The Frackers ─ The Outrageous Inside Story of the New Billionaire Wildcatters: Library Edition

The riveting, untoldstory of the men who are transforming global energyIn five years, the United States has seen a historic burstof oil and natural gas production, easing our insatiable hunger for energy. Anew drilling process called fracking has made us the world's fastest growingenergy power, on track to pass Saudi Arabia by 2020. But despite headlines andcontroversy, no previous book has shown how the revolution really happened.The Frackers tellsthe dramatic tale of how a group of ambitious and headstrong wildcattersignored the ridicule of experts and derision of colleagues to pursue massive,long-overlooked deposits. Against all odds, they changed the world—and madeastonishing fortunes in the process.Zuckerman's exclusive access enabled him to get close to menlike George Mitchell, who developed a new way to drill for gas in shale rock;Harold Hamm, who discovered so much oil he's now worth more than the estate ofSteve Jobs; and Aubrey McClendon, who lost more than $2 billion on a misguidedgambit. Zuckerman shows how the frackers are now using their wealth to shake upHollywood, education, politics, sports, and other fields, much like theRockefellers and Gettys before them.He also explores the debate over the environmental risks offracking, and whether those risks are worth it for the United States to achieveenergy independence and for the rest of the world to follow.