A bland tall tale - Rated 
I work in the oil industry and based on the other reviews,looked forward to reading this immensely. What a letdown! Paul may have travelled all 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 actually talk about the work, it was so out of context and poorly explained as to be meaningless. Sadly a big disappointment - spend your money on something else!
Health and safety? I think not. - Rated 
This book takes about two hours to read. It zips through hundreds of hilarious and dangerous situations that the author gets into all over the world. A very funny and rather shocking look at the humour and 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 and unsure of what I was buying. Now I just have respect for the lady in the shop. This book is all about drunkenness, fights in foreign bars, inappropriate pets, diarrhoea at the worst moment, brutal practical jokes, jungle madness and the raw testosterone-fuelled humour of oil drillers.
When I bought it, I was actually thinking I might learn something about the oil industry, especially since it starts with a little graphic guide to the different types of oil rig and platform. But forget it, the oil is just an excuse for the larks, bravado and 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, and never thought he worked in a whorehouse (although he visited enough). But I guess it's a snappy enough title, and 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 and dodgy, forget it. He'll read this book and never want to do anything else - apart from reading the sequel "This is not a drill"...
Very entertaining - Rated
Really enjoyed this. Reference to the details of working on a rig went over my head but the anecdotes regarding different countries and cultures were entertaining and it was a very easy enjoyable read.
Oil&Gas Industry at its best.... - Rated 
I work in the oil&gas industry and hearing some of the stories from people who are on the front line - you would usually find it hard to believe. Someone recommended this book, so I took the plunge and ordered it - and there is nothing much to say but absolutely brilliant. I can believe all the stories that Pauli describe, and having spoken to a few rednecks they only amuse me more. It is however a relatively short book and I've already ordered the sequel. It took me just over a week to read, and 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 gallon of petrol (at todays rates) and was undoubtedly the funniest book i've ever read!
Excellent - Rated
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 and a beautiful insight into the oil fields
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