Water

Far more than oil, the control of water wealth throughout history has been pivotal to the rise and fall of empires. Water availability is inseparably intertwined with human health, technological development, and overall quality of life. In Water, Steven Solomon offers the first history of humanity’s relationship with water and ongoing quest to harness its power, control its availability and explore its scientific potential.

As the planet’s renewable water ecosystems are depleted, humanity is increasingly divided into two groups: those who have access to clean water, and those who do not. Water-starved areas are host to genocide, epidemic disease and violence. In addition, dwindling water supplies threaten the stability of emerging nations. Water is a groundbreaking account of man’s most important natural resource, from ancient times to modern-day life.

Steven Solomon is a journalist who has written for the New York Times, Business Week, The Economist, Forbes, and Esquire, and has appeared on NPR’s “Marketplace.” He is the author of The Confidence Game. Solomon lives in Washington, D.C.

“This is a fascinating and provocative work of history that shines new light on what is probably the biggest environmental and political challenge of our time.” — Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.