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The Seven Sisters: The great oil companies & the world they shaped Hardcover – October 27, 1975

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 79 ratings

An account of the men and events behind the rise of the world's largest oil companies, their domination of the world petroleum industry, and their current status subsequent to their control being challenged by the producing nations
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 067063591X
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking (October 27, 1975)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780670635917
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670635917
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 20 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 79 ratings

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Anthony Sampson
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
79 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and insightful, providing a detailed account of the historical progression of the oil industry. They appreciate the well-written storyline and flow of important facts.

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15 customers mention "Informative"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-written. They appreciate the detailed account of the historic progression of the oil industry. The author focuses on facts rather than opinions, which they find important. Overall, customers describe it as an insightful history of oil.

"Great documentation on the origins of OPEC. Lots of subtle points for careful readers." Read more

"It's an interesting history of the big oil companies competing and working together" Read more

"...I like that the author focuses on facts and does not spend time at all on superficial gossiping (as The Prize does) so the important facts flow..." Read more

"...25 years ago and I wanted to re-read it again because it's an important history book...." Read more

3 customers mention "Storyline"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the historical storyline. They find the concepts and events flow well.

"...The book is very well organized too. Concepts and historical events flow well. I really enjoyed it." Read more

"Great historical storyline. I read this book once many years ago and just want to read it again." Read more

"...My grandson showed an interest in it and I feel that it is a great story and has some wonderful facts in it...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
    Great documentation on the origins of OPEC. Lots of subtle points for careful readers.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
    It's an interesting history of the big oil companies competing and working together
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2000
    This was a highly interesting book. The title,the Seven Sisters refers to the seven oil companies who dominate the world petroleum marker. This book gives a history of each of the seven sisters(such as Exxon and Shell). This book also tells of the shaping of the world of oil as we know it today. The Seven Sisters also tells of events that have occurred that have had bearing on the world of petroleum. All in all I found this to be a very in formative book that made for informative reading. You will not be dissapointed if you purchase it.
    24 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
    a history of the oil industry pre opec.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2015
    Although it is a book that ends with OPEC, it describes very nicely the political and economical conditions prevailing before the 1928 Achnacarry secret agreement and after.
    I like that the author focuses on facts and does not spend time at all on superficial gossiping (as The Prize does) so the important facts flow nicely and one can get the ideas without annoying interruptions (superficial gossiping). He discribes the personalities and characteristics of key individuals though but in a serious manner.
    The book is very well organized too. Concepts and historical events flow well. I really enjoyed it.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2013
    You can't begin to understand all the complicated trading arrangements among the oil companies and the countries they reside in without reading this book by Anthony Sampson first. I had read this book about 25 years ago and I wanted to re-read it again because it's an important history book. He talks about the "Red Line Agreements" and "Phantom Freight" etc., etc. You begin to understand why Americans were able to buy the petrol so much cheaper than the Europeans and it isn't because we Yanks are nicer or smarter people. On the contrary, there's some very cool and calculating business arrangements going on behind the scenes and Mr. Sampson's book gives you that insight.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2015
    Great historical storyline. I read this book once many years ago and just want to read it again.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2014
    This is a wonderful book and I was glad to find it. My grandson showed an interest in it and I feel that it is a great story and has some wonderful facts in it. This is an excellent description of the major oil companies and their strategies.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Peyman ADL DOUSTI HAGH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Int the Name of Iran
    Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2024
    In the 1970s, the Seven Sisters, a formidable consortium of oil companies, emerged as a compelling narrative. Their far-reaching influence in the global oil market, strategic alliances, and sway over geopolitical decisions left an indelible mark on the worldwide economy, shaping our world today. This narrative, which gained widespread attention, depicted them as the covert architects of the Pahlavi Dynasty's downfall. The enormity of their influence, a force that still reverberates in the global oil market, stands as a testament to their power.

    My passion for reading books and sharing thoughts with others inspired me to write a review on "The Seven Sisters: The Great Oil Companies & The World They Shaped" by Anthony Sampson, published in 1975.

    Why do Western countries label the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a cartel? A cartel typically refers to a partnership between two or more companies aiming to manipulate the market and the cost of goods to their advantage.

    It is quite natural for a curious mind to wonder about the origins of OPEC. The organization was established in September 1960 in Baghdad by the first five members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. OPEC was formed as a direct response to Western oil companies' exploitation of oil-producing countries. The founding members, in a display of remarkable resilience, were determined to assert control over their natural resources and negotiate fair prices for their oil rather than being mere pawns in the global oil game. Their unwavering determination in the face of exploitation is genuinely inspiring and worthy of admiration.

