Packed with fascinating facts and insight, this book will fuel dinner party debate, and provide readers with the science and politics behind the world`s most controversial resource. Without oil, there would be no globalisation, no plastic, little transport, and a global political landscape that few would recognise. It is the lifeblood of the modern world, and humanity`s dependence upon it looks set to continue for decades to come. In this captivating book, the author of the acclaimed Energy: A Beginner`s Guide, Vaclav Smil, explains all matters related to the `black stuff`, from its discovery in the earth, right through to the political maelstrom that surrounds it today.