The Three Ages of Water

“Water made us, Peter Gleick writes in his magisterial history and future of hydrology and the human planet. But what will we do to it, and what will we make of it now? What we think of as the Anthropocene, and worry over as the coming of global warming, is in many mind-bending and demanding ways a crisis of water—though a soluble one. And there is no better guide to that crisis, or its solutions, than Gleick.”

“Gleick lays out water’s central role in human history and in our future. The Three Ages of Water is authoritative, far-ranging, and fascinating.”

“The honest name for our lovely blue planet probably should have been Water, since it covers most of the globe. And as Gleick makes clear in this sweeping, unprecedented, and positively necessary new book, our chances for a workable future depend on how seriously we take the oceans, lakes, rivers, and aquifers that surround us—indeed, that fill our own cells. This book will change your outlook in deep and motivating ways.”

“Gleick has delivered a book that provides a rich story of humanity’s interaction with water through a lens that helps us understand where we are today as we strive to balance all the demands we place on the planet’s water resources. His context of the past points to a future path that can ensure we strike this balance so everyone has access to water as a basic human right. The additional payoff is this book is accessible to all because of the way Gleick unfolds the story. It is a hopeful call to action grounded in fact, research, and analysis.”

“At a time of fraught political divisions and intensifying environmental disruptions, Gleick presents this timely and magisterial report on humankind’s use and misuse of water. He traces the incredible and varied ways water has been used from the earliest civilizations right up to our modern age. Unbelievable technical feats, he says, are now being overwhelmed by a changing climate and vast destruction of life-support systems. Humans now face, Gleick warns, a stark choice: grim, dystopian future or find a sustainable way to live with and manage water.”

“What a wonderful book! To understand water is to understand ourselves, our origins, and what lies ahead for us. Gleick tells the story of water in an accessible way that not only warns us about the dangers we are approaching, but also provides us with a vision for a hopeful future.”

“Gleick buoyantly conveys just how special water is... with crucial recommendations for managing the world’s water."

“A magisterial read…crisp, well-crafted, and thoroughly engaging” and “If there’s anything about water that’s not covered in Gleick’s book, it’s probably not worth knowing.”

“Thorough, meticulous, and eminently readable.”

“[A] comprehensive overview of humanity's relationship with water.”

“Gleick’s book is an engaging, detailed and yet wide-ranging, authoritative exploration of the relationship between humans and water and how a positive sustainable world is within our reach.”

“[A] timely read…this is more than just a clear-eyed history of our most precious resource; it’s also a guide for how to better manage it in the future.”

“[A] magisterial book.”

“A book likely to be on the nightstand of someone you admire.”

“A fascinating and timely examination…In the end, The Three Ages of Water provides a hopeful and practical vision for a more sustainable water future, one that supports human health, ecosystems, and economic development.”

“An optimistic vision and manifesto for freshwater… [A] timely addition to a large number of works of advocacy, explanation and imagination on the manifold interactions and accelerating crises in humanity’s relation to water.” 

 “With eloquence and practicality…essential book.” 

“He weaves together themes from archaeology, politics and environmental science to show both the need for and the attainable possibility of a sustainable, third age of water in the future.”

"Very informative and engaging.” 

“A journey of humanity’s triumphs and tribulations around water use, abuse, and the path to a sustainable future… This inspiring book provides a blueprint for a water-secure future… its positive outlook and vision resonated… I implore you to read the book and reflect on its wisdom.”