The Boom : How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World

Russell Gold, a brilliant and dogged investigative reporter at __The Wall Street Journal__, has spent more than a decade reporting on one of the biggest stories of our time: the spectacular, world-changing rise of “fracking.” Recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and a recipient of the Gerald Loeb Award for his work, Gold has traveled along the pipelines and into the hubs of this country’s energy infrastructure; he has visited frack sites from Texas to North Dakota; and he has conducted thousands of interviews with engineers and wildcatters, CEOs and roughnecks, environmentalists and politicians. He has also sifted through reams of engineering reports, lawsuit transcripts, and financial filings. The result is an essential book—a commanding piece of journalism, an astounding study of human ingenuity, and an epic work of storytelling. Fracking has vociferous critics and fervent defenders, but the debate between these camps has obscured the actual story: Fracking has become a fixture of the American landscape and the global economy. It has upended the business models of energy companies around the globe, and it has started to change geopolitics and global energy markets in profound ways. Gold tells the story of this once-obscure oilfield technology—a story with an incredible cast of tycoons and geologists, dreamers and drillers, speculators and skeptics, a story that answers a critical question of our time: Where will the energy come from to power our world—and what price will we have to pay for it? Russell Gold, a brilliant and dogged investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal , has spent more than a decade reporting on one of the biggest stories of our time: the spectacular, world-changing rise of fracking. Recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and a recipient of the Gerald Loeb Award for his work, Gold has traveled along the pipelines and into the hubs of this countrys energy infrastructure; he has visited frack sites from Texas to North Dakota; and he has conducted thousands of interviews with engineers and wildcatters, CEOs and roughnecks, environmentalists and politicians. He has also sifted through reams of engineering reports, lawsuit transcripts, and financial filings. The result is an essential booka commanding piece of journalism, an astounding study of human ingenuity, and an epic work of storytelling. Fracking has vociferous critics and fervent defenders, but the debate between these camps has obscured the actual story: Fracking has become a fixture of the American landscape and the global economy. It has upended the business models of energy companies around the globe, and it has started to change geopolitics and global energy markets in profound ways. Gold tells the story of this once-obscure oilfield technologya story with an incredible cast of tycoons and geologists, dreamers and drillers, speculators and skeptics, a story that answers a critical question of our time: Where will the energy come from to power our worldand what price will we have to pay for it? ** 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). Fracking Has Vociferous Critics And Fervent Defenders, But The Debate Between These Camps Has Obscured The Actual Story: Fracking Has Become A Fixture Of The American Landscape And The Global Economy. It Has Upended The Business Models Of Energy Companies Around The Globe, And It Has Started To Change Geopolitics And Global Energy Markets In Profound Ways. Gold Tells The Story Of This Once-obscure Oilfield Technology--a Story With An Incredible Cast Of Tycoons And Geologists, Dreamers And Drillers, Speculators And Skeptics, A Story That Answers A Critical Question Of Our Time: Where Will The Energy Come From To Power Our World--and What Price Will We Have To Pay For It? -- Presents An Unstinting Exploration Of Controversial Fracking Technologies To Consider The Arguments Of Its Supporters And Detractors, Profiling Key Contributors While Explaining How The Practice Is Changing The Way Energy Is Used. Just Add Water -- Ottis Grimes -- Everyone Comes For The Money -- Dominion Over The Rocks -- Wise County -- Ice Doesn't Freeze Anymore -- Larry Was The Brake -- The Rise Of Aubrey Mcclendon -- The Fall Of Aubrey Mcclendon -- Celestia -- Blessings Of The Pope -- Ghost Ridin' Grandpa -- Pandora's Frack. Russell Gold. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Fracking has vociferous critics and fervent defenders, but the debate between these camps has obscured the actual story: Fracking has become a fixture of the American landscape and the global economy. It has upended the business models of energy companies around the globe, and it has started to change geopolitics and global energy markets in profound ways. Here the author tells the story of this once-obscure oilfield technology, a story with an incredible cast of tycoons and geologists, dreamers and drillers, speculators and skeptics, a story that answers a critical question of our time: Where will the energy come from to power our world, and what price will we have to pay for it? -- From publisher's web site. Presents an unstinting exploration of controversial fracking technologies to consider the arguments of its supporters and detractors, profiling key contributors while explaining how the practice is changing the way energy is used. 384 English Simon & Schuster US Russell Gold. a brilliant and dogged investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal. has spent more than a decade reporting on one of the biggest stories of our the spectacular. world-changing rise of . fracking Recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and a recipient of the Gerald Loeb Award for his work. Gold has traveled along the pipelines and into the hubs of this country's energy infrastructure; he has visited frack sites from Texas to North Dakota; and he has conducted thousands of interviews with engineers and wildcatters. CEOs and roughnecks. environmentalists and politicians He has also sifted through reams of engineering reports. lawsuit transcripts. and financial filings The result is an essential book-a commanding piece.. of journalism. an astounding study of human ingenuity. and an epic...