Book Review - Twiglight in the Desert

Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy

Living deep inside the oil economy and studying it on a daily/weekly/monthly basis for the past 10 years, I looked forward to reading this book. Matt Simmons is a well-respected investment banker deeply involved in the energy throughout his career. I've read his pronouncements for years in my industry trade journals.

The premise and description of the book led to more anticipation. Unfortunately this book fails to deliver. Co written by a retired magazine editor, this mismatch of information is an exercise in endless repetition. Every major Saudi oilfield is named at least 100 times (don't make me count). And the endless superlatives used to describe these fields gets old fast. Padding. Nothing but padding.

The first chapter gives an absurdly concise history of Saudi Arabia. Disney could not have written a more patronizing introduction. Skip the first chapter and read Oil God & Gold. Oil God & Gold has something this book lacks. A good writer with a compelling story.

This is not meant to denigrate Mr. Simmon's premise. It is sound and it needs to be heard. Unfortunately, this 400 page book could easily have been condensed into a 100-150 page intensive analysis. But it is written in a series of chapters and sections that endlessly repeat the same information over and over. Make your point and move on. Please.

Overall a disappointment. I agree partially with Mr. Simmon's premise but only partially. He had 400 pages to make a point but wasted it. This has been one of my more difficult reads of the year, not by its content, but by the sheer effort of will required to read the entire damn thing. Pass on this one.