• The Prize

  • The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power
  • By: Daniel Yergin
  • Narrated by: Bob Jamieson
  • Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (800 ratings)

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The Prize  By  cover art

The Prize

By: Daniel Yergin
Narrated by: Bob Jamieson
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Publisher's summary

The Prize recounts the panoramic history of oil, and the struggle for wealth and power that has always surrounded oil. This struggle has shaken the world economy, dictated the outcome of wars, and transformed the destiny of men and nations.

The Prize is as much a history of the 20th-century as of the oil industry itself. The canvas of this history is enormous - from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and Operation Desert Storm.

The cast extends from wildcrafters and rogues to oil tycoons, and from Winston Churchill and Ibn Saud to George Bush and Saddam Hussein.

The definitive work on the subject of oil and a major contribution to understanding our century, The Prize is a book of extraordinary breadth, riveting excitement--and great importance.

©1993 Daniel Yergin (P)2008 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

Pulitzer Prize, General Non-Fiction, 1992

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What listeners say about The Prize

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

oil and international relations

Very interesting review of events like the oil embargo and international relations before and after this episode. Gave me some new insights regarding the economy, politics, and the risks of being dependent on another country.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A scratch on the surface -but it looks deep.

This book is a very concise and thoughtful representation of the oil industries goals and profit driven motives. However, I found the brevity to be a disappointment rather than a boon. I really enjoy the energy realm, the discoveries, and the politics. This was just a scratch on the surface when I probably would've preferred something a little more in-depth. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the oil industry without very much prior exposure to the area.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

not the full book. disappointed

this is a summary of the book. not the book itself . I'm lretty disappointed

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Satellite video view of oil in world politics

An amazingly succinct account of oil's influence on the political stage from Spindletop to Kuwait

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

good but way too abridged

excellent material but only like 2-3 chapters more like a sample than a full book

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Abridged!?!?

I wish I would’ve known this was abridged from the cover image. I would’ve bought the physical book had I known.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

not the best oil book

this book conveys some interesting facts and tells a good story but if you are into oil there are better options.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

informative yet not earth shattering

I own the book and never opened to the pages. the audio book allowed me to complete the book and I was not impressed with the story summary.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Way to Short!!

This book was very interesting! It details the last hundred year history of oil easily the Middle East's impact on oil.

It gave me clarity on a few things but, had the book been a few chapters longer.

But, all in all, I enjoyed "The Prize".

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

I truly enjoyed this amazing book. One of the most insightful and invigorating read in a while. Not only did it educate me on oil trade, mineral rights and negotiations, it reveal the political influences on recent wars, and most importantly oil prices.

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