The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power

If you’ve ever felt like oil is the hidden answer to half the world’s conflicts, this book is the foundation layer for understanding why. The author writes energy history as a geopolitical thriller, and that’s what makes this such a page-turner. It’s certainly long, but it’s not dry, and you come away with a clearer map of why alliances keep snapping into the same patterns. The origin stories of the major players like Exxon, BP, and Shell (and the Middle East’s role in all of it) are truly fascinating.