Synopses & Reviews
Everyone knew it was crazy to try to extract oil and natural gas buried in shale rock deep below the ground. Everyone, that is, except a few reckless wildcatters - who risked their careers to prove the world wrong. and#160; Things looked grim for American energy in 2006. Oiland#160;production was in steep decline and natural gas wasand#160;hard to find. The Iraq War threatened the nationand#8217;sand#160;already tenuous relations with the Middle East.and#160;China was rapidly industrializing and competing forand#160;resources. Major oil companies had just about givenand#160;up on new discoveries on U.S. soil, and a new energyand#160;crisis seemed likely.
But a handful of men believed everything wasand#160;about to change.and#160;
Far from the limelight, Aubrey McClendon,and#160;Harold Hamm, Mark Papa, and other wildcattersand#160;were determined to tap massive deposits of oil andand#160;gas that Exxon, Chevron, and other giants had dismissedand#160;as a waste of time. By experimenting withand#160;hydraulic fracturing through extremely dense shaleand#151;a process now known as frackingand#151;the wildcattersand#160;started a revolution. In just a few years, they solvedand#160;Americaand#8217;s dependence on imported energy, triggeredand#160;a global environmental controversyand#151;and made andand#160;lost astonishing fortunes.
No one understands these menand#151;their ambitions,and#160;personalities, methods, and foiblesand#151;betterand#160;than the award-winning Wall Street Journal reporterand#160;Gregory Zuckerman. His exclusive access enabledand#160;him to get close to the frackers and chronicle theand#160;untold story of how they transformed the nation andand#160;the world. The result is a dramatic narrative trackingand#160;a brutal competition among headstrong drillers.and#160;It stretches from the barren fields of North Dakotaand#160;and the rolling hills of northeastern Pennsylvaniaand#160;to cluttered pickup trucks in Texas and tense Walland#160;Street boardrooms.
Activists argue that the same methods that areand#160;creating so much new energy are also harming ourand#160;water supply and threatening environmental chaos.and#160;The Frackers tells the story of the angry oppositionand#160;unleashed by this revolution and explores just howand#160;dangerous fracking really is.
The frackers have already transformed the economic,and#160;environmental, and geopolitical course ofand#160;history. Now, like the Rockefellers and the Gettysand#160;before them, theyand#8217;re using their wealth and power toand#160;influence politics, education, entertainment, sports,and#160;and many other fields. Their story is one of the mostand#160;important of our time.
MEET THE FRACKERS
GEORGE MITCHELL, the son of a Greek goatherd, who tried to tap rock that experts deemedand#160;worthless but faced an unexpected obstacle in his quest to change history.
AUBREY McCLENDON, the charismatic scion of an Oklahoma energy family, who scored billionsand#160;leading a historic land grab. He wasnand#8217;t prepared for the shocking fallout of his discoveries.
TOM WARD, who overcame a troubled childhood to become one of the nationand#8217;s wealthiestand#160;men. He could handle natural-gas fields but had more trouble with a Wall Street power broker.
HAROLD HAMM, the son of poor sharecroppers, who believed America had more oil thanand#160;anyone imagined. Hamm was determined to find the crude before others caught on.
CHARIF SOUKI, the dashing Lebanese immigrant who saw his career crumble and his fortuneand#160;disintegrate, leaving one last, unlikely chance for success.
MARK PAPA, the Enron castoff who panicked when he realized a resurgence of Americanand#160;natural gas was at hand, one that his company wasnand#8217;t prepared for.
Review
"
The Quest superbly captures the great questions of energy and security that face our nation in this risky world. Daniel Yergin identifies the key issues, demonstrates their urgency, and lays out the choices. He does so with such deep expertise and with such vivid narrative writing as to make this book both important and compelling. It can help us see our way to a safer and sounder energy future."
-Senator Richard Lugar, ranking member and former chairman, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
"This fascinating saga is the definitive book on the most important of global issues, the quest for sustainable sources of energy. Dan Yergin, the prominent energy expert of our times, weaves together security and environmental concerns to explain the system we have toady and to analyze the sensible paths forward. This is one book you must read to understand the future of our economy and our way of life."
-Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein and Benjamin Franklin; president, The Aspen Institute
"Dan Yergin's The Prize was a magisterial masterpiece. Now Yergin widens his lens and takes in not just oil but all energy sources. Anyone who wants to understand the economics or politics of the twenty-first century should read this book."
