title: The American Shales
author:  Nissa Darbonne 
description: This is an excellent written account of how things went down. I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the history of the shales by the way of the pages of your manuscript. --Dan Steward, geologist and author, <i>The Barnett Shale Play: Phoenix of the Fort Worth Basin, A History</i><br /><br />  The amount of research seems staggering to me but, more importantly, complete. The way you have documented the Bakken play is accurate. This also gives me confidence the other plays, which I did not know intimately, are accurate as well. --Dick Findley, geologist and chairman, American Eagle Energy Corp.<br /><br />  I think you have captured a very, very important part of the history of our industry and I commend you on a job well done. It is organized in a way that is logical and easy to read and understand. --Dr. Bobby B. Lyle, founder and chairman, Lyco Holdings Inc.  <br /><br />"This should be required reading in every energy program in any educational institution that has one...It is a marvelous tool to get someone up to speed on the state of this industry, i.e. 'How did we get here?'" --Steve Antry, chairman and chief executive officer, Eagle Energy Exploration LLC<br /><br />  "Very thorough and well researched...You got some great interviews and access to the key players...and made the technical material accessible." --Peggy Williams, geologist and editorial director, Hart Energy<br /><br />"The research is excellent. I truly enjoyed the writing. The book will become the treatise on the evolution of the shale plays in North America!" --Jerry Eumont, managing director, upstream consulting, IHS Inc.<br /><br />
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00275.jpeg)
  
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  ![](Images/image00274.jpeg)
  
  ![](Images/image00276.jpeg)
  
  Contents
  
  >  _Map of Major North American Shales_
  
  >  _Epigraph_
  
  > 1\. Just Add Water
  
  > 2\. Ottis Grimes
  
  > 3\. Everyone Comes for the Money
  
  > 4\. Dominion over the Rocks
  
  > 5\. Wise County
  
  > 6\. Ice Doesn’t Freeze Anymore
  
  > 7\. Larry Was the Brake
  
  > 8\. The Rise of Aubrey McClendon
  
  > 9\. The Fall of Aubrey McClendon
  
  10\. Celestia
  
  11\. Blessings of the Pope
  
  12\. Ghost Ridin’ Grandpa
  
  13\. Pandora’s Frack
  
  >  _Thanks and Acknowledgments_
  
  >  _About Russell Gold_
  
  >  _Sources_