Water: A Biography Told by Humanity

Water is humanity’s most important asset. Ownership and management of this wealth over thousands of years have shaped civilizations. From the first settled farmers to the great engineering structures of the modern era—reshaping riverbeds and allowing this valuable resource to be stored—water has closely followed the history of humankind. It stood behind the rise and fall of empires, behind political conflicts continuing to this day, and it has been the cause of major environmental crises. It’s impossible to understand the modern world without knowing how we relate to water. In this fascinating biography, scientist Giulio Boccaletti offers an unexpectedly interesting perspective that will help us better understand humanity’s relationship with water—and our complete dependence on one of the simplest substances on the planet.