Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition

Name: Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition
Price: 11.91 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (1313 reviews)

4.60 of 5 Stars: Engineering & Transportation - Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition

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Book Synopsis: “I’ve been thinking a lot about Cadillac Desert in the past few weeks, as the rain fell and fell and kept falling over California, much of which, despite the pouring heavens, seems likely to remain in the grip of a severe drought. Reisner anticipated this moment. He worried that the West’s success with irrigation could be a mirage — that it took water for granted and didn’t appreciate the precariousness of our capacity to control it.” – Farhad Manjoo, The New York Times, January 20,2023"The definitive work on the West's water crisis." --Newsweek

The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecological and economic disaster. In his landmark book, Cadillac Desert, Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city's growth. He documents the bitter rivalry between two government giants, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the competition to transform the West. Based on more than a decade of research, Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden--an Eden that may only be a mirage.

This edition includes a new postscript by Lawrie Mott, a former staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, that updates Western water issues over the last two decades, including the long-term impact of climate change and how the region can prepare for the future.

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If you've been pondering the future of water scarcity and its significance in the American West, then Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition is a must-read for you. As rain continues to pour over California, it becomes increasingly evident that Marc Reisner's classic work accurately anticipated the region's water crisis. Reisner's masterful storytelling reminds us that we have taken water for granted, and he highlights the fragility of our ability to control this precious resource.

Newsweek hails Cadillac Desert as the definitive work on the West's water crisis, and rightfully so. Through captivating narratives, Reisner delves into the history of the American West, depicting the relentless pursuit of water. From diverted rivers to political corruption, billion-dollar battles over water rights to ecological and economic calamities, this book unravels the complex web surrounding water in the West.

Prepare yourself for a riveting account of the battle between the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, two government powerhouses vying for dominance in transforming the West. Reisner's meticulous research ensures that Cadillac Desert unveils the truth behind the development of an "Eden" in the face of mounting evidence that it may be nothing more than an illusion.

This revised edition of Cadillac Desert also features an enlightening postscript by Lawrie Mott, a former staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Mott's updates provide crucial insights into Western water issues over the past two decades, including the far-reaching effects of climate change and strategies for the region to brace itself for the challenges that lie ahead.

Don't miss out on this enlightening and gripping journey through the history and precarious future of water in the American West. Dive into Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition now and gain a deeper understanding of one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Click here to explore Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition.

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