The industrial revolution and the 20th century consumer culture would not have left the mark on the world it did if not for the fuel on the fire of petroleum.

The industrial revolution and the 20th century consumer culture would not have left the mark on the world it did if not for the fuel on the fire of petroleum. Pumping gas is a big deal. It gave us private cars and suburbs and endless roads and parking lots that would not exist if we had to rely on coal.