Rivers of Empire: Water, Aridity, and the Growth of the American West
"Classic."--New Internationalist"Extremely wonderful and well-written."--Thomas G. Alexander,Brigham Young University"Worster is an eloquent, often passionate historian....This important book, sure to be furiously debated, is a history of the West in terms of its most essential resource, water....It examines how manipulation of water has combined with frontier myths, expectations, and illusions, some of them carefully cultivated by interested parties, to create the ambiguous modern West."--Wallace Stegner"Worster is capable of making the most prosaic facts come alive through his mastery of the language, his imagery, and his ability to weave his ideas with events and personalities into a fascinating historical record."--The Los Angeles Times Book Review"Many readers will disagree with [Worster's] conclusions, but they are so forcefully presented that they cannot be dismissed, and will likely shape the discussions for years to come....A language of exceptional poetry and power....He takes his place in a tradition of awed affectionate writing about the West that includes John Muir and Edward Abbey, Bernard De Voto and Wallace Stegner.  That is distinguished company indeed, and Donald Worster stands tall in it."--The New York Times Book Review"A brilliant book, clear in its argument, exceptional in its literary qualities."--The Los Angeles Times Book Review"Impassioned and lyrical."--The New York Times Book Review"An excellent choice for courses that include readings from the New Western History interpretations."--Thomas L. Charlton,Baylor University