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Superman's Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It
From environmental activist, consumer advocate, renowned crusader, champion fighter--maverick, whose courageous case against Pacific Gas and Electric was dramatized in the Oscar-winning film--a book to inspire change that looks at our present situation with water and reveals the imminent threats to our most precious, essential element, and shows us how we can each take action to make changes in our cities, our towns, our villages, before it is too late.
In Erin Brockovich's long-awaited book--her first to reckon with conditions on our planet--she makes clear why we are in the trouble we're in, and how, in large and practical ways, we each can take actions to bring about change.
She shows us what's at stake, and writes of the fraudulent science that disguises these issues, cancer clusters not being reported. She writes of the saga of PG&E that continues to this day, and of the communities and people she has worked with who have helped to make an impact. She writes of the water operator in Poughkeepsie, New York, who responded to his customers' concerns and changed his system to create some of the safest water in the country; of the moms in Hannibal, Missouri, who became the first citizens in the nation to file an ordinance prohibiting the use of ammonia in their public drinking water; and about how we can protect our right to clean water by fighting for better enforcement of the laws, for new legislation and better regulations. She cannot fight all battles for all people and gives us the tools to take actions ourselves, and have our voices be heard and know that steps are being taken to make sure our water is safe to drink and use.
In Erin Brockovich's long-awaited book--her first to reckon with conditions on our planet--she makes clear why we are in the trouble we're in, and how, in large and practical ways, we each can take actions to bring about change.
She shows us what's at stake, and writes of the fraudulent science that disguises these issues, cancer clusters not being reported. She writes of the saga of PG&E that continues to this day, and of the communities and people she has worked with who have helped to make an impact. She writes of the water operator in Poughkeepsie, New York, who responded to his customers' concerns and changed his system to create some of the safest water in the country; of the moms in Hannibal, Missouri, who became the first citizens in the nation to file an ordinance prohibiting the use of ammonia in their public drinking water; and about how we can protect our right to clean water by fighting for better enforcement of the laws, for new legislation and better regulations. She cannot fight all battles for all people and gives us the tools to take actions ourselves, and have our voices be heard and know that steps are being taken to make sure our water is safe to drink and use.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2020
125 people are currently reading
1732 people want to read
About the author
Erin Brockovich
15 books73 followersErin Brockovich is an American legal clerk, consumer advocate, and environmental activist, who, despite her lack of education in the law, was instrumental in building a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California in 1993. Her successful lawsuit was the subject of a 2000 film, "Erin Brockovich," which stars Julia Roberts. Since then, Brockovich has become a media personality, hosting the TV series "Challenge America with Erin Brockovich" and "Final Justice on Zone Reality." She is the president of Brockovich Research & Consulting. She also works as a consultant for Girardi & Keese and the New York law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, which has a focus on personal injury claims for asbestos exposure, and for Shine Lawyers in Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 5, 2020
Two thirds of Americans drink water contaminated by chromium-6, a highly toxic chemical that was the subject of Erin Brockovich, the film starring Julia Roberts that caused outrage 20 years ago. But Erin Brockovich herself claims in her new book Superman’s Not Coming that the movie ended far better than the reality. The water in Hinkley CA is still poison, and thousands of towns and cities across the country are similarly laced with the same chemical, and many others.
Brockovich cites a child who was shocked to see someone in a film drinking tapwater from the kitchen sink. She had grown up knowing with total certainty that kitchen sink water should never be consumed, and had never in her life seen anyone do it before. This sad state of affairs is the scandalous truth for 220 million Americans. Birth defects, brain defects, autoimmune diseases and particularly numerous kinds of unusual cancers result from drinking tapwater in the USA. Sometimes just showering is enough to cause skin rashes and other conditions.
Brockovich says if COVID19 could survive in water, the whole country would be using only bottled water. Yet, despite 2/3 of drinking water being contaminated with chromium-6, a long-known poison and carcinogen, Americans act as if nothing were wrong. There is no scandal, no jail sentences, no takeovers of water authorities.
She points out that there are still six million lead service lines providing water to households. And this same chromium-6, among others, causes the lead to leach into the water, adding lead poisoning to the list of illnesses at no extra cost. (Chromium-6 is a rust inhibitor, meant to save pipes, not people.) To save money, many jurisdictions pour ammonia into the water supply to help purify it, causing even more illness. Endless creativity, and no accountability keep American citizens guessing why their families are ravaged by cancers when they’ve had no prior history of it. Even the UN has had to admit 75% of cancers are environmental, not genetic. We do it to ourselves. Or rather, our companies do it to us.
The victims often come to realize their situation purely by accident. Brockovich tells of high school students who discovered several hundred of them secretly all had cancer. Teenagers.With cancer. What they had in common was simply drinking the water, which proved carcinogenic.
Brockovich has made her life in this miasma. She gets thousands of emails asking for help. She plots the complaints on a website and maps (communityhealthbook.com). She is the road warrior supreme, constantly visiting sites, challenging authorities and helping organize the victims to help themselves. And testing water.
She has watched countless local water authorities denigrate taxpayers who dare challenge them, by asking if they have degrees in chemical engineering. When they take positions like that, Brockovich knows they are actively hiding the truth. Why aren’t they co-operative and collaborative? They are supposed to be the good guys, so why do they deflect, obfuscate and deny? She says advocates should turn the tables, and demand to see peer-reviewed studies that show the water is actually safe.
Killer water is an American tradition. The biggest single polluter in the world is the US military. The toxic mess it poisons its own soldiers with is scandal enough, but the mess it leaves behind when it moves out poisons unwary citizens for decades more. And it never gives it a second thought. The military gets its own chapter in the book, with stories of retired soldiers coming back to fight it for future generations.
How is it that the water authorities of the United States find it their job to hide the toxicity of the water it is their job to provide? Same goes for mayors, and in cases like Flint, Michigan, even the governor. They all take the position the yellow, brown or green water is perfectly safe, and drink a glass to “prove” it. It is always an absurd scene, flying in the face of a clearly provable truth. They all immediately become defensive, and fight off the intrusion of lab reports, unprecedented sickness, and worried taxpayers. It is them against their customers. How bizarre.
As I read, the overriding question identified itself: Why are firms even allowed to pollute the groundwater? How is it they get to dump endless tons of chemicals in the water and on the land without permission, inspection, or even a second thought? The local municipality itself should prevent this, but no. Even after Love Canal and Hinkley, there is nothing to stop the madness, which has only become demonstrably worse. Companies will get away with anything they can. Morality plays no role in American society. Only profit counts.
A lot of it has to do with the dismantling of the Environmental Protection Agency. Constant whittling down of the staff has left it unable to verify pretty much anything any more. The Trump rollback of water quality laws and rules means the EPA won’t be around to help. Meanwhile, Americans die. As in so many other domains, there are sufficient laws on the books to deal with or even prevent this from happening. But government refuses to fund the agencies needed to keep the country honest. Or safe.Or legal.
