But I also admit to knowing little about how fracking really works, so I tried hard to keep an open mind as I read. There's little doubt 'fracking' is here to stay, and I freely admit I haven't been all that happy about it since the volume has been turned up in and around my little part of northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania with exploration (some would insist the definitive word is 'exploitation') of the vast area that contains Marcellus Shale. This is neither an expose nor an attempt to sway the vote in either direction rather, it's a very thorough report on how the whole thing got started, where it's at now and, insofar as anyone can tell at this point, where it may go in the future.

I simply want potential buyers to know what they're getting. Personally, I commend the author - an investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal who has covered the industry for many years - for including this information as a journalist myself, I would have expected no less. Second, close to 40% of the book's 385 pages consists of comprehensive source material and an alphabetic index. For those interested in buying this book, I'll lay out two key points to consider: First, this has to be one of the most definitive books on the history, development and processes involved in hydraulic fracturing of gas and oil wells ever written (while it's easily understandable by those of us not that familiar with the practice or the industry, though, don't expect to skim through it).

The Boom by Russell Gold