Book Reviews
“Some books are to be tasted, others swallowed.” Francis Bacon (d. 1626)
The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes
Bryan Burroughs
New York: Penguin Press, 2009.
Reviewed by Darold Morgan
Richardson, TX
A first and lasting impression of Burrough’s very popular book is its readability—it simply makes for fascinating study. Non-Texans can learn quickly volumes about “the Texas Myth.” A second and lasting impression from this reading is the shock that comes when immense wealth and moral judgments meet head-on. Add the adjective “sudden” to these staggering and almost unexpected fortunes, and lo, these true stories seem hard to believe. The author mesmerizes his readers not only in the amazing story of the discovery of oil, but also in the impact of this huge wealth upon four families.
Lessons abound for Christians who are committed to ethical and biblical values, as it becomes so tragically clear that these concepts are eons away from the minds and hearts of these entrepreneurs. That, of course, is the major reason for reviewing this book, which emphasizes very little of direct Christian insight. One is left to draw his own conclusions about the ethics of such behavior. There are multiple illustrations of the biblical prediction, “Whatsoever a man sows, that also will he reap.”
The author chronicles four families who have impacted for decades Texas life, history, politics, morals, economy, banking, sports and newspapers—families whose massive wealth originally began with the discovery of oil in the Lone Star State.
This book is about these four families—the Cullens, the Hunts, the Murchisons and Sid Richardson (and his relatives, the Bass family). Here are the accounts of the famed Texas wildcatters and their incredible luck—luck that often was tied into risk-taking, questionable timing, and mean-spirited decisions. Here were men who were street-smart, devious, hard-working, and colorful, with one characteristic in common—they garnered immense wealth for themselves and their families. And in the case of the Hunts, multiple families (the bigamy of H.L. Hunt is bluntly incredulous).
Interlaced with the emergence of staggering wealth (and we are talking about billions of dollars) are the intriguing stories of the abuse of wealth and its impact on children and grandchildren whose life-styles, to say the least, are far from typical Texas behavior—mansions, multiple marriages, huge ranches, private aircraft, Neiman-Marcus shopping binges, governesses, private boarding schools, Ivy-league colleges, excesses in sex, and alcohol—all combine to make anyone with a commitment to solid Christian behavior almost gag with revulsion.
Then add to this strange list their peculiar ventures into ultra right-wing political waters and the use of oil money to influence politicians all the way to the American presidency. The author refers adroitly to the members of the Bush family and its relationship to Texas oil money.
An obvious error that missed the proof readers is their reference to W.A. Criswell (as “William”) and Dallas’ First Baptist Church (as Dallas Baptist Church), both major connections to the H.L. Hunt family.
Religion does come to some of these families, but it comes late—and not at all to many of them. Some have made major contributions to educational and medical facilities, but the waste of money and opportunity is classic in the unfolding tragedies these four families (Bunker Hunt’s attempt to corner the world’s silver market and the forced sale of the Dallas Cowboys by the Murchison family are two major examples).
The last chapters in the sagas of these unusual Texas families is yet to be written. Hopefully, some major and positive lessons have been learned from the facts and foibles of “The Big Rich.” The book does end with several of the progeny moving positively into positions of community leadership and generosity. May their tribe increase!
