pt. 1: Coal. A brief history of coal -- Geochemistry and geology -- Meeting the demand for coal -- The combustion reaction -- Electricity production and its consequences -- Alternative uses for coal -- Price versus cost and national coal policies -- pt. 2: Oil. A brief history of oil -- The geology and chemistry of oil -- Meeting the demand for oil -- Creating and consuming petroleum products -- Patterns of consumption -- Environmental costs of the oil economy -- Oil markets and government policies -- Chronology -- List of acronyms -- Glossary.