The Big Rich
The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes
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4.3 • 189 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
“Burrough, with his gifts for both synthesis and lyricism, brings more to the table . . . [he] has also done estimable new reporting, showing links between Texas money and national politics that stretch back far earlier than the days of Lyndon B. Johnson.” —Mimi Swartz, The New York Times
“Full of schadenfreude and speculation—and solid, timely history too.” —Kirkus
“What's not to enjoy about a book full of monstrous egos, unimaginable sums of money, and the punishment of greed and shortsightedness?” —The Economist
Phenomenal reviews and sales greeted the hardcover publication of The Big Rich, New York Times bestselling author Bryan Burrough's spellbinding chronicle of Texas oil. Weaving together the multigenerational sagas of the industry's four wealthiest families, Burrough brings to life the men known in their day as the Big Four: Roy Cullen, H. L. Hunt, Clint Murchison, and Sid Richardson, all swaggering Texas oil tycoons who owned sprawling ranches and mingled with presidents and Hollywood stars. Seamlessly charting their collective rise and fall, The Big Rich is a hugely entertaining account that only a writer with Burrough's abilities-and Texas upbringing-could have written.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Capitalism at its most colorful oozes across the pages of this engrossing study of independent oil men. Vanity Fair special correspondent Burrough (coauthor, Barbarians at the Gate) profiles the Big Four oil dynasties of H.L. Hunt, Roy Cullen, Clint Murchison and Sid Richardson, along with their cronies, rivals, families and, in Hunt's case, bigamous second and third families. The saga begins heroically in the early 20th-century oil boom, with wildcatters roaming the Texas countryside drilling one dry hole after another, scrounging money and fending off creditors until gushers of black gold redeem them. Their second acts as garish nouveaux riches with strident right-wing politics are entertaining, if less dramatic. Decline sets in as rising production costs and cheaper Middle Eastern oil erode profits, and a feckless, feuding second generation squanders family fortunes on debauchery and reckless investment H.L.'s sons' efforts in 1970 to corner the silver market bankrupted them and almost took down Wall Street. This is a portrait of capitalism as white-knuckle risk taking, yielding fruitful discoveries for the fathers, but only sterile speculation for the sons a story that resonates with today's economic upheaval.
Customer Reviews
The Big Rich
This was quite a history lesson. Lots of info on the beginnings of the oil industry in the U.S. (& world). There was lots of history about the men driving the discoveries, drilling, financing, etc. And there was lots of information on them as men, people living and working in this time. I’m glad I read it and have a better understanding of some of the workings of the oil industry.
The Big Rich
One of my favorites. I've been told it is not exactly factually corect but I would not hold that against it. This is a great read. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Great Story., Ned's editing
Fascinating at times sluggish at others this book should have left about 250 pages on the editing floor.