One scientist Brockovich cites has shown that spending on cleaning up a water system brings a thousand times the benefit in dollars saved or generated through medical, productivity and growth improvements. Yet government fights its own citizens at every turn, wasting taxpayer money, killing more people and temporarily delaying the inevitable discovery and correction. It is Swiftian in its stupidity.
Back in Hinkley, the utility PG&E now says it has passed the halfway point in its cleanup, 20 years later. But the town is a shell. It has lost its school and its post office. The remaining residents drive 30 miles to purchase water. And PG&E is still out there trying to buy up every home to lessen the complaints. It is far from a happy Hollywood ending.
Brockovich wants readers to know a couple of things. First, everyone and anyone can do what she does, no training or degrees necessary. She says she herself “was a broke single mom with dyslexia, trying to make ends meet” when she stumbled onto the Hinkley disaster. And second, everyone must join in, because power is arrayed against them, and only popular efforts can succeed where mere laws are not enforced. It could be a Freedom of Information request for documents, suing, getting signatures for a ballot initiative, running for town council or escalating the issue to embarrassing levels. Anything and everything is on the table, and has worked somewhere already. But mostly, no one is going to do it for them: certainly not their elected representatives. And Erin Brockovich is just one person, where 220 million are needed for the job. Throughout the book, she continuously calls for readers to pick up the baton and run with it.
She says if a terrorist cell put poison in the water, the whole country would be up in arms, and it would be dealt with, quickly and harshly. But when PG&E, 3M, Tyson or an oil company does it, Americans let it go. Domestic terrorism is okay, it seems, because Americans let it be.
The book delves into numerous chemical compounds and what they do to people who drink water. Studies have shown some to be so toxic, the amounts allowed in the water are listed in parts per trillion. But water has been shown to contain ten thousand times as much as allowed. How much arsenic is it safe to drink? Daily?For decades?
She also examines fracking, and the famous secret 600 toxic chemicals no one is allowed to name by law, though they turn up in drinking water throughout the Midwest. In Pennsylvania, doctors are not allowed to claim illness has been caused by fracking – by law. But whole towns suddenly go sickly including pets, cattle and crops, when the frackers set up shop. (Where are all the conspiracy folks for this real, genuine conspiracy to poison everyone? Never mind the B-52 contrails. This is nationwide and fatal right now, and provably so.)
There should be some unique advantages to living in the richest country in the world, one where basic things like water are a given. Instead, Erin Brockovich has had to write a horrifying book detailing how much of a fight is necessary to avoid death by water.
David Wineberg
Brockovich cites a child who was shocked to see someone in a film drinking tapwater from the kitchen sink. She had grown up knowing with total certainty that kitchen sink water should never be consumed, and had never in her life seen anyone do it before. This sad state of affairs is the scandalous truth for 220 million Americans. Birth defects, brain defects, autoimmune diseases and particularly numerous kinds of unusual cancers result from drinking tapwater in the USA. Sometimes just showering is enough to cause skin rashes and other conditions.
Brockovich says if COVID19 could survive in water, the whole country would be using only bottled water. Yet, despite 2/3 of drinking water being contaminated with chromium-6, a long-known poison and carcinogen, Americans act as if nothing were wrong. There is no scandal, no jail sentences, no takeovers of water authorities.
She points out that there are still six million lead service lines providing water to households. And this same chromium-6, among others, causes the lead to leach into the water, adding lead poisoning to the list of illnesses at no extra cost. (Chromium-6 is a rust inhibitor, meant to save pipes, not people.) To save money, many jurisdictions pour ammonia into the water supply to help purify it, causing even more illness. Endless creativity, and no accountability keep American citizens guessing why their families are ravaged by cancers when they’ve had no prior history of it. Even the UN has had to admit 75% of cancers are environmental, not genetic. We do it to ourselves. Or rather, our companies do it to us.
The victims often come to realize their situation purely by accident. Brockovich tells of high school students who discovered several hundred of them secretly all had cancer. Teenagers.With cancer. What they had in common was simply drinking the water, which proved carcinogenic.
Brockovich has made her life in this miasma. She gets thousands of emails asking for help. She plots the complaints on a website and maps (communityhealthbook.com). She is the road warrior supreme, constantly visiting sites, challenging authorities and helping organize the victims to help themselves. And testing water.
She has watched countless local water authorities denigrate taxpayers who dare challenge them, by asking if they have degrees in chemical engineering. When they take positions like that, Brockovich knows they are actively hiding the truth. Why aren’t they co-operative and collaborative? They are supposed to be the good guys, so why do they deflect, obfuscate and deny? She says advocates should turn the tables, and demand to see peer-reviewed studies that show the water is actually safe.
Killer water is an American tradition. The biggest single polluter in the world is the US military. The toxic mess it poisons its own soldiers with is scandal enough, but the mess it leaves behind when it moves out poisons unwary citizens for decades more. And it never gives it a second thought. The military gets its own chapter in the book, with stories of retired soldiers coming back to fight it for future generations.
How is it that the water authorities of the United States find it their job to hide the toxicity of the water it is their job to provide? Same goes for mayors, and in cases like Flint, Michigan, even the governor. They all take the position the yellow, brown or green water is perfectly safe, and drink a glass to “prove” it. It is always an absurd scene, flying in the face of a clearly provable truth. They all immediately become defensive, and fight off the intrusion of lab reports, unprecedented sickness, and worried taxpayers. It is them against their customers. How bizarre.
As I read, the overriding question identified itself: Why are firms even allowed to pollute the groundwater? How is it they get to dump endless tons of chemicals in the water and on the land without permission, inspection, or even a second thought? The local municipality itself should prevent this, but no. Even after Love Canal and Hinkley, there is nothing to stop the madness, which has only become demonstrably worse. Companies will get away with anything they can. Morality plays no role in American society. Only profit counts.
A lot of it has to do with the dismantling of the Environmental Protection Agency. Constant whittling down of the staff has left it unable to verify pretty much anything any more. The Trump rollback of water quality laws and rules means the EPA won’t be around to help. Meanwhile, Americans die. As in so many other domains, there are sufficient laws on the books to deal with or even prevent this from happening. But government refuses to fund the agencies needed to keep the country honest. Or safe.Or legal.
One scientist Brockovich cites has shown that spending on cleaning up a water system brings a thousand times the benefit in dollars saved or generated through medical, productivity and growth improvements. Yet government fights its own citizens at every turn, wasting taxpayer money, killing more people and temporarily delaying the inevitable discovery and correction. It is Swiftian in its stupidity.