    The formation of OPEC can be traced back to a history of exploitation and domination by Western powers. This exploitative foreign policy, often tinged with racism, has long been a characteristic of Western countries' dealings with developing nations such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Western oil companies, backed by their home countries, often took advantage of the weaker bargaining power of these nations to secure highly favourable oil contracts, leading to significant wealth extraction from these countries. The injustice of this situation is palpable.

    The Masjid-i-Solaiman, located southwest of Iran, was the country's first oil well. A British company drilled it in 1908, marking the first significant petroleum find in the Middle East. This groundbreaking discovery sparked a wave of exploration, extraction, and exploitation that would significantly impact the region's and the world's history. The impact of this discovery on the global economy and geopolitical landscape cannot be overstated, and it should inspire a sense of awe in any reader.

    England made a significant profit from Iran's oil because Iranian ministers were on England's payroll, while others were under Russia's influence. This exploitation of Iran's natural resources, to which Iranians had natural rights, is a stark example of the injustice that often characterizes international relations. It is a situation that should rightly evoke a sense of indignation in any reader.

    When Reza Mir Panj began his career as a military officer, he was elected to the parliament. By October 1925, he succeeded in pressuring the Majlis to depose and formally exile Ahmad Shah. The Majlis, as the Iranian parliament, played a crucial role in this political maneuver. As a result, he instated himself as the next Shah of Iran. Initially, he had planned to declare the country a republic, following the example of Atatürk in Turkey. Still, he abandoned the idea because cleric Hassan Modarres invited him to become the monarch of Iran. From this point on, Reza Mir Panj changed his last name to Pahlavi, a Western Middle Iranian language that became the literary language of the Sasanian Empire. Following the collapse of the Sasanian Empire, Middle Persian continued to function as a prestigious language for some time.

    The Majlis, convening as a constituent assembly, declared him the Shah (King) of Iran on December 12th, 1925, by the Persian Constitution of 1906. Three days later, on December 15th, he took his imperial oath and thus became the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty. Reza Shah's coronation occurred on April 25th, 1926, when his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was proclaimed crown prince.

    In the 1930s, Reza Shah the Great formed a council to renegotiate the oil terms with England, and Abdolhossein Teymourtash was the leading figure. However, the council needed help to negotiate the terms and conditions of the oil contract between Iran and England.

    Reza Shah the Great was resolute in nationalizing Iran's oil. However, his plans were disrupted by the outbreak of World War II, during which England and Russia invaded Iran, seizing control of its oil and stripping it of its sovereignty.

    Despite these challenging circumstances, Reza Pahlavi the Great negotiated with England and Russia to abdicate the Peacock Throne in favour of his son, Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who then assumed the leadership of Iran.

    Mohammad Mossadiq was a Member of Parliament (MP). He proposed a bill to nationalize Iran's oil. On March 15th, 1951, the Majlis voted on the nationalization of oil, which passed unanimously. Following this, Prime Minister Hussein Ala resigned, recognizing the limited control he had during such a politically divided period. The Shah of Iran appointed Mossadiq to the Prime Minister's Office.

    In 1953, Iran's economy collapsed because England imposed an embargo against it, leading to a coup and causing Mossadegh to step down as prime minister. Consequently, the Shah of Iran began to navigate the complexities of foreign and domestic affairs.

    Mossadiq is at the center of the controversy: Why did he want to nullify the 1908 contract, which symbolized England's exploitation of Iran's natural resources, when Iran was so close to the final stage of its execution?

    Iran's oil history is intertwined with England's exploitation of its natural resources, to which Iranians had natural rights. However, the remnants of the Great Game, a term used to describe the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia, led to Iran's initial oil revenue decline.

    Looking at the oil histories of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, it is evident that they have been tainted by Western countries' exploitation of their fossil fuels.

    The main issue was that US politicians realized they were not making foreign policy decisions; instead, they were being made by the Seven Sisters. The politicians wanted a more significant role in shaping foreign policy towards the Middle Eastern countries.

    In 1973, a war broke out between Israel and the Arab nations, causing oil-producing countries to use oil as a weapon against Western nations due to their support for Israel. Arab nations reduced oil production, leading to a significant increase in oil prices. While the Shah of Iran did not participate in the oil embargo against Western countries, he benefited from selling oil to them. The 1973 oil crisis profoundly impacted Western nations and Iran, altering the global economic landscape.

