environment, and it is leading the revival of manufacturing in the United States.A definitive narrative history, The Boom follows the twists and turns in the development and adoption of this radical technology. It is a thrilling journey filled with colorful characters: the green-minded Texas oilman who created the first modern frack; a bare-knuckled Oklahoman natural gas empire-builder who gave the world an enormous new supply of energy and was brought down by his own success and excesses; an environmental leader whose embrace of fracking brought an end to his public career; and an aging fracking pioneer who is now trying to save the industry from itself.A fascinating and exciting exploration of one of the most controversial and promising sources of energy, The Boom “brings new clarity to a subject awash in hype from all sides…a thoughtful, well-written, and carefully researched book that provides the best overview yet of the pros and cons of fracking. Gold quietly leads both supporters and critics of drilling to consider other views” (Associated Press).

About Russell Gold

Russell Gold has reported on energy regularly in The Wall Street Journal since 2002. His coverage of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was honored with a Gerald Loeb Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Austin, Texas.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Monnie

For those interested in buying this book, I'll lay out two key points to consider: First, this has to be one of the most definitive books on the history, development and processes involved in hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells ever written (while it's easily understandable by those of us not......more

Goodreads review by Steven

Want to get an accessible introduction to "fracking" (short for hydraulic fracturing)? This should do nicely. This is not a technical tome--far from it. It is a well written book aimed at a general audience. If you want a solid scientific analysis, this is not the book for you. But, if you wish to g......more

Goodreads review by Janalee

I am SO GLAD that I read this book. The natural gas "revolution" has caught me totally off-guard. It seems like yesterday, the presidential candidates were debating ways to make the U.S. energy independent. Now it seems like a foregone conclusion that we ARE independent, thanks to fracking. I can no......more

Goodreads review by Robert

A very interesting book giving the reader an understanding of how Fracking works and the people involved. The Drilling process, if done properly is benign although many people disagree and there are several Lawsuits pending here in Alberta and the Province of Quebec has banned Fracking completely. Re......more