Drinking Water

A History

By: James Salzman

Narrated by: Lee Hahn

When you turn on the tap or twist the cap, you might not give a second thought to where your drinking water comes from. But how it gets from the ground to your glass is far more complex than you might think. Is it safe to drink tap water? Should you feel guilty buying bottled water? Is your water vulnerable to terrorist attacks? With springs running dry and reservoirs emptying, where is your water going to come from in the future?

In Drinking Water, Duke professor James Salzman shows how drinking water highlights the most pressing issues of our time - from globalization and social justice to terrorism and climate change - and how humans have been wrestling with these problems for centuries.

Bloody conflicts over control of water sources stretch as far back as the Bible yet are featured in front page headlines even today. Only 50 years ago, selling bottled water sounded as ludicrous as selling bottled air. Salzman weaves all of these issues together to show just how complex a simple glass of water can be.

©2012 James Satzman (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Some revelations about water I didn't know ...

While the story and content was interesting I struggled to finish with the narrator's lack of pizzazz and his monotone voice. I would recommend the book for the content alone and the insights a listener will gain. I liked the way the author kept the story-line moving. Also, most of my questions and concerns were addressed by sticking with the book.

Reads like a mediocre essay

While the narrator did well and the information is good, the writing felt disjointed, and the point felt missed. The whole rant at the beginning about water as a holy symbol simply didn't lead anywhere.

Expected more from a "history" book

Would you try another book from James Salzman and/or Lee Hahn?

No

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I expected more detailed information about the water industry over the ages. More details about the mineral content in mineral water. Reads too much like a manifesto. Focuses too much on the question whether water should be a free public good or a commercial commodity.

Would you be willing to try another one of Lee Hahn’s performances?

Not a professional performance, Just reads it like a regular guy, e.g. "Vodda"

good

I would have liked to see a little bit more time spent on the subject of fluoride when you talking about water as a whole in present day more than just two sentences should be dedicated to the subject of water fluoridation

interesting and informative

book was interesting and informative. Did its job and the narration didn't take away from it or offend me in any way it was delightful