Back in Hinkley, the utility PG&E now says it has passed the halfway point in its cleanup, 20 years later. But the town is a shell. It has lost its school and its post office. The remaining residents drive 30 miles to purchase water. And PG&E is still out there trying to buy up every home to lessen the complaints. It is far from a happy Hollywood ending.
Brockovich wants readers to know a couple of things. First, everyone and anyone can do what she does, no training or degrees necessary. She says she herself “was a broke single mom with dyslexia, trying to make ends meet” when she stumbled onto the Hinkley disaster. And second, everyone must join in, because power is arrayed against them, and only popular efforts can succeed where mere laws are not enforced. It could be a Freedom of Information request for documents, suing, getting signatures for a ballot initiative, running for town council or escalating the issue to embarrassing levels. Anything and everything is on the table, and has worked somewhere already. But mostly, no one is going to do it for them: certainly not their elected representatives. And Erin Brockovich is just one person, where 220 million are needed for the job. Throughout the book, she continuously calls for readers to pick up the baton and run with it.
She says if a terrorist cell put poison in the water, the whole country would be up in arms, and it would be dealt with, quickly and harshly. But when PG&E, 3M, Tyson or an oil company does it, Americans let it go. Domestic terrorism is okay, it seems, because Americans let it be.
The book delves into numerous chemical compounds and what they do to people who drink water. Studies have shown some to be so toxic, the amounts allowed in the water are listed in parts per trillion. But water has been shown to contain ten thousand times as much as allowed. How much arsenic is it safe to drink? Daily?For decades?
She also examines fracking, and the famous secret 600 toxic chemicals no one is allowed to name by law, though they turn up in drinking water throughout the Midwest. In Pennsylvania, doctors are not allowed to claim illness has been caused by fracking – by law. But whole towns suddenly go sickly including pets, cattle and crops, when the frackers set up shop. (Where are all the conspiracy folks for this real, genuine conspiracy to poison everyone? Never mind the B-52 contrails. This is nationwide and fatal right now, and provably so.)
There should be some unique advantages to living in the richest country in the world, one where basic things like water are a given. Instead, Erin Brockovich has had to write a horrifying book detailing how much of a fight is necessary to avoid death by water.
David Wineberg
Want to read
November 28, 2020"Just the facts ma'am." ;<)
Why this book, and many others of the ilk, are important reads.
What do Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, E. O. Wilson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and many others have in common?
They all wrote factual, logical, (mostly) easy to read books on aspects of environmental degradation relative to human sustainability that were/are widely applauded. And with each humanity continues business as usual, painting ourselves ever more perilously in a corner.
Why? We are, like all creatures, subjective beings, and the consequences of our proclivities are inconvenient problems that too many deal with by ignoring. We learn by experiencing, by taking risks, which is essential to getting through life, but don't for the most part have enough foresight to recognize the degree of fatality in.
We are also in good part easily swayed, not necessarily recognizing the intent of those engaged in manipulation.
As our environmental problems escalate, we are seeing more literature addressing such in varying ways, and more readers developing an interest. Not so much though it seems, that we are seeing a meaningful dent in subjective literature.
Why this book, and many others of the ilk, are important reads.
What do Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, E. O. Wilson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and many others have in common?
They all wrote factual, logical, (mostly) easy to read books on aspects of environmental degradation relative to human sustainability that were/are widely applauded. And with each humanity continues business as usual, painting ourselves ever more perilously in a corner.
Why? We are, like all creatures, subjective beings, and the consequences of our proclivities are inconvenient problems that too many deal with by ignoring. We learn by experiencing, by taking risks, which is essential to getting through life, but don't for the most part have enough foresight to recognize the degree of fatality in.
We are also in good part easily swayed, not necessarily recognizing the intent of those engaged in manipulation.
As our environmental problems escalate, we are seeing more literature addressing such in varying ways, and more readers developing an interest. Not so much though it seems, that we are seeing a meaningful dent in subjective literature.
August 3, 2020
Erin Brockovich warns us that we the people are the only ones who can save us. Grass roots efforts by moms have stood up to power to save their children. Lois Gibbs, the Love Canal mom, and Leeann Walters of Flint, Michigan are two of the most recognized Water Warriors. For change to happen, more ordinary people need to become involved.
Superman's Not Coming describes the problem of providing clean water under a dysfunctional EPA and climate change. Brockovich also offers resources to empower Water Warrior wannabes.
I have spent a good deal of my life a few hours drive (or less) from one of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater source in the world. I grew up boating on the Niagara River, and later vacationed at Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lake Huron.
I also remember in the 1970s seeing yellow foam at the base of Niagara Falls, reading about how algae blooms poisoned Toledo's water, Love Canal and the Flint Water Crisis. I have lived near lakes made toxic by industrial waste.
Across the country, Americans--today--discover their water isn't safe to drink. They endure limits on water use because it is in short supply.
It's only going to get worse as temperatures rise.
Brockovich presents her information and argument with passion. The book is upsetting but it is also empowering. If we have the will, we can create change. It starts with people like us.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Superman's Not Coming describes the problem of providing clean water under a dysfunctional EPA and climate change. Brockovich also offers resources to empower Water Warrior wannabes.
I have spent a good deal of my life a few hours drive (or less) from one of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater source in the world. I grew up boating on the Niagara River, and later vacationed at Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lake Huron.
I also remember in the 1970s seeing yellow foam at the base of Niagara Falls, reading about how algae blooms poisoned Toledo's water, Love Canal and the Flint Water Crisis. I have lived near lakes made toxic by industrial waste.
Across the country, Americans--today--discover their water isn't safe to drink. They endure limits on water use because it is in short supply.
It's only going to get worse as temperatures rise.
Brockovich presents her information and argument with passion. The book is upsetting but it is also empowering. If we have the will, we can create change. It starts with people like us.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
June 20, 2020
Superman's Not Coming is an eye-opening read about poor water quality in the US. Erin Brokovich details chemicals that can make drinking water harmful, gives us examples of how to test or find out test results on our own, shows us how and why we should ask questions about the safety of our water, and gives us the tools to make change happen.
I was really interested in the science of the book. There are so many chemicals that are known to cause harm and yet they are still present without informing people and their communities. Erin wrote this book in a way that allows readers to understand the problem, what causes it, and how to take steps to fix it.
The fact that so many who are in charge and know about these issues do nothing to fix the problem is shocking to say the least. I felt educated and empowered after reading this book. Erin reminds us that we should be concerned about things like water because if not us then who. She gives us the tools and resources to get things done. I really liked that she detailed her own experiences to show how speaking up or writing a petition can be the perfect start if we really want to make a difference.
