Super Short Summary

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power by Daniel Yergin provides an in-depth history of the global oil industry, beginning with its 1859 origins in Pennsylvania, tracing the rise of Standard Oil and its eventual breakup, and examining oil's strategic role in both World Wars. It covers the post-war expansion, OPEC's formation, the oil crises of the 1970s, technological advancements, and the interplay of oil, politics, and power up to contemporary challenges, emphasizing oil's enduring global significance. The book addresses potentially sensitive topics like geopolitical conflicts and economic crises.