A staff writer for the new yorker, he served as the president and ceo of the new america think tank from 2007 to 2012. In this prizewinning book, the author of ghost wars and the bin ladens investigates the notoriously mysterious exxonmobil corporation and the secrets of the oil industry in many of the nations where it operates, exxonmobil has a greater sway than that of. Exxonmobil and american power, an indepth study of the company under its past two ceos, focusing on how it effectively pursues its own foreign policy and deflects demands for fiscal and environmental accountability. In many of the countries where it conducts business, exxonmobil s sway over politics and security is greater. American journalist steve coll has won the financial times and goldman sachs business book of the year award 2012 for his book on us oil giant exxon mobil. The book provides an excellent insight into one of the worlds leading multinationals perhaps the leading multinational, depending on how and when measured. Private empire begins with the exxon valdez accident in 1989 and closes with the deepwater horizon oil spill. In his new book, private empire, steve coll offers an expansive portrait of exxon mobil. Coll investigates every aspect of the company, including its internal operational process, dealings with foreign governments, manipulation of environmental science, and the company responses to accidents, starting with the exxon. Exxonmobils annual revenues are larger than the economic. Previously he spent 20 years as a foreign correspondent and senior editor at the washington post, serving as the papers managing editor from 1998 to 2004. In private empire, steve coll examines the structure, motivation, activities, and impact of the combined oil giant, exxonmobil, since the creation of the company by merger in 1999. Steve coll talks about the power of exxon mobil the new.
Steve coll on rex tillerson, the chief executive of exxonmobil who is said to be presidentelect donald trumps choice for secretary of state. His ability to provide context, backstory, and behindthescenes details is on par or. Private empire, steve coll s book about exxon mobil. In private empire, steve coll, winner of the pulitzer prize and author of ghost. If you were expecting private empire, the latest book by twotime pulitzer prize winning author steve coll, to serve as a hit piece on exxonmobil and big oil in general youll be somewhat. Exxonmobil s annual revenues are larger than the economic activity in the great majority of countries. Jul 21, 2012 pulitzer prizewinning writer steve coll subjects exxonmobil americas biggest oil and gas producer to the tarbell treatment, in his account of the company from the exxon valdez tanker disaster. Pulitzer prizewinning writer steve coll subjects exxonmobil americas biggest oil and gas producer to the tarbell treatment, in his account of the company from the exxon valdez tanker disaster of 1989 up until bps deepwater horizon drilling accident two years ago. Buy steve coll ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Exxonmobil and american power is a 2012 work of investigative journalism by american reporter steve coll.
In many of the countries where it conducts business, exxonmobil s sway over politics and security is greater than that of the. Steve coll investigates not only these questions but many more and also looks into the dealings of other oil and gas companies. In private empire steve coll investigates the largest and most powe. Jan 11, 2017 steve coll on the former oil executives foreignpolicy approach. Steve coll born october 8, 1958 is an american journalist, academic and executive. Steve coll examines the worldwide operations and political influence of exxon mobil. Coll, a twotime winner of the pulitzer prize, a former managing editor of the washington post and now a new yorker staff.
Exxon mobil is not a us company, according to its former president, lee raymond. Exxon mobil and american power in private empire, steve coll investigates the notoriously secretive exxonmobil corporation, revealing the true extent of its power. Coll blames exxonmobil s outsizedinfluence for poverty in oilrich countries including chad. Steve coll is the author of the pulitzer prizewinning ghost wars and the dean of the graduate school of journalism at columbia university, and from 2007 to 20 was president of the new america foundation, a public policy institute in washington, d. However, there is a big difference between the world exxon faces when coll finished the book five years ago and today. Steve colls 624 pages is well put together and well researched backed up by detailed notes. Coll investigates every aspect of the company, including its internal operational process, dealings with foreign governments, manipulation of environmental science, and the company responses to accidents, starting with the exxon valdez. David biello is associate editor for environment and energy at scientific american magazine. Pulitzer prizewinning writer steve coll subjects exxonmobil americas biggest oil and gas producer to the tarbell treatment, in his account of the company from the exxon valdez tanker disaster. We continue our conversation with pulitzer prizewinning reporter steve coll, author of the exhaustive book, private empire. An extraordinary and monumental expose of big oil from twotime pulitzer prize winner steve coll the washington post in private empire steve coll investigates the largest and most powerful private corporation in the united states, revealing the true extent of its power. The worlds largest publicly traded company operates as an independent sovereign. Steve coll is a dean for school of journalism in the columbia university with 51 videos in the cspan video library.
