The transformational force of oil, and the quantities involved, were indeed staggering.

I'd like to add: I don't share Yergin's sympathies and enthusiasm for the oil industry or petroleum itself. Despite that, his book really is a treasure, and is among the better histories of energy out there.

I'd include the more broadly-scoped works by Vaclav Smil (Energy and Civilization <https://www.worldcat.org/title/959698256> and Energy in World History <https://www.worldcat.org/title/30398523>) and Manfred Weissenbacher (Sources of Power <https://www.worldcat.org/title/416715097>).

Wiessenbacher in particular emphasizes the political and military implications of energy regimes.