-Lawrence Summers, Former U.S. Treasure Secretary; Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University
"The Quest by Daniel Yergin, one of the world's most experienced and influential authorities on global energy, may well become the definitive work on the science, history, and economics of this most complex and important subject. This masterful and illuminating book on one of the most vital issues of our time, one that will powerfully influence international politics, economics, and nations worldwide, should be essential reading for policymakers everywhere."
-Dr. Henry Kissinger, author of On China
"In the magisterial style of his earlier global narrative of energy politics, The Prize, Daniel Yergin has again delivered a sweeping, authoritative account of the science, economics, and geopolitics of energy. His writing, as ever, is clear and intelligent, and his subject could hardly be timelier."
-Steve Coll, author of The Bin Ladens and Ghost Wars; president, New America Foundation
"Written by America's preeminent energy expert, The Quest is a must read for anyone wanting to understand our energy world, how climate change became part of the energy equation-and how we can chart a path forward."
-Fred Krupp, president, Environmental Defense Fund
"This is a profound, unique, and brilliantly written book about some of the most important issues of our times."
-Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx Corporation
"The search for sufficient, clean energy represents the defining challenge of this generation. Daniel Yergin has masterfully connected the forces of economics and geopolitics with the complex science of energy production and climate change. The Quest provides a lucid guide through the forest of issues that stands between us and a sustainable energy future."
-Susan Hockfield, president, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Review
"This is a profound, unique, and brilliantly written book about some of the most important issues of our times." Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx Corporation
Review
"The search for sufficient, clean energy represents the defining challenge of this generation. Daniel Yergin has masterfully connected the forces of economics and geopolitics with the complex science of energy production and climate change. The Quest provides a lucid guide through the forest of issues that stands between us and a sustainable energy future." Susan Hockfield, president, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Review
"Mr. Yergin is back with a sequel to The Prize. It is called The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World, and, if anything, it's an even better book. It is searching, impartial and alarmingly up to date....The Quest will be necessary reading for C.E.O.s, conservationists, lawmakers, generals, spies, tech geeks, thriller writers, ambitious terrorists and many others....The Quest is encyclopedic in its ambitions; it resists easy synopsis." The New York Times
Review
"A sprawling story richly textured with original material, quirky details and amusing anecdotes....The tale is generously sprinkled with facts debunking common misperceptions, and Mr. Yergin sagely analyzes how well the energy industry really works." The Wall Street Journal
Review
"An important book...a valuable primer on the basic issues that define energy today. Yergin is careful in his analysis and never polemical....Despite that, The Quest makes it clear that energy policy is not on the right course anywhere in the world and that everyone — on the left and the right, in the developed and the developing world — need to rethink strongly held positions." The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Mr Yergin's previous book, The Prize, a history of the global oil industry, had the advantage of an epic tale and wondrous timing....The Quest, as its more open-ended title suggests, is a broader and more ambitious endeavor....The Quest is a masterly piece of work and, as a comprehensive guide to the world's great energy needs and dilemmas, it will be hard to beat." The Economist
Review
"It is a cause for celebration that Yergin has returned with his perspective on a very different landscape....[I]t is impossible to think of a better introduction to the essentials of energy in the 21st century. In Yergin's lucid, easy prose, the 800 pages flow freely....The Quest is...the definitive guide to how we got here." The Financial Times
Review
"The Quest is a book — a tour de force, really — that evaluates the alternatives to oil so broadly and deeply that the physical tome could double as a doorstop....It is best read slowly, perhaps one chapter per day maximum, if the goal is to actually absorb the rich detail and sometimes complicated workings described by Yergin." USA Today
Review
“The book then takes us on an exploration of the energy industry and its history, touching down in so many remote corners of the globe, filled with such a huge cast of sinister business magnates, visionary scientists, political scoundrels and con men that it sometimes reads like a novel.”
Review
"This fascinating saga is the definitive book on the most important of global issues, the quest for sustainable sources of energy. Dan Yergin, the prominent energy expert of our times, weaves together security and environmental concerns to explain the system we have toady and to analyze the sensible paths forward. This is one book you must read to understand the future of our economy and our way of life."
Review
"The Quest by Daniel Yergin, one of the world's most experienced and influential authorities on global energy, may well become the definitive work on the science, history, and economics of this most complex and important subject. This masterful and illuminating book on one of the most vital issues of our time, one that will powerfully influence international politics, economics, and nations worldwide, should be essential reading for policymakers everywhere."
