Peter Maass Book order

'Crude World' looks at some of the most awful places in the world - the violent, repressive and polluted countries where oil is extracted. Peter Maass follows the journey of oil and shows how it sullies so much of what it touches, poisoning land and rivers, promoting political bloodshed and creating corruption on a mass scale.

A stunning and revealing examination of oil's indelible impact on the countries that produce it and the people who possess it.Every unhappy oil-producing nation is unhappy in its own way, but all are touched by the "resource curse"—the power of oil to exacerbate existing problems and create new ones. In Crude World, Peter Maass presents a vivid portrait of the troubled world oil has created. He takes us to Saudi Arabia, where officials deflect inquiries about the amount of petroleum remaining in the country's largest reservoir; to Equatorial Guinea, where two tennis courts grace an oil-rich dictator's estate but bandages and aspirin are a hospital's only supplies; and to Venezuela, where Hugo Chávez's campaign to redistribute oil wealth creates new economic and political crises.Maass, a New York Times Magazine writer, also introduces us to Iraqi oilmen trying to rebuild their industry after the invasion of 2003, an American lawyer leading Ecuadorians in an unprecedented lawsuit against Chevron, a Russian oil billionaire imprisoned for his defiance of Vladimir Putin's leadership, and Nigerian villagers whose livelihoods are destroyed by the discovery of oil. Rebels, royalty, middlemen, environmentalists, indigenous activists, CEOs—their stories, deftly and sensitively presented, tell the larger story of oil in our time.Crude World is a startling and essential account of the consequences of our addiction to oil.

This acclaimed work explores profound themes through its rich narrative and compelling characters, earning it the prestigious Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The story delves into intricate human emotions and societal issues, drawing readers into a thought-provoking journey. With its masterful prose and engaging plot, it offers a unique perspective that resonates deeply, making it a standout in contemporary literature.