Water Is...: The Indispensability Of Water In Society And Life

by Seth B. Darling, Seth W. Snyder

People are increasingly aware of the role that water has in shaping society and how it impacts quality of life. This is the first book to provide a holistic perspective on water, capturing the full breadth of the science, technology, policy, history, and future outlook for the most important substance on earth — written at a level accessible to non-experts in each of these areas.Water is shockingly bizarre in its properties and of unsurpassed importance throughout human history, yet so mundane as to often be invisible in our daily lives. In Water Is ..., the two Seths (Darling and Snyder) walk the reader through all of the diverse perspectives on water. The journey begins with an exploration of the mysteries of water's properties on the molecular level, zooming out through its central role at biological and geological scales. Next, the Seths travel through the history of human civilization, highlighting the fundamental part water has played throughout, including the complexities of water policy, privatization, and pricing in today's world. Attention then turns to technology and innovation, emphasizing the daunting challenges dictated by increasing water stress and a changing climate as well as the enticing opportunities to achieve a secure global water future.Water is arguably the single most interdisciplinary topic. Students in business, policy, history, science, and engineering can best position themselves to make an impact by learning about the entire range of diverse, unexpected, and fascinating angles on water.Related Link(s)

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2018

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

some really neat discussion of upcoming water innovations and water politics, more of a primer than in depth. Some chapters were cool but not necessarily my interest like one all about water in literature and music. Also lots of digressions that weren’t necessary but still amusing, like sitting at dinner with two dads who really like water

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ties together A LOT of important aspects around water.

Loved this thought experiment:
How much does water cost? We don’t know because it’s not posted anywhere. And most of us receive a water bill quarterly.

Further, while we do pay water bills in the U.S., those charges are often based on delivery of the water – the cost to get the water to one’s home or business – not on the water itself as a product. In a sense the water is actually free.

Imagine if Amazon announced that going forward all products ordered would be free, and only a small shipping charge would be billed. People we buy all sorts of unnecessary stuff. This happens with water. When there’s not cost associated with it (in the short term), we are more wasteful.

Also loved this:
In photosynthesis, for example, carbon dioxide and water are transformed into glucose and oxygen with help from light energy. Aerobic respiration is the reverse process, which releases energy.

[Adam Hasner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Water is...easy to understand

Water is far more complicated than what meets the eye when you turn on the faucet. The authors do a great job of explaining everything about water - and making it understandable for the non scientist - from ancient history to present day, and more importantly what we need to do to have a sustainable water future.