Review
"In the magisterial style of his earlier global narrative of energy politics, The Prize, Daniel Yergin has again delivered a sweeping, authoritative account of the science, economics, and geopolitics of energy. His writing, as ever, is clear and intelligent, and his subject could hardly be timelier."
Review
"The Quest superbly captures the great questions of energy and security that face our nation in this risky world. Daniel Yergin identifies the key issues, demonstrates their urgency, and lays out the choices. He does so with such deep expertise and with such vivid narrative writing as to make this book both important and compelling. It can help us see our way to a safer and sounder energy future."
Review
“Mr. Yergin is back with a sequel to The Prize. It is called The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World, and, if anything, it’s an even better book. It is searching, impartial and alarmingly up to date… The Quest will be necessary reading for C.E.O.’s, conservationists, lawmakers, generals, spies, tech geeks, thriller writers, ambitious terrorists and many others… The Quest is encyclopedic in its ambitions; it resists easy synopsis.”
Review
“[A] sprawling story richly textured with original material, quirky details and amusing anecdotes... The tale is generously sprinkled with facts debunking common misperceptions, and Mr. Yergin sagely analyzes how well the energy industry really works.”
Review
“[An] important book… a valuable primer on the basic issues that define energy today. Yergin is careful in his analysis and never polemical… Despite that, The Quest makes it clear that energy policy is not on the right course anywhere in the world and that everyone—on the left and the right, in the developed and the developing world—need to rethink strongly held positions.”
Review
“Mr Yergin’s previous book,
The Prize, a history of the global oil industry, had the advantage of an epic tale and wondrous timing…
The Quest, as its more open-ended title suggests, is a broader and more ambitious endeavour…
The Quest is a masterly piece of work and, as a comprehensive guide to the world’s great energy needs and dilemmas, it will be hard to beat.”
Review
“It is a cause for celebration that Yergin has returned with his perspective on a very different landscape… [I]t is impossible to think of a better introduction to the essentials of energy in the 21st century. In Yergin’s lucid, easy prose, the 800 pages flow freely… The Quest is… the definitive guide to how we got here.”
Review
“The Quest is a book—a tour de force, really—that evaluates the alternatives to oil so broadly and deeply that the physical tome could double as a doorstop… It is best read slowly, perhaps one chapter per day maximum, if the goal is to actually absorb the rich detail and sometimes complicated workings described by Yergin.”
Review
andldquo;Mr. Yergin is back with a sequel to The Prize. It is called The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World, and, if anything, itandrsquo;s an even better book. It is searching, impartial and alarmingly up to dateandhellip; The Quest will be necessary reading for C.E.O.andrsquo;s, conservationists, lawmakers, generals, spies, tech geeks, thriller writers, ambitious terrorists and many othersandhellip; The Quest is encyclopedic in its ambitions; it resists easy synopsis.andrdquo;and#160;
Review
andldquo;A sprawling story richly textured with original material, quirky details and amusing anecdotes... The tale is generously sprinkled with facts debunking common misperceptions, and Mr. Yergin sagely analyzes how well the energy industry really works.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;
It is a cause for celebration that Yergin has returned with his perspective on a very different landscapeandhellip; [I]t is impossible to think of a better introduction to the essentials of energy in the 21st century. In Yerginandrsquo;s lucid, easy prose, the 800 pages flow freelyandhellip;
The Quest isandhellip; the definitive guide to how we got here.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;An important bookandhellip; a valuable primer on the basic issues that define energy today. Yergin is careful in his analysis and never polemicalandhellip; Despite that, The Quest makes it clear that energy policy is not on the right course anywhere in the world and that everyoneandmdash;on the left and the right, in the developed and the developing worldandmdash;need to rethink strongly held positions.andrdquo;
Review
and#160;andldquo;Mr Yerginandrsquo;s previous book,
The Prize, a history of the global oil industry, had the advantage of an epic tale and wondrous timingandhellip;
The Quest, as its more open-ended title suggests, is a broader and more ambitious endeavourandhellip;
The Quest is a masterly piece of work and, as a comprehensive guide to the worldandrsquo;s great energy needs and dilemmas, it will be hard to beat.andrdquo;and#160;
Review
andldquo;The Quest is a bookandmdash;a tour de force, reallyandmdash;that evaluates the alternatives to oil so broadly and deeply that the physical tome could double as a doorstopandhellip; It is best read slowly, perhaps one chapter per day maximum, if the goal is to actually absorb the rich detail and sometimes complicated workings described by Yergin.andrdquo;
Review
Praise forand#160;
The Frackers
"Zuckermanand#8217;s fast-paced, densely interesting The Frackers is the first book to tell the stories of the obstinate, ravenous, methodical, sometimes rascally oil executives of the recent boom. By focusing on people instead of trends, it gets to the heart of why the United States is once again the largest supplier of oil and gas in the world."
