Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider

by John Hofmeister

As president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister was known for being a straight shooter, willing to challenge his peers throughout the industry. Now, he's a man on a mission, the founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, crisscrossing the country in a grassroots campaign to change the way we look at energy in this country. While pundits proffer false new promises of green energy independence, or flatly deny the existence of a problem, Hofmeister offers an insider's view of what's behind the energy companies' posturing, and how politicians use energy misinformation, disinformation, and lack of information to get and stay elected. He tackles the energy controversy head-on, without regard for political correctness. He also provides a new framework for solving difficult problems, identifying solutions that will lead to a future of comfortable lifestyles, affordable and clean energy, environmental protection, and sustained economic competitiveness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Business, Economics

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sjoerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this 2 stars, but maybe that's a little too harsh. A 2.5 might have been more fair. The problem I have with "Why we hate the oil companies" is not so much its message. By itself, it is rather interesting to read about the energy and environmental problem through vision of someone from the inside of what is usually portrayed as evil itself. This book does the job of giving that inside view quite nicely. Of course, all the way through, it is important to keep in the back of your head that you're reading a coloured opinion, but I have to give Hofmeister credit for a lot of rational and useful ideas about the issues he discusses.

The real problem I have with this book, is the way it is written. At first, it wasn't so bad, but when I finished the book I felt like I would kill something innocent if I heard the word "grassroots" one more time. The author repeats itself a lot more times than necessary. If Hofmeister would have kept the tone he had in the beginning of the book and refrained from repeating himself, reading it would have been a lot less infuriating.

[Jun Wen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A healthy sense of energy realism is what this book provides.

More often than not, people do not actively think about energy and where it comes from.
If the government says that solar energy will replace hydrocarbons by next year, we would probably take their word for it without trying to come our own conclusions.
It goes against our temperament to think in terms of numbers, of how a fringe source that is currently providing ~5% of our total energy needs is supposed to multiply its own productivity and replace a major source that accounts for ~80%.
The reasons for this lack of independent thinking are manyfold - too many complications, opposing political narratives regarding our energy future, and a general dislike to crunch numbers.

In this book, Hofmeister does the rational thinking for us, drawing from his intimate experience with energy during his tenure as Shell President. He cites figures and industry facts, using them to argue coherently regarding the status quo and the way ahead.

The book is an interesting read, with but one drawback - the author repeats his core arguments way too often.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book with a discussion with someone about high gas prices. Like most things, I imagine the truth is more complex than may be supposed when making assessments from a paucity of information. I was hoping for some insight. The author spends most of the book explaining not issues like that but how we are hydrocarbon society and alternative fuels lack in promised. Largely the book could have been titled “Why We Can’t Live Without Fossil Fuels And Why Nothing Is Better Than Them”, or something like that. Only part of one chapter is given to the economics of oil exploration and gasoline retail, but even that was a little more revealing. Then, after chapters of explaining why Americans know so little about how oil economics works and the federal government makes, his final answer is dedicated government bureaucracy that would amount to semi-nationalization of United States energy resources. This initiated by the focused demands of the electorate. Well, the two elements of the problem join forces in a seamless union to solve it?



“To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite;

To forgive wrongs darker than death or night;

To defy Power, which seems omnipotent;

To love, and bear; to hope till Hope creates

From its own wreck the thing it contemplates;

Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent;

This, like thy glory, Titan, is to be

Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free;

This is alone Life, Joy, Empire, and Victory.”

--Percy Bysshe Shelley (Prometheus Unbound)

[Renee Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good read though incredibly misleading if you aren't paying attention to the issue on a regular basis. For example, he states that industrys always follow the clean water act because they understand that clean water is part of doing good business. Shell Oil is notorious for clean water violations all over the world, but the author fails to mention any of this. I think this is a good book for climate deniers, people who aren't quite ready to have a serious conversation on solutions, but need more motivation to understand the scope of what people are talking about when they discuss climate change. I would recommend it for people who only read really progressive or really conservative news sources as a way to understand what others are saying on this issue. But by no means should this be taken as is, additional research is needed to understand the true situation we are facing and the need for innovative solutions.

