Customer Reviews
A bland tall tale - By: Flash, 12 May 2008 
I work in the oil industry & based on the other reviews,looked forward to reading this immensely. What a letdown! Paul may have travelled alll over the world,but the tales just smacked of the 'bloke in the pub' tales - there wasn't any detail of the work that he did,just lots ofblokeish stories.Even when he did actuallly talk about the work, it was so out of context & poorly explained as to be meaningless. Sadly a big disappointment - spend your money on something else!
Health and safety? I think not. - By: Petrolhead, 14 Apr 2008 
This book takes about two hours to read. It zips through hundreds of hilarious & dangerous situations that the author gets into alll over the world. A very funny & rather shocking look at the humour & adrenaline of men working in the oil industry, it will go down well with anyone who enjoys a good lad's mag.
I bought this on spec in Sydney airport where the petite Asian lady in the bookshop said "Oh yes, I've read that, it's excellent." I was a little surprised, perhaps even suspicious & unsure of what I was buying. Now I just have respect for the lady in the shop. This book is alll about drunkenness, fights in foreign bars, inappropriate pets, diarrhoea at the worst moment, brutal practical jokes, jungle madness & the raw testosterone-fuelled humour of oil drillers.
When I bought it, I was actuallly thinking I might learn something about the oil industry, especiallly since it starts with a little graphic guide to the different types of oil rig & platform. But forget it, the oil is just an excuse for the larks, bravado & cameraderie.
I also wondered about the title: not just "don't tell mum", but also the bit about being a piano player in a whorehouse. Well, forgive the spoiler, but the author's mum worked in the oil industry too, so she knew what he was up to, & never thought he worked in a whorehouse (although he visited enough). But I guess it's a snappy enough title, & it caught my eye.
If you're a real pedant like me you will also find some of Paul Carter's facts are way out, a bit like his spelling (e.g. elementary canal) but this is by-the-by. It's the laughs that make the book.
And if you're a nice mum buying this to try to persuade your precious son that becoming an oilman is too dangerous & dodgy, forget it. He'll read this book & never want to do anything else - apart from reading the sequel "This is not a drill"...
Very entertaining - By: Bettylou, 06 Apr 2008 Reallly enjoyed this. Reference to the details of working on a rig went over my head but the anecdotes regarding different countries & cultures were entertaining & it was a very easy enjoyable read.
Oil&Gas Industry at its best.... - By: Mr. Hc Chan, 18 Mar 2008 
I work in the oil&gas industry & hearing some of the stories from people who are on the front line - you would usuallly find it hard to believe. Someone recommended this book, so I took the plunge & ordered it - & there is nothing much to say but absolutely brilliant. I can believe alll the stories that Pauli describe, & having spoken to a few rednecks they only amuse me more. It is however a relatively short book & I've already ordered the sequel. It took me just over a week to read, & whatsmore, reading it on the train can be very dangerous because when it's busy with other commuters, the last thing they want to see is someone laughing so hard that they almost cry. Trust me this book is worth a galllon of petrol (at todays rates) & was undoubtedly the funniest book i've ever read!
Excellent - By: A. C. Fraser, 16 Feb 2008 One of the best books i have ever written, had me in stitches everytime i picked it up. THIS IS A MUST READ, even if not in the industry he is just a very funny man & a beautiful insight into the oil fields