I give Superman's Not Coming 4 stars. It is an educational and empowering read that so many can benefit from. If anything, Erin motivates readers to take action and question things like water quality because if we don't we can't expect someone else to care. I learned so much about chemicals that can be harmful, how to get in contact with the necessary people, and how to have enough confidence to make a difference.
I was really interested in the science of the book. There are so many chemicals that are known to cause harm and yet they are still present without informing people and their communities. Erin wrote this book in a way that allows readers to understand the problem, what causes it, and how to take steps to fix it.
The fact that so many who are in charge and know about these issues do nothing to fix the problem is shocking to say the least. I felt educated and empowered after reading this book. Erin reminds us that we should be concerned about things like water because if not us then who. She gives us the tools and resources to get things done. I really liked that she detailed her own experiences to show how speaking up or writing a petition can be the perfect start if we really want to make a difference.
I give Superman's Not Coming 4 stars. It is an educational and empowering read that so many can benefit from. If anything, Erin motivates readers to take action and question things like water quality because if we don't we can't expect someone else to care. I learned so much about chemicals that can be harmful, how to get in contact with the necessary people, and how to have enough confidence to make a difference.
April 23, 2025
I’m an Australian contam land professional and this book made me worry about the US. So much of this book was unbelievable. One standout is that asbestos isn’t banned in the US …!? Another is that the human health limit on hexavalent chromium in drinking water was abolished because it was too expensive to achieve? How can other countries have one but not the US? Besides... money shouldn’t factor into it. The safe limit is based on toxicity... not industry economic feasibility.
Wow. Just wow.
Wow. Just wow.
wish-list
September 4, 2020See Erin Brockovich explain why global warming hits minorities harder: Environmental injustice and racial discrimination often go hand-in-hand, a reality that environmental activist and author Erin Brockovich is all too aware of. Known from Julia Roberts portraying her in the film documenting her battle over toxic water, Brockovich joins MSNBC’s Ari Melber to discuss how systemic racism shapes our environment.
July 28, 2020
As soon as I saw THE Erin Brokovich has a book, I immediately requested it. Because of the movie where Julia Robert portrayed her, everyone knows she fought for the everyday person's right to drink clean water and that she met battled against corporate greed. I was a fan of Erin Brokovich ever since and have been trying to learn more about her work ever since the movie. Definitely a girl crush on her!
This book highlights that everyone in the world and in the US has the right to clean drinking water, and low-income areas like Flint and .Hinkley have suffered because of corporate greed need for survival. They don't want to look like the bad guy. It is not just a problem in the US but a global catastrophe of epic proportion if the world's water supply is contaminated from pollution and global warming. She highlights 6 toxins that can be found in most water supplies and what happens to humans physically as well as the environmental impact.
The point: You have to do your part to speak out against this. She leaves links and addresses to contact water boards both state and federal. You have to want to make the change because Superman is not going to do it.
I was fascinated by most of this even if I didn't understand some parts. I had to read a book by the real Erin Brockovich. Better than I thought it was going to be and a must read for those interested in climatology.
I hope she continues her advocacy and the next generation gets involved because of her.
Thanks to Netgalley, Erin Brockovich and Knopf Double Publishing Group Panatheon division for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 8/25/20
This book highlights that everyone in the world and in the US has the right to clean drinking water, and low-income areas like Flint and .Hinkley have suffered because of corporate greed need for survival. They don't want to look like the bad guy. It is not just a problem in the US but a global catastrophe of epic proportion if the world's water supply is contaminated from pollution and global warming. She highlights 6 toxins that can be found in most water supplies and what happens to humans physically as well as the environmental impact.
The point: You have to do your part to speak out against this. She leaves links and addresses to contact water boards both state and federal. You have to want to make the change because Superman is not going to do it.
I was fascinated by most of this even if I didn't understand some parts. I had to read a book by the real Erin Brockovich. Better than I thought it was going to be and a must read for those interested in climatology.
I hope she continues her advocacy and the next generation gets involved because of her.
Thanks to Netgalley, Erin Brockovich and Knopf Double Publishing Group Panatheon division for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 8/25/20
October 7, 2020
Yes, this book was written by THAT Erin Brokovich. Since the eponymous movie in the 90s, Brokovich has worked tirelessly as an advocate for citizens, clean water, and necessary environmental regulations. 'Superman's Not Coming' goes over common water issues currently faced by millions of Americans. She includes understandable science about the chemicals, pollution, infrastructure, and policies that contribute to water toxicity. Most importantly, she details resources and clear action steps that citizens can take to improve their drinking water. Brokovich writes in such a passionate and empowering manner, so this was a really motivating read.
Thank you Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Pantheon Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
Thank you Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Pantheon Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
October 12, 2020
Critically important information and an engaging read, despite all the agencies and entities and acronyms that are referenced. So many ways our water is being polluted with toxins, although essentially all can be directly traced to simple corporate greed. Brokovich's belief in the power of people coming together is heartening.
April 15, 2022
Very informative book about the serverity of the water crisis, lots of practical tips on how to take action
April 20, 2022
Erin provides a very detailed account of the American water crisis. Two thirds of Americans are drinking contaminated water. It's more than just Flint, it's happening all over the country.
May 6, 2024
woof, this was hard to take 😢
December 30, 2020
An enlightening, empowering and shocking book regarding our water supply and managment.
Even though the planet replenishes its aquifers and natural water ways, we’re depleting these resources at a rate that exceeds our planet’s ability to regenerate itself. It’s at such a critical level that there’s a tentative date in place for this crisis referred to as “Day Zero”; the day water taps in a given region will be shut off. In fact, some places in Africa and South America have already experienced a Day Zero. However, this ominous date presupposes that we take no action to alter our current practices.
Further exacerbating this environmental crisis is the improper chemical treatment of our limited potable water supply. It's common across the US to use poisonous chemicals to treat our water in lieu of safer/healthier options simply because it's more cost effective. Fortunately, this book equips us with the tools, resources, and an action plan to challenge our dangerously antiquated water management system and implement a more sustainable framework to safely and effectively mange our most invaluable natural resource. This is an absolute must read.
https://www.brockovich.com/
Even though the planet replenishes its aquifers and natural water ways, we’re depleting these resources at a rate that exceeds our planet’s ability to regenerate itself. It’s at such a critical level that there’s a tentative date in place for this crisis referred to as “Day Zero”; the day water taps in a given region will be shut off. In fact, some places in Africa and South America have already experienced a Day Zero. However, this ominous date presupposes that we take no action to alter our current practices.
Further exacerbating this environmental crisis is the improper chemical treatment of our limited potable water supply. It's common across the US to use poisonous chemicals to treat our water in lieu of safer/healthier options simply because it's more cost effective. Fortunately, this book equips us with the tools, resources, and an action plan to challenge our dangerously antiquated water management system and implement a more sustainable framework to safely and effectively mange our most invaluable natural resource. This is an absolute must read.
https://www.brockovich.com/
July 16, 2021
Everyone should read this, if nothing else to understand how much work we need to do to ensure we have enough potable water in the decades to come. My favorite part was when she explained that global warming is reducing the water supply, which means we’ll have widespread global shortages of water and food in about 15 years unless we really get cracking!
