Crude Reality: Petroleum in World History

This concise, accessible introduction to the history of oil tells the story of how petroleum has shaped human life since it was first discovered oozing inconspicuously from the soil. Brian Black brings a global perspective and a wide-ranging technical knowledge clearly explained for general readers, providing a sweeping, forward-looking survey.

About the Author
Brian C. Black, distinguished professor of history and environmental studies and division head of arts and humanities at Penn State Altoona, is the author or editor of several books, including the award-winning Petrolia: The Landscape of America's First Oil Boom and Gettysburg Contested: 150 Years of Preserving America's Cherished Landscape. His articles appear in the New York Times, the Conversation, USA Today, Junior Scholastic, and the Christian Science Monitor.