What is the theme in The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power by Daniel Yergin?

Hydrocarbon society is the main theme of the book. Hydrocarbons go far beyond the limited number of oil-based fuels sought by the pioneers of oil exploration in the 1850s. They looked to light their houses and businesses cheaply and safely; at the time, they used coal to heat and power their factories. Coal was modern society's most essential commodity. As the gasoline-fueled automobile caught on, the wider application of oil became apparent, and science increasingly improved the refining processes and applications.