He knew what negative 70 degrees does to casing and drill pipe. He knew what 500 degrees downhole does to affect drilling. He set records drilling gas wells and never had a blowout. Hays had a worldwide reputation that preceded him, and he probably drilled as many wells as any other man during his time. But alongside learning the ins and outs needed for such a successful five-decade career in oil, Hays came to know the eclectic cast of roughnecks that can make up a good crew. He heard about the colorful lives they led and the myriad paths oilmen take. , compiled from notes and recordings by his wife Catherine and edited by Russ McAfee, tells the story of Hays's life in oil: the ups and downs, the wisdom and the difficulty of the center of our energy needs. Readers will come away with invaluable technical knowledge, colorful stories, and a clear-eyed sense of the real oilfield seen by the men who plumb the earth for energy.