He is the recipient of two pulitzer prize awards, two overseas press club awards, a pen american center john kenneth galbraith award, an arthur ross book award, a livingston aw. This is the edited transcript of an interview conducted on july 24, 2012. Steve coll, a staff writer, is the dean of the graduate school of journalism at columbia university and reports on issues of intelligence and national security in the united states and abroad. Theres a startling scene early in steve coll s private empire in which lee raymond, then the chief executive of exxonmobil, speaks with offhanded candor about where his loyalties lie. Steve coll on exxonmobils sinister kingdom and private. Private empire exxonmobil and american power by steve coll the penguin press. Winner of the financial times and goldman sachs business book of the year award 2012 an extraordinary and monumental expose of big oil from twotime pulitzer. Private empire, steve colls book on exxon mobil the new. Exxonmobil and american power ebook written by steve coll. In the great reach for colonies that europe began hundreds of years ago, at center stage were several curious entities that wielded more power than many governments.
Private empire, steve colls book about exxon mobil the. Pulitzer prizewinning writer steve coll subjects exxonmobil. A friend of dick cheney, raymond is also a fierce climate. In this prizewinning book, the author of ghost wars and the bin ladens investigates the notoriously mysterious exxonmobil corporation and the secrets of the oil industry. Winner of the financial times and goldman sachs business book of the year award 2012 an. Author steve coll unearths the companys secrets in private empire, tracking the corporations role on the world stage from the exxon valdez accident in 1989 to the deepwater horizon oil spill in. Steve coll won the financial times and goldman sachs business book of the year award 2012 for private empire. Colls vast narrative is bookended by accounts of manmade disasters.
Nov 10, 2017 it is not only because of exxon seeing its interest superior of state policy, but also tillersons close relationship with russia. Colls portrait of exxonmobil is both riveting and appalling yet private empire is not so much an indictment as a fascinating look into american business and politics. A private empire on the world stage in private empire, investigative journalist steve coll explains how exxonmobil has used its money and power to wield significant influence in. The book examines the business practices and culture of u. Coll is honest about exxons strengths as well as its flaws, and presents both. Author steve coll unearths the companys secrets in private empire, tracking the corporations role on the world stage from the exxon valdez. He is president of the new america foundation, a nonpartisan public policy institute headquartered in washington, d. I always enjoy reading anything by steve coll, and this book was no different.
Steve coll discusses the world according to exxonmobil. Consider private empire a sequel of sorts to the prize, daniel yergins pulitzerwinning history of the oil industry colls portrait of exxonmobil is. If you want a deeper understanding of what has been inaugurated in washington, read steve coll s private empire. Jan 01, 2012 private empire, exxonmobil and american power by steve coll, published by the penguin press. New yorker staff writer steve coll s last two books, ghost wars and the bin ladens, were, as he puts it, big projects about closed institutionsthe central intelligence agency and the middle. Steve coll is the author of the new york times bestseller the bin ladens. In private empire steve coll investigates the largest and most powerful private corporation in the united states, revealing the true extent of its power. Jul 05, 2012 steve coll s private empire is winner of the ftgoldman sachs business book of the year award 2012. Private empire by steve coll ft business book of the.
Steve coll on the former oil executives foreignpolicy approach. Exxonmobil and american power is a masterful study of big oils biggest player colls indepth reporting, buttressed by his anecdotal prose, make private empire a mustread. Apr 27, 2012 the cover of private empire, steve colls new book about the exxon mobil corporation, is a forbidding black slab. He is currently the dean of the columbia university graduate school of journalism, where he is also the henry r. Jan 27, 2017 coll charts how exxons entire corporate strategy is shaped by the need to gain equity control over, or book, new reserves to replace oil it has produced in a given year. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan and bin laden. Steve coll on the private empire of exxonmobil youtube. Steve coll is most recently the author of the new york times bestseller the bin ladens. If exxonmobil refused to answer every one of the authors factchecking questions, the book remains authoritative, lively and seldom dull.