October 25, 2020
As I read this book I remember my father telling me back in 1966' before he died, "Water is the next oil, and the industry more important than electronics"
Every page has my heart and or chest tense with the feeling she get's it. I can not ever remember relating to anything so intensely. But I must admit I am a self proclaimed Water Evangelist. Ok, so you can disregard my passion because I'm over zealous, right? no, and don't think this lady is "Over the top" either, this book is so spot on it hurts. As well she can write, forget what you think you know about "her type", look at the clear facts stated and ask yourself, what can I do to help others become aware. So, I have followed my suggestion, I suggest you read it and weep as they say...
But rest assured, there are more solutions than problems, we don't have a water problem we have a people problem, the water is innocent..
We all need to put on out cape and "Change the course of mighty rivers" and seek "Truth and Justice".
Greg.
Every page has my heart and or chest tense with the feeling she get's it. I can not ever remember relating to anything so intensely. But I must admit I am a self proclaimed Water Evangelist. Ok, so you can disregard my passion because I'm over zealous, right? no, and don't think this lady is "Over the top" either, this book is so spot on it hurts. As well she can write, forget what you think you know about "her type", look at the clear facts stated and ask yourself, what can I do to help others become aware. So, I have followed my suggestion, I suggest you read it and weep as they say...
But rest assured, there are more solutions than problems, we don't have a water problem we have a people problem, the water is innocent..
We all need to put on out cape and "Change the course of mighty rivers" and seek "Truth and Justice".
Greg.
September 21, 2020
Inspiring hearing about all the good projects she’s involved in and also motivating to get people aware that anyone can make a difference. Change and action is needed if we want a better world to live in - both now and for the future.
February 28, 2022
2.5 stars
I hate that I had to give this such a low rating because I think the topic is important and it’s worthwhile to learn about, but the book itself is NOT well done.
My biggest problem is this constant reminder that you have to be the one to take action. I get that this is a call to action book, but I wish it had been a section at the end. Or even a focused section in the middle. I wanted the facts presented to me in an unbroken narrative. Instead it’s repeated over and over to the detriment of what’s being said. The narrative thread is AWFUL. I’ve never read something that jumps around so much while trying to make its point.
The actual data is informative and horrifying. While by this point im not surprised that we’re all drinking extremely contaminated water and industry does nothing about it (and often actively deceives us into thinking it’s safe) it’s still beyond upsetting.
It did make me want to get involved in local water safety. I think it’s important to educate yourself about this problem and this book is a good place to start. Unfortunately as an investigative narrative this is not well written and I didn’t particularly enjoy it.
There is also quite a bit of privilege in the “you can change your community” narrative. Not EVERYONE has the resources to do this work, and it is work. A certain amount of financial stability and the willingness/ability to work essentially another fully time job on top of all of your regular life responsibilities is required to fight this problem (especially when you consider the mental stress of the likelihood that your efforts may NOT make a difference due to a myriad of obstacles).
This also places SO much responsibility on the individual regarding climate change, there is a brief praise of the tiny actions billionaires have taken and then jumps right back to placing it on us. It’s not reasonable and the book is a little alarmist without providing any real hope for us as a people.
Audiobook specifics that I really hated:
Really wish they’d picked a different narrator for the audiobook. I know it’s read by the author but the cadence is all wrong for an audiobook and the way she pronounces certain words is distracting (iNDUStry being the worst, especially since the word is used SO many times). Not to mention she often runs out of breath mid sentence and on more than one occasion literally SIGHS. It makes a real chore to listen to.
I hate that I had to give this such a low rating because I think the topic is important and it’s worthwhile to learn about, but the book itself is NOT well done.
My biggest problem is this constant reminder that you have to be the one to take action. I get that this is a call to action book, but I wish it had been a section at the end. Or even a focused section in the middle. I wanted the facts presented to me in an unbroken narrative. Instead it’s repeated over and over to the detriment of what’s being said. The narrative thread is AWFUL. I’ve never read something that jumps around so much while trying to make its point.
The actual data is informative and horrifying. While by this point im not surprised that we’re all drinking extremely contaminated water and industry does nothing about it (and often actively deceives us into thinking it’s safe) it’s still beyond upsetting.
It did make me want to get involved in local water safety. I think it’s important to educate yourself about this problem and this book is a good place to start. Unfortunately as an investigative narrative this is not well written and I didn’t particularly enjoy it.
There is also quite a bit of privilege in the “you can change your community” narrative. Not EVERYONE has the resources to do this work, and it is work. A certain amount of financial stability and the willingness/ability to work essentially another fully time job on top of all of your regular life responsibilities is required to fight this problem (especially when you consider the mental stress of the likelihood that your efforts may NOT make a difference due to a myriad of obstacles).
This also places SO much responsibility on the individual regarding climate change, there is a brief praise of the tiny actions billionaires have taken and then jumps right back to placing it on us. It’s not reasonable and the book is a little alarmist without providing any real hope for us as a people.
Audiobook specifics that I really hated:
Really wish they’d picked a different narrator for the audiobook. I know it’s read by the author but the cadence is all wrong for an audiobook and the way she pronounces certain words is distracting (iNDUStry being the worst, especially since the word is used SO many times). Not to mention she often runs out of breath mid sentence and on more than one occasion literally SIGHS. It makes a real chore to listen to.
November 16, 2020
THE Erin Brockovich is back! And, she still fighting nasty water . . . but far more than the movie. The water problems (think Flint, MI, Tyler, TX and Bylot, MS for starters) are all over the USA. This is a wake-up call for everyone to pay attention to how your water system tests the water and make sure that your community water is safe. We tend to believe government officials; but Erin Brockovich fought against PGE and won monetary settlements for the residents, but most were already sick and facing catastrophic health problems or death.
She has continued to as an environmental activist, consumer adovacate, and finally authored her long-awaited book to help everyone become aware of how to take action before it is too late.
This is an excellent educational book, as well as an eye-opener of what is happening to our water systems. Once fed by natural springs and fresh water lakes and rivers, our water systems are now chemically treated with who-knows-what? Everyone must drink a lot of water to maintain a healthy body, yet purchasing water in plastic bottles is not the answer! It creates more problems than it is worth in the long run for both our health, as well as our landfills. The oceans, lakes and streams are littered with plastics and debris - a massive problem.
