One sentence summary
Rachel Maddow’s Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth is a book that reveals the power of the global oil and gas industry and how it has corroded democracy and security around the world.
Book genre
Non-fiction.
Main topic of the book
Maddow’s Blowout is an investigation into the global oil and gas industry and its impacts on global security, democracy, and the environment.
Key ideas
- Power of the Global Oil and Gas Industry – Blowout reveals the immense power of the oil and gas industry and its capacity to inflence governments, security, and democracy throughout the world.
- Environmental Risk – Maddow also delves into the real threats that the excessive emissions of greenhouse gases from the oil and gas industry pose to the world.
- Financial Risk – The book explains how the unchecked spending of oil and gas companies can lead to financial and political crises.
- Negative Impacts on the World – Lastly, Blowout outlines the negative and dangerous impacts the global oil and gas industry can have on state economies and the environment.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part I: The Corrosion of Democracy – applies to the politics of the industry, in particular, how it has been used to undermine democracy in Russia over the last two decades.
- Part II: The Richest Industry on Earth – examines the immense wealth of the oil and gas industry and how it has corrupted individuals in power and, in turn, manipulated politics throughout the world.
- Part III: The Sharing of Secrets – discusses the global networks of companies and individuals that exchange secrets about the oil and gas industry.
- Part IV: The Greatest Culprits of All – looks at the major players in the industry, including government and international corporations (such as Exxon, BP, and Gazprom), and how they have been complicit in the corruption of global politics, as well as the environmental destruction.
Key takeaways
- Understanding the Unchecked Power of the Oil and Gas Industry – Blowout provides readers with an in-depth understanding of the political and economic influence of the global oil and gas industry.
- The Cost of Exploiting the Environment – Maddow highlights how the excessive extraction and burning of oil and gas has damaged the environment, leading to increased global temperatures and sea level rise.
- Financial Futures at Risk – Finally, Maddow demonstrates how the unchecked spending of global oil and gas companies can lead to financial and political crisis.
Author’s background and qualifications
Rachel Maddow is a celebrated political commentator, author, and journalist. Since cementing her fame as host of the television show The Rachel Maddow Show in 2008, Maddow has become a leading voice for progressive politics and commentary. Maddow has a Bachelor’s degree in public policy from Stanford University and is a Rhodes Scholar, earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Politics from Oxford University.
Target audience
Blowout is a must-read for those looking to gain an understanding of the power of the oil and gas industry, its political influence, and the devastating consequences it can have on the environment and politics.
Publisher and first publication date
Blowout was published by Crown Publishing in 2019.