[Lucky]

Not worth my time. This guy was president of Shell oil. He claims to be an environmentalist, but his whole premise is that the US needs to be more energy independent, which is fine, but nowhere does he suggest that we need to consume less. I take it he thinks that's unrealistic, therefore we need to amp up everything & have more off shore drilling, more wind turbines, more "clean" coal, more nuclear energy, more dams, more of everything that produces energy at home. And he's very upset about government regulations, and wants the world to know that he's a good guy.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped me think about how much my daily life depends on energy delivery that is completely out of my control. Would love an updated edition to this book that covers the last 15 years and how energy needs have continued to evolve.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so again I found myself having read almost everything in the house except this. While Hofmeister often had an angry and evangelical tone I tended to agree with him more often than disagree. In particular (and I've been saying this for years) this country is so divided that I just don't know how we can ever solve the problems we have. Bipartisanship is out of the question in Washington and if you try you are castigated by your own party. Not even a Pearl Harbor style attack on the WTC could unify this country (not for more than a couple of weeks anyway) so how can we even dream of a unified approach to energy policy or any other policy. The problems (costs, regulation, innovation e.g.) faced by the the energy industry are not very different than any industry (automotive, healthcare, waste managment, or even education and national security, etc.) and you could substitute in the book any industry for energy and it would read the same. What has happened to common sense? Keep up the good work John, there must be someone besides me listening.

[Arminius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came away impressed by this book. I always suspected that there is oil almost everywhere and John Hofmeister confirms my belief. The problem with getting it is the government. The government will not allow drilling in a lot of places. Judges also block drilling. The government and judges that do this are idiots. They are driving up the price of oil and inflation with it. They also are costing jobs because consumers do not have extra cash after paying to heat their oil heated homes. That lost money would go to buying other things which creates jobs in various fields.

Mr. Hofmeister's solution is great. He suggests the creation of a Federal Reserve style board to oversea energy policy. It would be comprised of energy people, politicians, environmental people and others.
They would decide all energy issues. So politicians and judges would never get involved and we could live happier more comfortable lives.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book easy to start, but difficult to finish. In fact, it took me over a year cover to cover. I think that's for a few reasons: one, the subject matter was unfamiliar, so I really had to think it through. Two, I didn't take the author's word for anything; I gave every statement that he presented as fact a careful mental review, even if it was just to decide that I didn't have enough information to evaluate it accurately.

I am glad I read the book, but it certainly wasn't light or easy reading.

The last few chapters were intended as a call to arms, but I think they fell flat. They just weren't rousing or believable enough. Oh, I believe that we're headed for a major crisis; what I don't believe is that we'll handle it in the rational way he presents.

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated Hofmeister's insight into the oil/gas industry and do agree with many of his points concerning the mis- and disinformation of the American public. The education on various sources of energy was helpful, and I feel like I can at least take part in some small way in the wider discussion on energy and "energy independence." This was a great read for a layperson and I would recommend it to anyone who can read it for the facts it presents, regardless of whether or not you agree with Hofmeister's ultimate conclusions. Also, the idea of a FERB is interesting, and something I'd probably support.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book from an energy insider, did not have a lot of "insider" information. Hofmeister's primary argument is that we will be stuck burning hydrocarbons for a long time, which we should get used to. He argues that we need to start moving towards "clean" energy but it will take a long time. He argues that ineffective government (speaking specifically of the U.S) is holding the nation back from more energy independence and a secure energy future for the states. This book did not offer much new information that is not already out there and I would not recommend it.

[Chechen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was borrowed from Isaac. He lent me this book last year for my Eng10 class papers since my topic is about energy. Though this book gives off a lot of knowledge about energy but mostly about oil (it's obvious in the title right?), I haven't got many information in this book that can enhance my paper. At least I learned something about oil that could be essential in my future since I'm planning to master the field of petrology.

[Martinocorre · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'altra campana

Un libro che da' qualche spunto in tema di politiche energetiche USA.
Se siete già addentro al tema del peak oil penso che ne caverete fuori poco di nuovo, comunque un due o tre ideuzze interessanti l'autore le tira fuori; forse è un po' poco per leggersi tutto un libro, ma di sicuro se volete sentire anche l'altra campana (l'autore è un ex Presidente della Shell Oil Company in USA) allora questa può essere l'occasione buona.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a longer time to read this than it should have (it's only 237 pages), but there was a lot to take in - especially how messed up our government is as far as regulating energy - there isn't just one department, numerous departments have to agree.

A worthwhile read.

[Johanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much was interesting and I learned some things, but he was a bit too much of an "insider" for me to trust his word on the overall positive and negative aspects of various energy alternatives. And his tone was was pretty self-satisfied and smug, which was off-putting.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly a thought provoking book by the former head of Shell Oil. No it is not a defence of oil companies.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although he has a pro oil company bias this is an interesting and thought provoking book. His long term projections of the energy future in this country is very disturbing and probably accurate.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally a good read, the last several chapters of independent Fed like energy agency should be further condensed& combined into a single political pitch.

[Leo Keil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book for those who care about a clean environment and the availability of affordable energy. John Hofmeister shows how America can have both.