Antonia Juhasz at the Capitol Theater at 7 PM on Monday, October 20th, 2008 will present her new book The Tyranny of Oil: The World's Most Powerful Industry, and What We Must Do To Stop It.
The Tyranny of Oil: The World's Most Powerful Industry, and What We Must Do To Stop It
by Antonia Juhasz
2008-10-07
HarperCollins
Finally, the inside story on Big Oil.
A "timely, blistering critique... white-hot... Explosive fuel for the raging debate on oil prices."
- Kirkus Reviews.
"A worthy successor to 'The Prize'... A riveting read with a bold blueprint for ending the madness."
- Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
"In a time of crisis, Juhasz bravely and expertly exposes the inner workings of an industry and a government riddled with secrets, lies, and deception. She offers the crucial hard evidence -- without which public awareness and reform are impossible. Read this book and refuse to be tyranny's accomplice."
- Daniel Ellsberg, author, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers.
"At last, a no-holds-barred book that traces the story of Big Oil from the rise of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company to the scandals and obscene profits of today. In the spirit of Ida Tarbell, the legendary muckraker who first exposed Rockefeller's monopolist schemes, Juhasz convincingly demonstrates how Standard Oil's descendants—Exxon, Mobil, and Chevron—have reassembled much of the power once wielded by their progenitor. As she shows, the world environment, the U.S. economy, and the lives of millions have suffered in consequence."
- Professor Michael T. Klare, author, Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy.
The hardest-hitting exposé of the oil industry in decades answers today's most pressing energy questions:
- Why are oil and gasoline prices rising so quickly?
- Where will prices go in the future?
- Who’s really controlling those prices?
- How much oil is left?
- How far will Big Oil go to get it?
- And at what cost to the economy, environment, human rights, worker safety, public health, democracy, and America’s place in the world?
Juhasz investigates the true state of the U.S. oil industry—uncovering its virtually unparalleled global power, influence over our elected officials, its lack of regulatory oversight, the truth behind $150-a-barrel oil, $4.50-a-gallon gasoline, and the highest profit in corporate history. Exposing an industry that thrives on secrecy, Juhasz shows how Big Oil manages to hide its business dealings from policy makers, legislators, and most of all, consumers. She reveals exactly how Big Oil gets what it wants—through money, influence, and lies.
The Tyranny of Oil offers both a new take on problems and a new set of solutions as Juhasz puts forward an immediate call to action—a formula for reining in the industry, its governmental lobbying power, environmental destruction, and violence while reducing global dependence on oil. Her thought-provoking answers to the most pressing energy questions speak directly to readers concerned about oil and gas prices, global warming, wars for oil, and America’s place in the world. With the major players in the world’s most powerful industry charged with collusion, price-gouging, anti-competitive behavior, and unabashed greed, Juhasz calls boldly for the breakup of Big Oil.
Drawing on considerable historical research, Juhasz explores the parallels between today’s companies and Standard Oil, the most powerful corporation of the early 20th century, whose stranglehold on the economy and government was broken only by the vision and persistence of activists and like-minded politicians. We are in a similar position today, she argues, with the 2008 elections offering a unique opportunity for ordinary Americans to come together, reclaim their voices, and shore up our nation’s crumbling democratic foundation.
A tool for meaningful change that blends history, original investigative research and reporting, interviews with key industry insiders, and a unique focus on activism, The Tyranny of Oil is required reading for every concerned global citizen.
