Blowout book cover

Blowout by Rachel Maddow Summary

Blowout
Rachel Maddow
4.34 (15632 Reviews)
Politics
Business
History
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of Blowout

Rachel Maddow's explosive expose reveals how Big Oil corrupts democracies, empowers Russia, and devastates our planet. Featured in The New York Times bestseller list, "Blowout" connects the dots between fracking, geopolitics, and the 2016 election. What environmental disaster are we ignoring?

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Key takeaways

1

Introduction: The Hidden Power of Oil and Gas

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Picture this: It's 2003, and a Russian gas station is opening in Manhattan. Vladimir Putin himself is there, grinning for the cameras. Seems innocent enough, right? But as I dug deeper, I realized this wasn't just about cheap gas. It was the start of a global story - one of corruption, environmental destruction, and the erosion of democracy. I'm Rachel Maddow, and in this book, we're going to follow the twisted trail of the oil and gas industry. From Oklahoma to Equatorial Guinea, from Rex Tillerson to Vladimir Putin, we'll see how this industry has shaped our world in ways we never imagined. And trust me, once you see it, you can't unsee it.

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The Oklahoma Experiment: Fracking, Earthquakes, and Greed

3

Russia's Black Gold: Putin's Power Play

4

The Global Reach: From Africa to the Arctic

5

The Exxon Factor: Rex Tillerson and Corporate Diplomacy

6

The Way Forward: Regulation, Transparency, and Hope

7

Conclusion: The Choice We Face

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@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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