Erin Brockovich has written a well-researched and documented book detailing the frightening facts and statistics of our most precious resource: water. She also recommends ways to save our water rights and return it to healthy, sustainable, clean, fresh drinking water for future generations. It isn't going to be solved by our government or environmental agencies - it is up to every individual to take action now.
She describes the toxic chemicals in plastics used everyday from shampoos, baby lotions, cell phones, Tupperware plastic containers, etc.; with only a few hundred under regulation, among them: asbestos, lead, mercury, radon, and formaldehde. We must return to glass products for our own safety. Everything else is leaching into our water or never decomposes.
She also explains the on-going saga of PG&E in Hinkley, CA; as well as Poughkeepsie, NY; Hannibal, MO; and Tonganoxie (Tongie), KS.
Excellent book!! This is a must read by everyone concerned about our planet.
NOTE: This book is 308 pages + an Appendix and Notes, which are worth reading.
She has continued to as an environmental activist, consumer adovacate, and finally authored her long-awaited book to help everyone become aware of how to take action before it is too late.
This is an excellent educational book, as well as an eye-opener of what is happening to our water systems. Once fed by natural springs and fresh water lakes and rivers, our water systems are now chemically treated with who-knows-what? Everyone must drink a lot of water to maintain a healthy body, yet purchasing water in plastic bottles is not the answer! It creates more problems than it is worth in the long run for both our health, as well as our landfills. The oceans, lakes and streams are littered with plastics and debris - a massive problem.
Erin Brockovich has written a well-researched and documented book detailing the frightening facts and statistics of our most precious resource: water. She also recommends ways to save our water rights and return it to healthy, sustainable, clean, fresh drinking water for future generations. It isn't going to be solved by our government or environmental agencies - it is up to every individual to take action now.
She describes the toxic chemicals in plastics used everyday from shampoos, baby lotions, cell phones, Tupperware plastic containers, etc.; with only a few hundred under regulation, among them: asbestos, lead, mercury, radon, and formaldehde. We must return to glass products for our own safety. Everything else is leaching into our water or never decomposes.
She also explains the on-going saga of PG&E in Hinkley, CA; as well as Poughkeepsie, NY; Hannibal, MO; and Tonganoxie (Tongie), KS.
Excellent book!! This is a must read by everyone concerned about our planet.
NOTE: This book is 308 pages + an Appendix and Notes, which are worth reading.
November 10, 2020
I would like to express my deepest thanks to Erin Brockovich and to the publisher. This is a critically important body of work that every American must read. I had been following the author's work after the PGE suit and am thankful that she continues this passionate fight for Americans to be knowledgeable about what is in our water systems across the country. After carefully reading through this book and making my own notes I began to contact my local water boards and found much secrecy among the employees. This was suspicious so I continued my research and will do so with the help of this informative book. I have never drank tap water as where I grew up in Southern California even the water company would recommend not drinking from the tap. Still we cooked and bathed in it and drank from contaminated water at our schools creating many illnesses among residents that have been ignored for decades by local governments. Our parents used tap water and I believe this is the cause of many cancers today in seniors . It is a broad issue one that we must take responsibility for educating ourselves about in order to take action.
This book references the science behind the chemicals especially Chromium 6 which is know to cause many cancers and illnesses as featured in her movie. This is put in terms any reader can easily understand. so do not allow the science to deter you from continuing to study . She writes of the horrific pollution of our land and water and of the actions we must take as a populace to demand clean water from our government and stop corporate pollution of American waterways. What will shock you to your core is the amount of chemicals that are put in our waters and how local, state and federal governments refuse to take action. We can only change this inaction by being our own advocates as the author writes of so brilliantly here.
I am so impressed by the author's effort in this exceptional book that educates us as well as gives us the tools we need to advocate for our own clean water . A exemplary body of work that I highly recommend. Very well done to the author.
This book references the science behind the chemicals especially Chromium 6 which is know to cause many cancers and illnesses as featured in her movie. This is put in terms any reader can easily understand. so do not allow the science to deter you from continuing to study . She writes of the horrific pollution of our land and water and of the actions we must take as a populace to demand clean water from our government and stop corporate pollution of American waterways. What will shock you to your core is the amount of chemicals that are put in our waters and how local, state and federal governments refuse to take action. We can only change this inaction by being our own advocates as the author writes of so brilliantly here.
I am so impressed by the author's effort in this exceptional book that educates us as well as gives us the tools we need to advocate for our own clean water . A exemplary body of work that I highly recommend. Very well done to the author.
May 1, 2021
Ooh boy, its hard to not get discouraged about the state of our country and its natural resources when reading a book like this. Fixing America's water supply is an overwhelming task to consider, and I am filled with gratitude to all the Erin Brockovich's detailed in this book who are taking on the predatory big corporations in tiny towns who otherwise have zero oversight or regulation!
Erin spells it out for anyone who is willing to take this journey on for themselves, providing guidance and resources on battling, not just the corporations, but the city councils and water inspectors, and any other official who may stand in the way of clean, safe, drinking water for your town or municipality.
She also provides warning signs on what may be contaminated water. What it looks like, smells like, where certain kinds of contamination likely to occur, from public drinking water supplies to private wells.
Brockovich also attempts to motivate the reader to take action into their own hands, as best as possible, because the reality is, it truly takes one or two concerned citizens to bring attention to these localized issues. The reality is, many public officials aren't aware of their own ignorance on these issues, and take EPA standards, and water supply managers reports at face value (when they shouldn't).
Every American is at risk of a failed water supply. Our infrastructure is old, and the "solutions" corporations come up with are usually the "most cost effective," in that they provide temporary, budget-friendly bandaids to problems that actually require more nuanced solutions up front.
Flint, Michigan is only one example of this. Within the pages of this book, Brockovich provides dozens of other townships and large cities facing the same contamination issues with their water supply.
I definitely recommend this for anyone who is curious about the quality of their drinking water! This could be life or death in your community. Every concerned citizen should have a copy!
Erin spells it out for anyone who is willing to take this journey on for themselves, providing guidance and resources on battling, not just the corporations, but the city councils and water inspectors, and any other official who may stand in the way of clean, safe, drinking water for your town or municipality.
She also provides warning signs on what may be contaminated water. What it looks like, smells like, where certain kinds of contamination likely to occur, from public drinking water supplies to private wells.
Brockovich also attempts to motivate the reader to take action into their own hands, as best as possible, because the reality is, it truly takes one or two concerned citizens to bring attention to these localized issues. The reality is, many public officials aren't aware of their own ignorance on these issues, and take EPA standards, and water supply managers reports at face value (when they shouldn't).
Every American is at risk of a failed water supply. Our infrastructure is old, and the "solutions" corporations come up with are usually the "most cost effective," in that they provide temporary, budget-friendly bandaids to problems that actually require more nuanced solutions up front.