A private empire on the world stage in private empire, investigative journalist steve coll explains how exxonmobil has used its money and power to. Steve coll investigates the largest and most powerful private corporation in the united states, revealing the true extent of its power. Exxonmobil and american power, published by the penguin press and allen lane the book is a hardhitting investigation of the notoriously secretive exxonmobil corp. Steve colls book on exxonmobil wins ftgoldman award. If you want a deeper understanding of what has been inaugurated in washington, read steve colls private empire. Steve coll is an american journalist, academic and executive. Private empire is a big book about big oil, big money and big government.
April 4, 2005 steve coll wins the pulitzer prize in general nonfiction for his book ghost wars. Exxonmobils annual revenues are larger than the economic activity in the great majority of countries, equivalent to the gdp of norway. I dont make decisions based on whats good for the us. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001, and private empire. See all books authored by steve coll, including ghost wars. May 02, 2012 in his new book, private empire, steve coll offers an expansive portrait of exxon mobil.
Exxon mobil and american power, authored by pulitzer prizewinner steve coll, staff writer for the new yorker magazine. If corporations are people, as some would have you believe, then exxonmobil is frankensteins. The cover of private empire, steve coll s new book about the exxon mobil corporation, is a forbidding black slab. In this, the first hardhitting examination of exxonmobilthe largest and most powerful private. Steve colls private empire david biello is associate editor for environment and energy at scientific american magazine.
In the end, coll provided some updates to encourage the audience to think about the future of. Jun, 20 author steve coll unearths the companys secrets in private empire, tracking the corporations role on the world stage from the exxon valdez accident in 1989 to the deepwater horizon oil spill in. Nov 02, 2012 american journalist steve coll has won the financial times and goldman sachs business book of the year award 2012 for his book on us oil giant exxon mobil. What rex tillerson is actually like, from the man who. Dec 11, 2016 steve coll on rex tillerson, the chief executive of exxonmobil who is said to be presidentelect donald trumps choice for secretary of state. With each chapter as forceful as a new yorker article, the book abounds in dickensian characters. Steve coll s narrative spans the globe, taking readers to moscow, impoverished african capitals, indonesia and elsewhere as exxonmobil carries out its activities against a backdrop of blackmail threats, kidnapping, civil wars, and. The key figure in the book is lee iron ass raymond, chief executive until 2005. Private empire, steve colls book about exxon mobil.
Exxonmobils dirty secrets, from indonesia to nigeria to. He is the president of the new america foundation, a nonpartisan public policy institute headquartered in washington, d. Includes a profile of current secretary of state and former chairman and chief executive of exxonmobil, rex tillerson in this, the first hardhitting examination of exxonmobil the largest and most powerful private corporation in the united states steve coll reveals the true extent of its power. All the books listed for the financial times and mckinsey business book of the. Steve coll s private empire is winner of the ftgoldman sachs business book of the year award 2012. Category business how big is exxonmobile and how much influence does it have on politics both national and international. What rex tillerson is actually like, from the man who wrote.
Steve coll on exxonmobils sinister kingdom and private empire oil. Exxonmobil and american power, spoke about exxonmobil s past and future with a focus on its power and interaction with states on a lecture on tuesday, november 7, 2017. Oct 23, 2012 steve coll is a staff writer at the new yorker and author of private empire. In this prizewinning book, the author of ghost wars and the bin ladens investigates the notoriously mysterious exxonmobil corporation and the secrets of the oil industry in many of the. May 11, 2012 getting the story of how it did so is the goal of this ambitious book. Steve coll books list of books by author steve coll. Now twotime pulitzer prizewinner steve coll has written private empire. Steve coll, a new yorker staff writer whose previous books investigated the bin laden family, the cia and other recondite forces, has focused on this global giant whose product is as near as your.
In this prizewinning book, the author of ghost wars and the bin ladens investigates the notoriously mysterious exxonmobil corporation and the secrets of the oil industry in many of the nations where it operates, exxonmobil has a greater sway than that of the us. Private empire, steve colls book on exxon mobil the. Private empire, steve colls book about exxon mobil the new. It chronicles how exxonmobil the energy behemoth that recently displaced walmart atop the fortune 500 list, with. Private empire could easily have been a very different book than it is. Author steve coll talks about his new book private empire. Jun 10, 2012 steve colls mammoth portrait of exxon mobil, private empire, abounds in empiresize figures. Exxonmobils annual revenues are larger than the economic activity in the great majority of countries.
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