and#8212;The New Republic
and#160;
and#8220;The Frackers, [Zuckermanand#8217;s] second book, is told with care and precision and a deep understanding of finance and corporate politics as well as oil and geology.and#8221;
and#8212;and#160;Bryan Burrough,and#160;The New York Times and#160;
and#8220;Fans of the lively, character-driven nonfiction of writers like Kurt Eichenwald and Ben Mezrich should welcome this book with open arms . . . A lively, exciting, and definitely thought-provoking bookand#8221;
and#8212;Booklist
and#8220;A fascinating study of American entrepreneurial culture and the modern robber barons who succeeded in creating an energy revolution.and#8221;
and#8212;Kirkus
and#8220;Lovers of business and capitalism will appreciate The Frackers, and#8230; Zuckerman has done valuable and timely reporting on the men and independent companies that created the shale boom.and#8221;
and#8212;Associated Press
and#160;
and#8220;Colorful and#8230;compelling account [of] and#160;a revolution driven by stubborn entrepreneurs.and#8221;
and#8212;Reuters
and#160;
and#8220;An interesting and first-rate narrativeand#8230; a dramatic taleand#8230; The book may be the definitive story of the innovative men behind the most significant energy discovery of our time.and#8221;
and#8212;Akron Beacon Journal
"Insightful...At times suspenseful...on-target in telling the tale of a group of wildcatters who risked almost everything and helped launch the United States on the path to energy independence."
and#8212; Natural Gas Intelligence
and#8220;Too little attention has been paid to one of America's biggest economic and scientific revolution of recent decades: the tapping of abundant oil and natural gas reserves within our own borders using a technique called fracking. Wall Street Journal reporter Zuckermanand#8230;sets out to change that with his unique talent of translating complex aspects of finances and geology into prose that reads like a blockbuster thriller.and#8221;
and#160;and#8212;Publishers Weekly (starred)
and#160;
and#8220;Zuckerman details [the frackersand#8217;s] epic adventure with skill that makes it required reading for anyone looking to understand fundamental forces at work in our world today.and#8221;
and#160;and#8212;Forbes and#8220;Best Books of 2013and#8221;
"A dynamic narrative... introduces us to the major players behind a boom."
and#8212;San Antonio Express-News
and#8220;Greg Zuckerman tells the remarkable story of the larger than life entrepreneurs and deal makers behind this energy-industrial revolution. A great read, whether you are pro-fracking or against it.and#8221;
and#8212;Matthew Bishop, US Business Editor at The Economist
and#160;
and#8220;If you are looking for the present-day take on a romantic rag-to-riches drama reminiscent of the Gilded Age, engaging tales of brave entrepreneurs whose desire to get really wealthy helped them persevere and prosper come boom or bust, look no further than The Frackers."
and#8211;Pittsburgh Post Gazette
and#8220;Gregory Zuckerman tells the story of the shale revolution well. He has an eye for detail and a flair for narrative that makes it highly readable... This is a story of innovation as perspirationand#8230; It is a reminder that innovation is neither easy nor cheap nor inevitableand#8221;
and#8212;The Times (UK)
and#160;
"Greg Zuckerman's The Frackers will long be considered 'The Bible' on fracking and the history of drilling in the US and the wildcatting billionaires who were the main players. This incredibly thorough book explains, thrills, and has us on the edge of our seats all the way towards US energy independence."and#160;
and#8212;James Altucher, best-selling author, entrepreneur and blogger
Praise for The Greatest Trade Ever
and#8220; Simply terrific. Easily the best of the post-crash financial books.and#8221;
and#8212;Malcolm Gladwell
and#8220; Mr. Zuckerman is a first-rate reporter who is also able to explain the complexities of real estate finance in laymanand#8217;s terms. At times, The Greatest Trade Ever reads like a thriller.and#8221;
and#8212;The New York Times
and#8220; Heand#8217;s written the definitive account of a strange and wonderful subplot of the financial crisis.and#8221;
and#8212;Michael Lewis
and#8220; Possibly the greatest book to come out of the financial crisis of 2007and#8211;08, and itand#8217;s certainly up there in the top 3.and#8221;
and#8212;Bnet.com
and#160;
Synopsis
This long-awaited successor to Daniel Yergin's Pulitzer Prize-winning
The Prize provides an essential, overarching narrative of global energy, the principal engine of geopolitical and economic change.
