{"product_id":"boom-or-bust-narrative-life-and-culture-from-the-west-texas-oil-patch-paperback","title":"Boom or Bust: Narrative, Life, and Culture from the West Texas Oil Patch - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSheena B. Stief\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003eKristen L. Figgens\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003eRebecca Day Babcock\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vast number of studies have documented the economic and geological effects of oil production, but the impact of boom-and-bust cycles on individuals and communities has received less attention. \u003cem\u003eBoom or Bust\u003c\/em\u003e remedies this gap by highlighting the personal experiences of those directly affected in an economy dominated by oil and natural gas production.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Permian Basin is one of the largest oil-producing regions in the United States. People who live there have benefited from explosive growth, only to see opportunities vanish with sudden industry downturns. In 2016, the National Endowment for the Humanities funded a grant for the study and collection of energy narratives in this economically volatile region. \u003cem\u003eBoom or Bust \u003c\/em\u003ederives from that community initiative and offers a unique contribution to the developing field of energy humanities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe oil-field industry may seem to be all about numbers, but as \u003cem\u003eBoom or Bust\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates, residents of oil-and-gas country, whether they work in the oil field or not, are at the mercy of an ever-shifting economy. When the price of oil rises, companies move in and newcomers flood the area, expanding the employment force. And as the population booms, so does the infrastructure of cities. When prices drop, though, families must make difficult choices: whether to stay put or follow the oil to another location. With the ensuing declines in population, small businesses close their doors and unemployment levels rise. Despite the inevitable declines and despite the increase in alternative energy resources, many West Texans feel a sense of pride that borders on patriotism. \u003cem\u003eBoom or Bust\u003c\/em\u003e reveals the full complexity of boomtown culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 220\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 16, 2021\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51788771754272,"sku":"9780806168616","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/1cae5b13e37e61f484d51bcf887088ec.webp?v=1780659663","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/boom-or-bust-narrative-life-and-culture-from-the-west-texas-oil-patch-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}