This book is well researched in both content and form. The author's methodological approach to the subject at hand is both robust and lucid. The major drawback of the book, however, is that it is old. The book is based on the author's doctoral dissertation completed some thirty years ago and, alas, does not address any of the issues that have emerged since 1972. The focal point of this book is to maintain that the politics of oil should not be looked on in isolation from policies pursued by Western governments—in particular, the United States.