Renowned energy authority Daniel Yergin continues the riveting story begun in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Prize, in this gripping account of the quest for the energy the world needs — and the power and riches that come with it. A master storyteller as well as one of the world's great experts, Yergin proves that energy is truly the engine of global political and economic change, as well as central to the battle over climate change. From the jammed streets of Beijing, the shores of the Caspian Sea, and the conflicts in the Mideast, to Capitol Hill and Silicon Valley, Yergin takes us inside the decisions and choices that are shaping our future. Without understanding the realities of energy examined in The Quest, we may surrender our place at the helm of history.
One of our great narrative writers, Yergin tells the inside stories-of the oil market, the rise of the "petrostate", the race to control the resources of the former Soviet empire, and the massive corporate mergers that transformed the oil landscape. He shows how the drama of oil-the struggle for access to it, the battle for control, the insecurity of supply, the consequences of its use, its impact on the global economy, and the geopolitics that dominate it-will continue to shape our world. He takes on the toughest questions-will we run out of oil, and are China and the United States destined to conflict over oil?
Yergin also reveals the surprising and turbulent history of nuclear, coal, electricity, and natural gas. He investigates the "rebirth of renewables"-biofuels and wind-as well as solar energy, which venture capitalists are betting will be "the next big thing" for meeting the needs of a growing world economy. He makes clear why understanding this greening landscape and its future role are crucial.
Yergin further brings climate change into unique perspective by offering an original and unprecedented history of how the issue went from concerning a handful of scientists, terrified of a new Ice Age, to one of the overarching issues of our times.
The Quest presents an extraordinary range of characters and a panorama of dramatic stories that illustrate the principles that will shape a robust and flexible energy security system for the decades to come. It is an extraordinary achievement from an author who is truly one of our nation's great resources.
Synopsis
In this gripping account of the quest for the energy that our world needs, Daniel Yergin continues the riveting story begun in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book,
The Prize. A master storyteller as well as a leading energy expert, Yergin shows us how energy is an engine of global political and economic change. It is a story that spans the energies on which our civilization has been built and the new energies that are competing to replace them. From the jammed streets of Beijing to the shores of the Caspian Sea, from the conflicts in the Mideast to Capitol Hill and Silicon Valley, Yergin takes us into the decisions that are shaping our future.
The drama of oil — the struggle for access, the battle for control, the insecurity of supply, the consequences of use, its impact on the global economy, and the geopolitics that dominate it — continues to profoundly affect our world. Yergin tells the inside stories of the oil market, the surge in oil prices, the race to control the resources of the former Soviet empire, and the massive mergers that transformed the landscape of world oil. He tackles the toughest questions: Will we run out of oil? Are China and the United States destined to come into conflict over oil? How will a turbulent Middle East affect the future of oil supply?
Yergin also reveals the surprising and sometimes tumultuous history of nuclear and coal, electricity, and the "shale gale" of natural gas, and how each fits into the larger marketplace. He brings climate change into unique perspective by offering an unprecedented history of how the field of climate study went from the concern of a handful of scientists preoccupied with a new Ice Age into one of the most significant issues of our times.
He leads us through the rebirth of renewable energies and explores the distinctive stories of wind, solar, and biofuels. He offers a perspective on the return of the electric car, which some are betting will be necessary for a growing global economy.
The Quest presents an extraordinary range of characters and dramatic stories that illustrate the principles that will shape a robust and flexible energy security system for the decades to come. Energy is humbling in its scope, but our future requires that we deeply understand this global quest that is truly reshaping our world.
Synopsis
A master storyteller as well as a leading energy expert, Daniel Yergin continues the riveting story begun in his Pulitzer Prizeand#150;winning book,
The Prize. In
The Quest, Yergin shows us how energy is an engine of global political and economic change and conflict, in a story that spans the energies on which our civilization has been built and the new energies that are competing to replace them.
