If you don't know Harold Hamm, you should. He and the technology he pioneered might be the biggest game changer of all. We've all heard about Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and others whose innovations have changed our world. But arguably none of it could have happened had not Harold brought billions of barrels of American oil and gas online through mastering horizontal drilling. It's what he likes to call the American Energy Renaissance. In a matter of a few decades, Harold went about proving the conventional wisdom wrong. America was not running out of oil and gas. In fact, just the opposite was true. America was and is an energy superpower, ensuring abundant, affordable, and reliable energy for decades to come. The thirteenth child of an Oklahoma sharecropper, he processed what all great American entrepreneurs have--a sense of destiny and a desire to change the world for the better. He went from owning a single mud truck purchased with borrowed money to a man who advised presidents on America's energy resources and policies. When he declared America could be energy independent over a decade ago, nearly all said it was impossible. Yet in 2019, we were. He championed the end of the export ban on American Oil and Gas which led to a trillion-dollar swing annually to the good for our economy and American families. The company he founded fifty-six years ago, Continental Resources, now operates in four of America's premier basins and is one of the largest producers of oil and gas in the United States. Harold recently took the company private because he loves independence. Harold has given generously to universities across America, including millions to the University of Oklahoma's Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. He and Continental gave $50 million to establish the Hamm Institute of American Energy in partnership with Oklahoma State University with the goal of solving the world's greatest energy challenges.
""'Played out'; that's what 'they' said about the oil fields in North Dakota. 'Opportunity of a lifetime' is what Harold Hamm envisioned. A sharecropper's son. A self-made American original. Harold Hamm has led the country to energy independence. And does he have a story to tell."" --Harry Smith, Award-winning NBC News Correspondent ""Harold Hamm personifies the true heroic entrepreneur. He solved America's dependence on the fuel of other countries, creating our energy independence through innovation that revolutionized energy production in our country. Harold's book is an inspiration for every hopeful innovator."" --Charles Schwab, Founder and CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation ""Harold Hamm's story is one of fortitude, against all odds. From his humble Oklahoma roots to his ability to go to Washington and lift the export ban on American crude, Harold has lived his life with purpose. His commitment to pioneering Horizontal Drilling has impacted all of our lives for the better."" --Barry Switzer, Former Head Coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys ""I'm a huge fan of Harold and I have witnessed up close his leadership, not just in the industry, but in helping to shape better energy policy to increase America's security."" --Steve Scalise, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives ""Nothing changes the global game as much as oil and natural gas. There's no one better than Harold to tell the story and offer real solutions."" --Mike Pompeo, 70th U.S. Secretary of State ""The tale of how Harold Hamm mobilized innovation and marched it into battle to secure American energy independence is inspiring and historic--a story of world-changing impact that deserves to be told as an inspiration for generations to come. However, it's Harold's capacity for quiet encouragement, and his commitment to supporting leaders behind the scenes, that I find so compelling. The things Harold touches become better--and that's certainly true for Oklahoma State University. But I'm personally a better leader because of Harold's influence and vision."" --Dr. Kayse Shrum, President, Oklahoma State University ""With ingenuity, determination, and pure grit, Harold Hamm's risk-taking and entrepreneurship transformed America's energy landscape and made possible U.S. energy security and independence. From pioneering the Horizontal Drilling revolution that unlocked vast shale oil reserves in North Dakota and beyond, to leading the charge to lift America's forty-year-old ban on crude exports, Harold's global impact has been immeasurable and is an inspiring story worthy of sharing.""--Governor Doug Burgum, North Dakota ""For over 50 years, Harold Hamm has been in the middle of America's energy story. His journey is, in a word, 'unconventional.' The thirteenth child of an Oklahoma sharecropper, Hamm permanently altered the energy world by embracing Horizontal Drilling and propelling the U.S. shale revolution. He helped take his country from energy scarcity to energy abundance and turned us into a global energy superpower. ""He has advised presidents, heads of state, policymakers, politicians, and the so-called energy experts whose decisions impact our daily lives. Hamm is unsparing in his critiques of energy policy here and across the globe. Now he wants to share his journey--and what a sensible energy future looks like--with everyone who cares about our shared future."" --Mike Rowe, TV Host, Writer, and Spokesman ""Harold Hamm's contribution to society is arguably one of the most significant of our lifetimes. One would be hard pressed to find someone who has had a greater impact on mankind's quality of life anywhere else in the world. Through tenacity, perseverance, passion, hard work, and raw talent, Harold envisioned and commercialized Horizontal Drilling in previously inaccessible tight oil reservoirs. Experts educated in petroleum engineering and energy executives like me were taught that what he was trying to accomplish was impossible. Fortunately, Harold didn't read those books. ""This technological feat enabled American energy independence and a benefit of a trillion dollars per year to consumers around the world through lower oil prices. Without the shale revolution that Harold started, consumers would have to pay over one trillion dollars more every year just for energy. How did he do it and what did this accomplish? Read his book and find out. It's a delightfully entertaining book (a Horatio Alger-type tale) about the shale revolution's contribution to global security and quality of life of every single person on the planet. His writing style is so genuine and entertaining that you feel as if you're having a fireside chat with Harold. Full of wit, stories, and humility. Enjoy.""--Bill Berry, Former CEO, Continental Resources