Untapped: The Scramble for Africa's Oil by John Ghazvinian ISBN: 9780156033725
Although Africa has long been known to be rich in oil, extracting it hadn’t seemed worth the effort and risk until recently. But with the price of Middle Eastern crude oil skyrocketing and advancing technology making reserves easier to tap, the region has become the scene of a competition between major powers that recalls the nineteenth-century scramble for colonization there. But what does this giddy new oil boom mean—for America, for the world, for Africans themselves?
Welcome to the preview of my book, UNTAPPED: The Scramble for Africa's Oil. I hope you enjoy reading it each day and look forward to any comments or questions you may have. -- John
I'm enjoying the first day's read. I think the American banking system has its own brand of dysfunction as well. But I hope this (oil) won't end up being yet another area for the African nation to be exploited.
I usually find the business books easy to delete. Not this week.
Thank you so much for this book! I am very intruiged with Africa and have read quite a bit on it, but as you articulately describe...it can be overwhelming in its vastness! I am also painfully aware of the role oil plays in our global economy and I can't wait to learn more from your book. I'd love to know more about your experiences travelling in Africa, so I hope that we will see glimpses of that in the book.
Dear Mr. G.: While I am thus far enjoying my chapter-a-day read of your book [which caused me to make certain that my library owned a copy of same], I'm concerned by some of your flip comments regarding those of us who do feel strongly that America's energy-consumption must change for our country to survive and thrive in today's world. For example, while I basically agree (Unsanctimoniously) that America will not "change into Europe overnight" [i.e. we will obviously need to create our own path, probably w. some unique solutions], such dismissive statements merely play into right-wing attempts to marginalize alternative-energy proponents and conservationists as some kind of exotic, anti-American, tree-hugging extremists. Till we All see this as a national-security imperative--which it has in fact been since the 1970's--it is unlikely that anyone in either major party will be able to forge the kind of political concensus necessary for real change. Thanks for considering my views, and keep up with the good writing!
Thanks to everyone for your comments and thoughts. In response to Linnea, yes, there will certainly be some stories and anecdotes along the way. I've tried hard to write this book in a way that gets the story across without turning it into a dry academic report. So I hope you enjoy it.
In response to Frank Hawthorne: I certainly don't want to sound dismissive. I have nothing but respect for the millions of Americans who are looking for creative ways to kick the country's oil habit. I take it as a given that this is a desirable and important goal. The point of that one line in the preface was to say that *until* we become less dependent on oil, we ought to know a little bit more about some of the countries we're getting it from.
John, thanks for being with us. this first days read somewhat explains that bizarre email from an "african doctor" that I immediately deleted. I hope this oil boom will help the alleviate the poverty of africa.
As a school librarian, I am always looking for provocative and timely books to recommend for faculty summer reading. Untapped seems to fill the bill on all counts. I especially appreciate your writing style. So much nonfiction is earnest but so dull. Your words practically fly off the screen. Thanks.
Early in your book you make a big point of saying President Bush used the word "nation" WRT the continent of Africa. Later you referred back to that with a snide remark about your being "charitable".
Such a swipe at the President of the United States in a book, allegedly *not* dealing with American national politics, is totally uncalled for. I stopped reading at that point since it was obvious you'd make such foolish comments later in the book. I wonder how many *others* resented this unwarranted political smear ...
I am intrigued that some of the African nations have the potential for wealth beyond anything they have ever known. It is interesting that Bono and others have been leading a movement to wipe out poverty in Africa, and right under their noses help might be on the way. The comments from readers have been most positive, especially the writing style. I am going to take this book out of my library this week. Americans are, I believe, becoming very aware for our need to conserve natural resources. For my part, I avoid using air conditioning in the summer. I travel to Florida, New York City, and Louisiana and I prefer to use overhead fans and cross ventilation -- like in the old days. I save a lot of money. I have also turned off my underground sprinkler system, and let mother nature do her work. I also have been driving less, and live close to where I work. I also walk to as many places as I can...hence, urbanization is back for America. No more "bedroom" communities.
