The Oil Kings

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'''''The Oil Kings: How the U.S., Iran, and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East ''''' is a 2011 book by Andrew Scott Cooper, published by [[Simon and Schuster]]. It documents the relationships between the [[United States]], [[Iran]], and [[Saudi Arabia]] in the mid-20th century [[energy industry]].

The book discusses [[Henry Kissinger]],<ref name=PW></ref> the 1970s [[oil embargo]], and the [[Iranian Revolution]].<ref name=Oleck>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Cooper had stated that the story on how the U.S. became dependent on Saudi Arabia and how U.S. reliance on oil began was "Less well known" compared to the general understanding of U.S. reliance on oil.<ref name=Black>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>

Brian Black, a history and environmental studies teacher at [[Pennsylvania State University]], stated in the ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'' that the book is "a record that adds significant insight to one of the most important periods in the American relationship with petroleum."<ref name=Black/>

==Background==
Cooper used several sources that, until shortly before the book's publication, had been classified information.<ref name=Black/>

==Content==
The beginning shows how [[Richard Nixon]] met [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]], the [[Shah of Iran]], at the funeral of former U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. Initially the U.S. and Iran enjoyed a close relationship, but during the 1970s oil embargo Iran insisted on keeping oil prices high, so the US switched to using Saudi Arabia as its primary ally.<ref name=Oleck/> Iran's economy experienced significant problems after the Saudis modified production to decrease oil prices. According to Black, ""Oil Kings" follows the model of the film "[[Syriana (film)|Syrianna]]" in portraying the back-channel politics that control the flow of oil and the global politics that emanate from that dynamic."<ref name=Black/>

''The Oil Kings'' details Nixon and Pahlavi in particular. Black states that the book has relatively little documentation.<ref name=Black/>

==Reception==
Black states that the book "excels" due to the quality of its [[original research]] as well as "discipline" and "virtue of focus".<ref name=Black/>

Joan Oleck, a freelance writer in New York, wrote in an article for ''[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]'', a newspaper in [[Abu Dhabi]], that she had a positive impression of the book. She stated that at times the author used more content than necessary, such as too many quotes.<ref name=Oleck/>

''[[Publisher's Weekly]]'' stated that the book is "both a vivid study in sycophancy and backstabbing and a shrewd critique of Kissingerian geo-strategy."<ref name=PW/>

''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' stated that the book was "A revelatory, impressive debut."<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2) - Print date: July 1, 2011</ref>

==References==


==External links==
* ''[https://ift.tt/2FQ4NSS The Oil Kings]'' - [[Simon and Schuster]]
[[Category:Books about Iran]]
[[Category:Books about Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Books about the United States]]
[[Category:2011 books]]

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