Lucas Bessire

A fascinating look at water depletion in southwestern Kansas with a warning for many other parts of the world. Why Kansas? This is the homestead of the author growing up and whose family has lived there for generations. The book takes on the issue at the micro level (his Family history) and the macro level (the scientific research) on the topic.This problem (water use) as with most environmental issues is human behavior - ranchers, farmers and agrabusinesses as they all want to maximize profits. A book deserving the plaudets it has received.… (mehr)

I originally found this on Hoopla--I wanted to read it (and about half of the NBA nonfiction longlist), and there it was! I don't usually listen to nonfiction because I read the notes, but this was fairly memoir-ish.

And this book is excellent, if hard to read. So much is about destruction and willful ignorance. From removing and massacring different Indian groups, to the killing off of the bison within just a few years, rattlesnake and jackrabbit roundups, the plowing of the shortgrass prairie and the dustbowl, to now emptying the aquifer and intentionally wasting water.

And then when I got to the end, it said to get then physical book for the notes and sources, argh! So, I did. Fortunately my library did not have a queue. And--there are maps and photos! I think this is definitely better on paper, because looking at the pictures--and seeing the maps--after the fact was not the greatest. The narrator also was not a favorite (though, frustratingly, he has done several books I am interested in!)--his tone very much sounds like he is talking down to or lecturing the reader. I got used to it though, his pronunciations were fine.… (mehr)