Drinking Water by James Salzman Summary
Overview of Drinking Water
Ever wondered why people once preferred beer over water? "Drinking Water" reveals how this life-essential resource shaped civilizations, sparked wars, and continues driving policy debates. James Salzman's updated edition tackles Flint's crisis, challenging whether water is commodity or human right.
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Key takeaways
The Most Undervalued Resource on Earth
Ever notice how a bottle of water at the airport costs more than a gallon of gasoline? There's something absurd about that - yet it reveals a deeper truth about our relationship with the substance that makes up 60% of our bodies. We take it for granted when it flows freely from our taps, yet panic when it's scarce. We've built civilizations around it, gone to war over it, and attributed divine powers to it. This transparent liquid holds more power over human destiny than perhaps any other resource on the planet. For thousands of years, humans have seen water as more than H2O. Every culture throughout history has woven myths around water's transformative properties. The legend of Ponce de Leon seeking the Fountain of Youth - though largely fabricated - connects to a five-thousand-year tradition stretching back to ancient Mesopotamia, where the goddess Ishtar sought the Water of Life to resurrect her lover. In Norse mythology, Odin sacrificed an eye to drink from a sacred spring for eternal wisdom. These aren't just quaint stories - they reveal something fundamental about how we perceive water's power. When Jesus offered "living water" to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well, he wasn't speaking of physical hydration but spiritual renewal that quenches the soul's deepest thirst. Religious traditions worldwide elevate water beyond mere sustenance - Christian baptism, Islamic ablution, Hindu purification rituals all recognize water as a medium between the physical and spiritual realms. Even today, millions visit Lourdes annually, and Hindus carry Ganges water across India for sacred purposes. We may think we've outgrown these beliefs, but walk into any upscale grocery store and notice how bottled water marketing subtly suggests not just purity but a mystical connection to pristine nature. We've simply replaced ancient gods with Mother Nature as our secular deity.
Who Controls the Tap Controls Power
The Battle Against Invisible Killers
Modern Poisons: When Clear Water Hides Deadly Secrets
Flint: A Betrayal Written in Lead
The Bottled Water Illusion
The Path Forward: Rights, Markets, and Survival
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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