Flint, Michigan is only one example of this. Within the pages of this book, Brockovich provides dozens of other townships and large cities facing the same contamination issues with their water supply.
I definitely recommend this for anyone who is curious about the quality of their drinking water! This could be life or death in your community. Every concerned citizen should have a copy!
July 6, 2021
"If terrorists dumped unknown chemicals into a community, we would call it a chemical attack. But when it's American industry, we let the chips fall where they may." It's forceful statements like these that illustrate why Erin Brockovich is such an effective and popular communicator. She manages to put things in perspective in a rather simple way. And she's just as assertive and on point when she describes the widespread and relatively unknown water crisis that continues to threaten America as well as the variety of toxic chemicals that are prevalent in drinking water and their deleterious effects on the human body.
Where she starts to lose me is with all of the pithy slogans and can-do anecdotes she embeds throughout the first several chapters. I understand she's trying to galvanize regular citizens, uneducated in the ways of water treatment, to act by inspiring them and showing them what they can do, but the book includes chapters later on that relate stories of people bucking the system in more detail and depth, which is both more helpful in getting started in the fight and more inspiring. For all the good work that Brockovich has done, especially with projects like her Community Healthbook, the early parts of the book just aren't that helpful.
It's probably a smaller issue, but I also found myself irritated with her continual reaffirmation of small town values and disavowal of political involvement. It seems like her statements on these issues came at the expense of pointing out the connecting thread of all these issues: the profit motive.
But I imagine she might be trying to get more right-wing folk on board, and playing up her time with common citizens and her corn-fed Kansas upbringing may be a better idea than trashing capitalism. So we'll just pretend like community activism and bottom-up solutions aren't part of any kind of politics.
Nevertheless, the book is still worth people's time for its clear layout of the facts about toxins in our water, which far more people should know—and be enraged—about.
Where she starts to lose me is with all of the pithy slogans and can-do anecdotes she embeds throughout the first several chapters. I understand she's trying to galvanize regular citizens, uneducated in the ways of water treatment, to act by inspiring them and showing them what they can do, but the book includes chapters later on that relate stories of people bucking the system in more detail and depth, which is both more helpful in getting started in the fight and more inspiring. For all the good work that Brockovich has done, especially with projects like her Community Healthbook, the early parts of the book just aren't that helpful.
It's probably a smaller issue, but I also found myself irritated with her continual reaffirmation of small town values and disavowal of political involvement. It seems like her statements on these issues came at the expense of pointing out the connecting thread of all these issues: the profit motive.
But I imagine she might be trying to get more right-wing folk on board, and playing up her time with common citizens and her corn-fed Kansas upbringing may be a better idea than trashing capitalism. So we'll just pretend like community activism and bottom-up solutions aren't part of any kind of politics.
Nevertheless, the book is still worth people's time for its clear layout of the facts about toxins in our water, which far more people should know—and be enraged—about.
May 13, 2020
I received this book to review prior to publication; the version I received was an uncorrected proof.
Erin Brockovich. Everyone knows the name. Erin is a legend and a force of nature when it comes to fighting for clean water, and that carries over into this most recent work, “Superman’s Not Coming.” Written by someone who has gotten her hands dirty trying to clean up corporations’ messes, Erin is an expert when it comes to water, how it gets contaminated, what it’s contaminated by, who is contaminating it, and how close we are to the brink of losing our entire water supply due to contamination and climate change.
Erin begins by explaining the laws and agencies that govern water in the United States. She walks us through multiple examples of towns she has had contact with and their water issues. Hinkley, of course, but there is also Poughkeepsie and Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, among many, many others. The book further explains the six top toxins in water and the horrific environmental and physical effects these toxins can have, such as cancer. Erin explains that the only way that water cleanliness changes in communities is by civilian action. In this book, Erin not only gives you the facts and what to look out for, but she also gives you the tools to lead your own active fight against water pollution and poisonous water “cleaning” systems in your own community.
Chock-full of resources on community activism and what you can do if you spot the signs of water contamination in your town, this work is a resource and a primer on water in the US. However, I do feel that it is a bit long. There is quite a bit of repetition in this work, and I felt my eyes glazing over more than a few times due to long explanations. I think maybe a bit of restructuring would be helpful. However, the last few chapters, as well as the chapter on toxins, are wonderfully helpful when it comes to the mission of this work. Rated 3.5 stars, but will convert that up to 4 with the hopes that there will be some major edits before publication.
Erin Brockovich. Everyone knows the name. Erin is a legend and a force of nature when it comes to fighting for clean water, and that carries over into this most recent work, “Superman’s Not Coming.” Written by someone who has gotten her hands dirty trying to clean up corporations’ messes, Erin is an expert when it comes to water, how it gets contaminated, what it’s contaminated by, who is contaminating it, and how close we are to the brink of losing our entire water supply due to contamination and climate change.
Erin begins by explaining the laws and agencies that govern water in the United States. She walks us through multiple examples of towns she has had contact with and their water issues. Hinkley, of course, but there is also Poughkeepsie and Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, among many, many others. The book further explains the six top toxins in water and the horrific environmental and physical effects these toxins can have, such as cancer. Erin explains that the only way that water cleanliness changes in communities is by civilian action. In this book, Erin not only gives you the facts and what to look out for, but she also gives you the tools to lead your own active fight against water pollution and poisonous water “cleaning” systems in your own community.
Chock-full of resources on community activism and what you can do if you spot the signs of water contamination in your town, this work is a resource and a primer on water in the US. However, I do feel that it is a bit long. There is quite a bit of repetition in this work, and I felt my eyes glazing over more than a few times due to long explanations. I think maybe a bit of restructuring would be helpful. However, the last few chapters, as well as the chapter on toxins, are wonderfully helpful when it comes to the mission of this work. Rated 3.5 stars, but will convert that up to 4 with the hopes that there will be some major edits before publication.
January 26, 2021
Although much of what Erin Brockovich describes in this book isn't entirely surprising, it is deeply unsettling, as she reveals the extent of corruption, mismanagement, and indifference to human flourishing in the governmental and industrial systems that largely control the quality of drinking water throughout the United States. The tenacity of her efforts to advocate for and fight alongside citizens seeking greater transparency and honesty from officials, accountability for harm they've endured from toxic water, and genuine involvement in the provision of clean water for all people is astounding and encouraging. Particularly in this political moment, Brockovich's book is a timely encouragement for a broad coalition of citizens to become involved in local issues that benefit the health of the entire community, and to abandon the partisan divisions and presumed disempowerment that have allowed so many corporate and elected officials to freely pollute the environment. Action steps at the conclusion of each chapter and a list of other resources provide plenty of advice and opportunity to take action, though the book repeatedly reminds readers that it's ultimately up to them to get involved and labor for the changes they want, and deserve, to see.
