Saturday, November 22, 2008

QUEEN OF THE OIL CLUB : THE INTREPID WANDA JABLONSKI AND THE POWER OF INFORMATION
by Anna Rubino

Wanda Jablonski was an investigative reporter who unraveled the secret world of oil from the 1950s through the 1980s. She was nicknamed the "midwife" of OPEC and was very influential, behind the scenes, in its creation, due to her sources.
A petite woman, Wanda boldly went to exploration sites in the Middle East, the Venezuelan jungle, entered male-only boardrooms in London and New York and interviewed King Saud in a Saudia Arabian harem. She was able to retrieve information from CEOs of the oil giants and high political figures in such a way that had never been done before by anyone.
In 1961, Jablonski started her own newsletter, Petroleum Intelligence Weekly, which was dubbed the "bible" of the oil world.
Queen of the Oil Club is a fascinating story of a remarkable woman who by the power of information was able to influence the petroleum industry.
A great story and an important read.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

TITANIC'S LAST SECRETS : THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHADOW DIVERS JOHN CHATTERTON AND RICHIE KOHLER
by Brad Matsen

In August of 2005 shipwreck divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler discovered new evidence on what had sunk the Titanic. Working with a forensic marine analyst they were able to uncover archival information that had never been seen by any historian.
Brad Matsen writes a meticulously, spell-binding story of the great ship's construction and of its demise. There were compromises made that would, in the end, doom most of the passengers and the crew.
The conclusion is a real shocker.
Matsen did his own research, which can be found at the end of the book, by the Notes and the extensive Bibliography he used.
Titanic's Last Secrets is a terrific read.
Highly recommended.