The author, Cliff Ashton, was born just after World War II in Springburn, Glasgow, and this book includes many humorous accounts of his school days, his apprenticeship with British Rail, his university years, and finally, the initial part of his career in the oil industry. Joining Shell in its Exploration and Production arm in 1971, he was posted to The Netherlands, The Sultanate of Oman - where he meets his future wife - and back to the Netherlands. While the author covers some technical aspects in the book, it is written mainly as an entertaining account of a life "in oil" and to inform the general reader about the challenges faced by the oil companies, and, perhaps more importantly, by the individuals who work in the industry.
