Paul Carter

Paul Carter is an Australian author and oil rig worker known for his memoir-style books about life in the international oil and gas industry. His debut book "Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs: She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse" (2005) became an international bestseller and established his reputation for combining humor with insights into the challenging world of offshore oil work. Carter's subsequent books, including "This Is Not A Drill" and "Is That Thing Diesel?", continued to document his experiences across global oil fields while exploring themes of adventure, danger, and camaraderie. His writing style blends raw authenticity with comedic observations about the unique characters and situations encountered in remote industrial environments. Beyond his work as an author, Carter has spent over two decades in the oil industry, working on rigs across multiple continents including the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. This extensive field experience forms the foundation of his written work and gives his accounts their distinctive firsthand perspective.

Oil industry workers and general readers connect with Carter's authentic portrayal of rig life and his humorous storytelling style. His firsthand accounts resonate with those in the field while making the industry accessible to outsiders. What readers liked: - Raw, honest depiction of oil rig culture and characters - Balance of humor with serious insights about dangerous work - Fast-paced, engaging writing that reads like sharing stories at a bar - Educational value for those curious about the oil industry What readers disliked: - Crude language and mature content in some passages - Occasional disorganized narrative structure - Later books seen as repetitive of earlier material - Some readers found the humor forced at times Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "Don't Tell Mum": 4.0/5 (5,800+ ratings) - "This Is Not A Drill": 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: - "Don't Tell Mum": 4.4/5 (350+ reviews) - Most reviewers highlighted the book's entertainment value and authentic voice, with one calling it "the perfect blend of adventure and humor from the oil patch."

Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs... She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse (2005) Memoir describing Carter's experiences as an oil rig worker across multiple countries, detailing both dangerous situations and humorous encounters.

This Is Not a Drill (2007) Chronicles Carter's continued work in the oil industry, focusing on incidents in Russia, the Middle East, and Asia.

Is That Thing Diesel? (2011) Account of Carter's transition from oil rigs to running his own business and dealing with remote area logistics in the Australian outback.

This Is Not a Drill: Just Another Glorious Day in the Oilfield (2014) Collection of stories from Carter's two decades in the oil industry, including previously unpublished material and new adventures.

Ride Like Hell and You'll Get There (2013) Narrative following Carter's motorcycle journeys through Southeast Asia and his experiences with local cultures and fellow travelers.

Tales of a Well Fed Head (2016) Personal account of Carter's global culinary experiences and food-related adventures during his international work travels.

Bill Carter writes memoir-style accounts from his career as a television executive and entertainment industry insider. His behind-the-scenes stories about NBC and talent negotiations share similarities with Paul Carter's workplace narratives.

Robert Mason chronicles his experiences as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam in "Chickenhawk" and subsequent memoirs. His writing combines technical expertise with personal storytelling in the same vein as Carter's oilfield accounts.

Andy Weir focuses on technical professionals solving problems in extreme environments, particularly in "The Martian." His characters face life-or-death engineering challenges that mirror the high-stakes situations in Carter's work.

Tony Hawks writes first-person accounts of his unconventional adventures and workplace experiences. His travel memoirs contain the same mix of humor and mishaps that characterize Carter's stories.

Peter Heller draws from his background as an expedition kayaker and outdoor adventurer to write both fiction and non-fiction. His work shares Carter's emphasis on specialists operating in dangerous conditions and remote locations.