    Western nations, with their biased stance, began to take notice of Iran's shift towards modernization and started spreading false information that the Shah of Iran was solely responsible for the rise in oil prices, ignoring the role of the Seven Sisters and OPEC in the global oil market.

    When Dr. (PhD) Jamshid Amouzegar took over Iran's oil portfolio, he put the price on the auction, which led to a rise in oil prices to $17.00 US per barrel.

    The oil price rose, but it had no adverse effect on the Seven Sisters' profit margin; they still profited considerably from the oil sales because the price remained below the actual market value.

    Advertising for leisure has increased due to cheap oil. Terrorist President Jimmy Carter gave a speech stating that we needed to be more frugal when spending money on luxury lifestyles because of the scarcity of natural resources.

    The Shah of Iran's speech stated that the blue-eyed people needed to stop using cheap oil and feeling indifferent about it.

    Jimmy Carter and the Shah of Iran said the world was at a clashing point. Jimmy Carter safeguarded Western interests, and the Shah of Iran protected the interests of the Iranian and Middle Eastern countries.

    Robert Redford's movie 1975 "Three Days of the Condor" at the end of the film discusses the concept of cheap oil, and anyone who stands against it must eliminated.

    Scholar Anthony Sampson concludes his book positively, suggesting that the conflict over oil may lead to peace.
    Customer image
    Peyman ADL DOUSTI HAGH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Int the Name of Iran
    Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2024
    In the 1970s, the Seven Sisters, a formidable consortium of oil companies, emerged as a compelling narrative. Their far-reaching influence in the global oil market, strategic alliances, and sway over geopolitical decisions left an indelible mark on the worldwide economy, shaping our world today. This narrative, which gained widespread attention, depicted them as the covert architects of the Pahlavi Dynasty's downfall. The enormity of their influence, a force that still reverberates in the global oil market, stands as a testament to their power.

    My passion for reading books and sharing thoughts with others inspired me to write a review on "The Seven Sisters: The Great Oil Companies & The World They Shaped" by Anthony Sampson, published in 1975.

    Why do Western countries label the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a cartel? A cartel typically refers to a partnership between two or more companies aiming to manipulate the market and the cost of goods to their advantage.

    It is quite natural for a curious mind to wonder about the origins of OPEC. The organization was established in September 1960 in Baghdad by the first five members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. OPEC was formed as a direct response to Western oil companies' exploitation of oil-producing countries. The founding members, in a display of remarkable resilience, were determined to assert control over their natural resources and negotiate fair prices for their oil rather than being mere pawns in the global oil game. Their unwavering determination in the face of exploitation is genuinely inspiring and worthy of admiration.

    The formation of OPEC can be traced back to a history of exploitation and domination by Western powers. This exploitative foreign policy, often tinged with racism, has long been a characteristic of Western countries' dealings with developing nations such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Western oil companies, backed by their home countries, often took advantage of the weaker bargaining power of these nations to secure highly favourable oil contracts, leading to significant wealth extraction from these countries. The injustice of this situation is palpable.

    The Masjid-i-Solaiman, located southwest of Iran, was the country's first oil well. A British company drilled it in 1908, marking the first significant petroleum find in the Middle East. This groundbreaking discovery sparked a wave of exploration, extraction, and exploitation that would significantly impact the region's and the world's history. The impact of this discovery on the global economy and geopolitical landscape cannot be overstated, and it should inspire a sense of awe in any reader.

    England made a significant profit from Iran's oil because Iranian ministers were on England's payroll, while others were under Russia's influence. This exploitation of Iran's natural resources, to which Iranians had natural rights, is a stark example of the injustice that often characterizes international relations. It is a situation that should rightly evoke a sense of indignation in any reader.

    When Reza Mir Panj began his career as a military officer, he was elected to the parliament. By October 1925, he succeeded in pressuring the Majlis to depose and formally exile Ahmad Shah. The Majlis, as the Iranian parliament, played a crucial role in this political maneuver. As a result, he instated himself as the next Shah of Iran. Initially, he had planned to declare the country a republic, following the example of Atatürk in Turkey. Still, he abandoned the idea because cleric Hassan Modarres invited him to become the monarch of Iran. From this point on, Reza Mir Panj changed his last name to Pahlavi, a Western Middle Iranian language that became the literary language of the Sasanian Empire. Following the collapse of the Sasanian Empire, Middle Persian continued to function as a prestigious language for some time.

