Some New Publications on Water Issues

While I have followed the literature on water resources in a more than casual way for a very long time, preparing to lead the water course in the autumn has led me to be attentive to new and especially to popular material (things not written for water specialists) on the subject. There is a rapidly spreading public awareness of how important water resource issues are in the 21st century, and numerous publications have followed from that interest. From time to time I plan to comment on titles that come to my attention, books and articles likely to be of interest to those who enroll in the courses.

Yesterday I received the 22-28th May issue of the Economist magazine, and it includes a special report on water issues "For Want of a Drink." Although I have not yet had time to read the section carefully, a scan reading suggests that it is a good overview of the topic written from the rightist, corporate-friendly perspective of that business and news magazine. While the magazine, like all publications, has biases, the Economist's biases usually do not interfere greatly with the careful collection and analysis of information for which the magazine is rightly valued.

Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute wrote the recently published Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession With Bottled Water which has been widely and for the most part very positively reviewed. Last week, the NPR Programme "Fresh Air" featured an interview "War On Tap: America's Obsession With Bottled Water."  Ms. Gross is not my ideal interviewer, but the interview is worth a listen. While I have not yet purchased or read the book, Gleick's past works suggest it is worth buying and reading. (Noted added 3 June: The Diane Ream show from WAMU in Washington, DC and carried by public radio in many other markets also had an interesting interview with Gleick which aired on 27 May. The link is to a recording of the interview).

A couple of weeks ago I bought a copy of Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilization by Steven Solomon. Great minds think alike, I guess, for my rough draft outline of ideas to present in the first water class session parallels Solomon's book closely. Needless to say he covers far more ground in over 500 pages than I can hope to cover in a 90 minute class session, so the book is strongly recommended to anyone fascinated by the links between control of water and more general issues of human civilization.

I am working on a bibliography of materials for use with the three courses, and each of the titles listed above are likely to be on that list under the heading of worthwhile popular works.