Aqua Shock: Water in Crisis

by Susan J. Marks

An objective look at America's rapidly shrinking water supplyOnce believed to be a problem limited to America's southwest, water shortages are now an issue coast to coast, from New England to California. In "Aqua Shock: The Water Crisis in America," author Susan J. Marks provides a comprehensive analysis of the current conflicts being waged over dwindling water supplies. She presents the findings of university studies, think tanks, and research groups, as well as the opinions of water experts, including Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. The book
Explains where our water comes from and who controls it, as well as the cost of water on cash, commodities, and capitalismDescribes the risks of running out of waterDetails how we can preserve and protect our most precious, yet most undervalued natural resource

Right now, battles over water supplies rage across the country. "Aqua Shock" is an objective look at how we arrived at this crisis point and what we can do-and should be doing-to solve the water crisis in America.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment

226 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book deals with an important and underappreciated topic, the scattershot organization which can perhaps be best described as formatted like academic writing, but with sensationalized, disorganized content really got in the way of the message. Whole sections of this book seemed repeated every chapter or two for no clear reason, and the book bounced between a discussion of larger western water issues, focuses on specific northeastern and southern water issues, and fun facts like how much water it takes to grow an apple, without any clear organization. Even chapter themes were largely meaningless. This book would have made a far more successful piece of two of long form journalism (with significant editing).

[Jeff Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems like this book is intended to be an academic primer for water issues in the United States. It reads like a reporter attempting to sensationalize an issue. There are far better books addressing water issues. Although many of those books deal with western water issues they offer a far more compelling and interesting stories- Cadillac Desert,A River No More, and other books tell this story far better. In fact anyone that has taken a sip of tap water in Phoenix understands water salinity issues. Anyone who lives in the San Joaquin valley understands the connection between water, environmental issues, and jobs. Aqua Shock doesn't tell a compelling story. It's just a series of reports for a newspaper. 

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A provocative book that will make you water-smart and a better citizen

While water may seem to be a simple substance, the United States and the rest of the world face a dangerous water crisis due to a complex culmination of events. Journalist Susan J. Marks uses a deft writing style that glides from anecdotal reports to studies of the scientific and environmental dimensions of water scarcity, as well as the implications for national security. Unfortunately, in some places, a staccato of bullet-point factoids prevent the story from developing powerful momentum. getAbstract recommends this detailed presentation of water problems and possible solutions to readers who seek a thorough factual introduction to this vital subject.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a slog to get through. I could tell that the author had done her research, but she really should fire whoever she had editing this book. No chapter reads cohesively. Paragraphs feel like they were thrown in at random with transitions added to give the illusion of a coherent story line. In truth, ideas pop in only to be discarded the following paragraph, and then pop up again some 20 pages later. The organization makes the book much more of a chore to read through than it should be.

[Timothy Griffin · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the information in this book is interesting, the presentation is repetitive to the point of annoyance. It almost seems that this was written as a series of high-school term papers.

[Nick Woodall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, especially on the water statistics.