The September Sessions Episode 3 | Erik Townsend, Host of Macro Voices and the Documentary Series, Energy Transition Crisis

The Prize chronicles the struggle for wealth and power that has surrounded oil for over a century. The book spans from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Operation Desert Storm, and the Iraq War, to current climate change. It is a definitive work on the subject of oil, addressing its role in shaping major world events, global power dynamics, and the ongoing energy crisis. Yergin's narrative includes the rise of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil, the discovery of oil in various regions, and the geopolitical clashes over oil resources, making it crucial for understanding world politics and the global economy.

In this book, Daniel Yergin explores the new map of energy and geopolitics emerging from the collision of energy, climate change, and the clashing power of nations. The 'shale revolution' has made the United States the world's number one energy powerhouse, while concerns about climate change drive a second energy revolution towards a low-carbon future. The book delves into the geopolitical implications, including the new cold war between the United States and China, Russia's pivot towards Beijing, and the challenges in the Middle East. Yergin provides a detailed and engaging survey of these developments, highlighting the profound challenges ahead in an era of rising political turbulence.