    The Majlis, convening as a constituent assembly, declared him the Shah (King) of Iran on December 12th, 1925, by the Persian Constitution of 1906. Three days later, on December 15th, he took his imperial oath and thus became the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty. Reza Shah's coronation occurred on April 25th, 1926, when his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was proclaimed crown prince.

    In the 1930s, Reza Shah the Great formed a council to renegotiate the oil terms with England, and Abdolhossein Teymourtash was the leading figure. However, the council needed help to negotiate the terms and conditions of the oil contract between Iran and England.

    Reza Shah the Great was resolute in nationalizing Iran's oil. However, his plans were disrupted by the outbreak of World War II, during which England and Russia invaded Iran, seizing control of its oil and stripping it of its sovereignty.

    Despite these challenging circumstances, Reza Pahlavi the Great negotiated with England and Russia to abdicate the Peacock Throne in favour of his son, Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who then assumed the leadership of Iran.

    Mohammad Mossadiq was a Member of Parliament (MP). He proposed a bill to nationalize Iran's oil. On March 15th, 1951, the Majlis voted on the nationalization of oil, which passed unanimously. Following this, Prime Minister Hussein Ala resigned, recognizing the limited control he had during such a politically divided period. The Shah of Iran appointed Mossadiq to the Prime Minister's Office.

    In 1953, Iran's economy collapsed because England imposed an embargo against it, leading to a coup and causing Mossadegh to step down as prime minister. Consequently, the Shah of Iran began to navigate the complexities of foreign and domestic affairs.

    Mossadiq is at the center of the controversy: Why did he want to nullify the 1908 contract, which symbolized England's exploitation of Iran's natural resources, when Iran was so close to the final stage of its execution?

    Iran's oil history is intertwined with England's exploitation of its natural resources, to which Iranians had natural rights. However, the remnants of the Great Game, a term used to describe the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia, led to Iran's initial oil revenue decline.

    Looking at the oil histories of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, it is evident that they have been tainted by Western countries' exploitation of their fossil fuels.

    The main issue was that US politicians realized they were not making foreign policy decisions; instead, they were being made by the Seven Sisters. The politicians wanted a more significant role in shaping foreign policy towards the Middle Eastern countries.

    In 1973, a war broke out between Israel and the Arab nations, causing oil-producing countries to use oil as a weapon against Western nations due to their support for Israel. Arab nations reduced oil production, leading to a significant increase in oil prices. While the Shah of Iran did not participate in the oil embargo against Western countries, he benefited from selling oil to them. The 1973 oil crisis profoundly impacted Western nations and Iran, altering the global economic landscape.

    Western nations, with their biased stance, began to take notice of Iran's shift towards modernization and started spreading false information that the Shah of Iran was solely responsible for the rise in oil prices, ignoring the role of the Seven Sisters and OPEC in the global oil market.

    When Dr. (PhD) Jamshid Amouzegar took over Iran's oil portfolio, he put the price on the auction, which led to a rise in oil prices to $17.00 US per barrel.

    The oil price rose, but it had no adverse effect on the Seven Sisters' profit margin; they still profited considerably from the oil sales because the price remained below the actual market value.

    Advertising for leisure has increased due to cheap oil. Terrorist President Jimmy Carter gave a speech stating that we needed to be more frugal when spending money on luxury lifestyles because of the scarcity of natural resources.

    The Shah of Iran's speech stated that the blue-eyed people needed to stop using cheap oil and feeling indifferent about it.

    Jimmy Carter and the Shah of Iran said the world was at a clashing point. Jimmy Carter safeguarded Western interests, and the Shah of Iran protected the interests of the Iranian and Middle Eastern countries.

    Robert Redford's movie 1975 "Three Days of the Condor" at the end of the film discusses the concept of cheap oil, and anyone who stands against it must eliminated.

    Scholar Anthony Sampson concludes his book positively, suggesting that the conflict over oil may lead to peace.
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  • KC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Livre à avoir!
    Reviewed in France on December 9, 2023
    Merci encore. J’adore ce livre!
  • Johannes de Ruiter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good quality
    Reviewed in Spain on July 10, 2023
    Very good quality almost new
  • Adriano Faggin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2016
    Great book
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2017
    Great classic.