November 6, 2025
great educational & relevant read. impossible to read without feeling insanely angry at the corporations that willingly and knowingly pollute our water, pay for false science and bribe government officials to look the other way all for profit. The fact that sick people have to fight for DECADES and many of them never live to see justice is absolutely heartbreaking.
More Americans need to read this & educate themselves about what it means to have "clean" and "safe" water according to the EPA vs ACTUALLY having clean, safe water. Like the book says, this is a bipartisan issue; it shouldn't matter if you're red or blue we should all be able to agree that non-toxic water should be every Americans right and we should NOT have a pollute first test later mentality to put more money in the pockets of the obscenely rich.
I definitely recommend having a detox book on hand to cleanse your pallet while reading this. I know my heart rate and blood pressure spiked every time I read for more than 15 minutes... glad I finished it but DAMN. How are we so advanced and still can't agree that big corporations don't give a shit about the people and see our health problems as necessary collateral damage!
More Americans need to read this & educate themselves about what it means to have "clean" and "safe" water according to the EPA vs ACTUALLY having clean, safe water. Like the book says, this is a bipartisan issue; it shouldn't matter if you're red or blue we should all be able to agree that non-toxic water should be every Americans right and we should NOT have a pollute first test later mentality to put more money in the pockets of the obscenely rich.
I definitely recommend having a detox book on hand to cleanse your pallet while reading this. I know my heart rate and blood pressure spiked every time I read for more than 15 minutes... glad I finished it but DAMN. How are we so advanced and still can't agree that big corporations don't give a shit about the people and see our health problems as necessary collateral damage!
April 13, 2021
Highly informative and definitely makes you feel like you can get involved. I liked that the ways that Brockovich talks about getting involved are varied both in terms of how much time they'd take and how much impact they'd have. Even just looking at your water, doing an at-home test, or writing information about your water somewhere can be helpful - a very approachable message. My only dislike of this book was the lack of real discussion about the trade-offs. This was written from the perspective of "we should do absolutely everything we possibly can because water is so important." I leave feeling convinced that water is our most important resource and we're in much more danger locally and globally than I realized, but some of the problems that cause some of the worst water disasters (like Flint) are acknowledged to have started from a city that was already collapsing and losing its budget. Flint city managers absolutely made a selfish, dangerous, and wrong choice, but I wasn't really sure how the collapsing economy that led to the conditions for that choice could have been avoided, and that part was glossed over.
April 17, 2023
Erin Brockovich's "Superman's Not Coming" is written in both a passionate and well-informed fashion. The book exposes the reality of widespread issues with peoples' drinking water, much of which leaves the reader wondering "how did I not know about this?" She does an excellent job focusing on facts and real people's experiences with the clean water issue in the United States. She also gives an in-depth account of her case against California utility Pacific Gas and Electric. Her sense of activism and determination make this read inspiring while her research connections and resource education leave the reader with a sense of action and empowerment. She thoroughly dives into the science and politics behind the problems she describes, and how they have become worse due to corporate greed and lack of environmental responsibility. The book will leave you with an understanding of how to gauge the safety of your own water system and even how to stand up against corporations and politicians that are threatening it. Nothing about this author is weak-minded, helping make this an intriguing read and a convincing call to action.
June 21, 2023
Whoa, this book is long. And you know what, it is packed w/ information. The title basically says it all. We have to take care of us & our water supply. I mean I have seen the movie of course & that is only one tiny piece of everything that Erin has done to help people in communities across the country. I am simply astonished & give her credit for sticking w/ all the red tape, hurdles, barriers & essentially bs from both mega-corporations as well as govt folks. What a force to be reckoned with though. This book speaks to the various ways she has fought for people's water & how she ended up helping others do the same where they live. Erin writes about how she go through the challenges & ways you can push through all the things in order to keep you & your family safe considering clean water should be a default yet it isn't. It's egregious to read about the awful things that get hidden & lies that get told by these meg-corps that are in it to make a buck & don't care about ones health. So definitely read about how this uphill battle continues all over the country.
June 25, 2020
Superman's Not Coming by Erin Brockovich plays off of the idea that American citizen cannot wait for a superhero to save them when it comes to the crisis with our drinking water. With the non-potable water in Flint and other low-income areas, access to clean water is a civil rights issue. I taught in Baton Rouge, LA, which is in the heart of Cancer Alley, based on run-off from chemical plants. It is absolutely accurate that as a nation, the US allows for domestic terrorism to continue in our communities, as long as it is done my the military and big business.
What I found appealing about this book is that it doesn't leave the reader hopeless, Brockovich shares with readers ways in which individuals can be advocates for environmental justice in their communities.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
What I found appealing about this book is that it doesn't leave the reader hopeless, Brockovich shares with readers ways in which individuals can be advocates for environmental justice in their communities.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
September 8, 2020
Like most people, I first learned of Erin Brockovich thanks to the movie based on her life. I knew she took on corporate America and won, but then forgot about her... Which is actually a sign of my privileged life. You see, Brockovich still receives countless letters from people who are concerned about the quality of the water that comes out of their faucets.
In this book, Brockovich catches readers up with the issues she has been dealing with in the past decades with the hope that all of us become advocates for clean water; for safe drinking water. She tells us her story to remind us that we do not need fancy degrees, just basic knowledge about how things work. Then she proceeds to give readers a crash course on the most pressing issues facing communities today.
Whether or not our communities have safe drinking water, this book is a useful tool to have in our arsenal as the water crisis continues to spread across the nation.
In this book, Brockovich catches readers up with the issues she has been dealing with in the past decades with the hope that all of us become advocates for clean water; for safe drinking water. She tells us her story to remind us that we do not need fancy degrees, just basic knowledge about how things work. Then she proceeds to give readers a crash course on the most pressing issues facing communities today.
Whether or not our communities have safe drinking water, this book is a useful tool to have in our arsenal as the water crisis continues to spread across the nation.
January 19, 2023
This is a clear argument that environmental concerns are human concerns, not just political, though it's often treated that way. The questions of why these multi-syllabic tongue twisting names for chemicals polluting our water nationally and locally crops up almost every day, from a new subdivision in Arizona with no water source to lead in water in Flint, Michigan to big city water troubles are a powerful argument for every citizen of every political stripe finding the answers to what the pollution by industry is doing to our health, our drinking water, and our air.
This book is also a primer on the famed 'death by a thousand cuts' and how to get answers and accountability from the very polluters responsible for an entire country becoming a throw-away zone without anyone's knowledge or consent. It's applicable to any issue, not just clean water.
This book is also a primer on the famed 'death by a thousand cuts' and how to get answers and accountability from the very polluters responsible for an entire country becoming a throw-away zone without anyone's knowledge or consent. It's applicable to any issue, not just clean water.
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