The Quest tells the inside stories, tackles the tough questions, and reveals surprisingand#160; insights about coal, electricity, and natural gas. He explains how climate change became a great issue and leads readers through the rebirth of renewable energies, energy independence, and the return of the electric car. Epic in scope and never more timely, The Quest vividly reveals the decisions, technologies, and individuals that are shaping our future.
and#160;
Synopsis
Selected by The New York Times Book Review as a Notable Book of the Year
In this gripping account of the quest for the energy that our world needs, Daniel Yergin continues the riveting story begun in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Prize. A master storyteller as well as a leading energy expert, Yergin shows us how energy is an engine of global political and economic change. It is a story that spans the energies on which our civilization has been built and the new energies that are competing to replace them. From the jammed streets of Beijing to the shores of the Caspian Sea, from the conflicts in the Mideast to Capitol Hill and Silicon Valley, Yergin takes us into the decisions that are shaping our future.
The drama of oil-the struggle for access, the battle for control, the insecurity of supply, the consequences of use, its impact on the global economy, and the geopolitics that dominate it-continues to profoundly affect our world.. Yergin tells the inside stories of the oil market and the surge in oil prices, the race to control the resources of the former Soviet empire, and the massive mergers that transformed the landscape of world oil. He tackles the toughest questions: Will we run out of oil? Are China and the United States destined to come into conflict over oil? How will a turbulent Middle East affect the future of oil supply?
Yergin also reveals the surprising and sometimes tumultuous history of nuclear and coal, electricity, and the "shale gale" of natural gas, and how each fits into the larger marketplace. He brings climate change into unique perspective by offering an unprecedented history of how the field of climate study went from the concern of a handful of nineteenth- century scientists preoccupied with a new Ice Age into one of the most significant issues of our times.
He leads us through the rebirth of renewable energies and explores the distinctive stories of wind, solar, and biofuels. He offers a perspective on the return of the electric car, which some are betting will be necessary for a growing global economy.
The Quest presents an extraordinary range of characters and dramatic stories that illustrate the principles that will shape a robust and flexible energy security system for the decades to come. Energy is humbling in its scope, but our future requires that we deeply understand this global quest that is truly reshaping our world.
Synopsis
The riveting, untold story of the men who are transforming global energy and#160;
In five years, the United States has seen a historic burst of oil and natural gas production, easing our insatiable hunger for energy. A new drilling process called fracking has made us the worldand#8217;s fastest growing energy power, on track to pass Saudi Arabia by 2020. But despite headlines and controversy, no previous book has shown how the revolution really happened.
and#160;
The Frackers tells the dramatic tale of how a group of ambitious and headstrong wildcatters ignored the ridicule of experts and derision of colleagues to pursue massive, long-overlooked deposits. Against all odds, they changed the worldand#151;and made astonishing fortunes in the process.
and#160;
Zuckermanand#8217;s exclusive access enabled him to get close to men like George Mitchell, who developed a new way to drill for gas in shale rock; Harold Hamm, who discovered so much oil heand#8217;s now worth more than the estate of Steve Jobs; and Aubrey McClendon, who lost more than $2 billion on a misguided gambit. Zuckerman shows how the frackers are now using their wealth to shake up Hollywood, education, politics, sports, and other fields, much like the Rockefellers and Gettys before them.
and#160;
He also explores the debate over the environmental risks of fracking, and whether those risks are worth it for the United States to achieve energy independence and for the rest of the world to follow.
Synopsis
A Soul of the New Machine for our time, a gripping account of invention, commerce, and duplicity in the age of technology A worldwide race is on to perfect the next engine of economic growth, the advanced lithium-ion battery. It will power the electric car, relieve global warming, and catapult the winner into a new era of economic and political mastery. Can the United States win?
Steve LeVine was granted unprecedented access to a secret federal laboratory outside Chicago, where a group of geniuses is trying to solve this next monumental task of physics. But these scientists almost all foreign bornare not alone. With so much at stake, researchers in Japan, South Korea, and China are in the same pursuit. The drama intensifies when a Silicon Valley start-up licenses the federal laboratorys signature invention with the aim of a blockbuster sale to the worlds biggest carmakers.
The Powerhouse is a real-time, twoyear thrilling account of big invention, big commercialization, and big deception. It exposes the layers of competition and ambition, aspiration and disappointment behind this great turning point in the history of technology.
About the Author
Daniel Yergin is a highly respected authority on energy, international politics, and economics. Yergin is a Pulitzer Prize winner and recipient of the United States Energy Award for “lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding.” He is both a world-recognized author and a business leader, as well as executive vice president of IHS.
Yergin received the Pulitzer Prize for his work The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power, which became a number one best seller and was made into an eight-hour PBS/BBC series seen by 20 million people in the United States. The book has been translated into 17 languages and has just been released in a new updated edition.
Yergin holds a BA from Yale University and a PhD from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.