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The Source: How Rivers Made America and America Remade Its Rivers Reprint Edition, Kindle Edition

by Martin Doyle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 229 ratings
Editors' pick Best History

“An original and thought-provoking exploration of the sinuous course that water has carved through our economic and political landscape.” —Gerard Helferich, Wall Street Journal


In a powerful work of environmental history, Martin Doyle tells the epic story of America and its rivers, from the U.S. Constitution’s roots in interstate river navigation, to the failure of the levees in Hurricane Katrina and the water wars in the west. Through his own travels and his encounters with experts all over the country—a Mississippi River tugboat captain, an Erie Canal lock operator, a project manager buying water rights for farms along the Colorado River—Doyle reveals the central role rivers have played in American history and how vital they are to its future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A vigorous look at American history through the nation's waterways...Doyle speaks well to issues that are as pressing today as in the first years of the republic."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Keith Sellon-Wright is a seasoned professional with a career in Hollywood spanning over thirty years. He has worked with some of Hollywood's seminal directors, including Christopher Guest and Spike Lee. His television credits include Wings, Frasier, Seinfeld, The West Wing, NCIS, Mad Men, and Parks and Recreation.

Martin Doyle is director of the Water Policy Program at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and a professor of river science and policy at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. He lives in North Carolina.

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  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 229 ratings

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Martin Doyle

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4.5 out of 5 stars
229 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book highly informative and well-researched, describing it as a fascinating and thought-provoking read. They appreciate its readability and water content, with one customer highlighting its environmental history of US rivers.

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18 customers mention "Information quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched, describing it as fascinating and thought-provoking.

"...States what it is and this book explores how rivers and streams have shaped our history and made the expansion of the country possible...." Read more

"...Still it's well written, researched and interesting...." Read more

"A great book, wide-ranging and informative. But!..." Read more

"...It's great to learn about the history of several "businesses" while also being entertained. One of the best non-fiction books I've read this year." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and interesting, describing it as a fun and important read.

"...The book is a fascinating read into an aspect of American history that has received little attention...." Read more

"...Certainly a worthwhile read for those interested in America's rivers." Read more

"A great book, wide-ranging and informative. But!..." Read more

"...many more areas than usual (all water-related), and in a very readable fashion...." Read more

5 customers mention "Water content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the water content of the book, with one customer highlighting its environmental history of US rivers and another noting its coverage of dams and species.

"...Answers the whys of Buffalo NY, the regulatory state and the future of dams and species." Read more

"Excellent blend of history, water resources engineering, and federalism." Read more

"Great read about our most important & vital resource, WATER!" Read more

"Great Book on Water!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Frederick S. Goethel
    5.0 out of 5 stars The History Of A Country Founded On Rivers
    Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Rivers are what made the United States what it is and this book explores how rivers and streams have shaped our history and made the expansion of the country possible.

    The author starts by examining the eastern river systems. Most didn't go very far inland, and while great for use as power for grist mills, they were not good for transportation. Then the idea of the Erie Canal came to be and it changed the depth of the country and how good were transported to market.

    The author then looks at what we have done to harness rivers for navigation and to prevent flooding. Levees were built, rivers were straightened and depth increased to allow more river traffic. The best example is, of course the Mississippi River, which has become a backbone of American transportation.

    The author also examines the environmental damage done to our rivers and how we continually made things worse with our rivers until the environmental movement of the seventies. That is when we started to reverse course and started to fix much of the damage done to our river systems.

    The book is a fascinating read into an aspect of American history that has received little attention. We would not be the country we are without our river systems, and this book details that well. It is very readable and completely enjoyable.
    26 people found this helpful
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  • TJF
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what I expected
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2019
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    Given the book's title I was expecting more technical information; i.e. how were America's rivers developed/modified for our usage? Rather this is more of the philosophy of how we use our rivers and (especially for western rivers whose flows are rationed out) who has priority of water usage. Still it's well written, researched and interesting. For instance you have multiple entities wanting to use water from the river for irrigation: 1)the furthest upstream tenant, 2)the downstream tenant who has longer occupancy or seniority, and 3)Native Americans. During times of drought and the river can't supply all their needs, who gets theirs first? Certainly a worthwhile read for those interested in America's rivers.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Lucinda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very depressing
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2022
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    A great book, wide-ranging and informative. But! time after time, a chapter ends with the realization that people have destroyed their own environment again. Sometimes through the Law of Unintended Consequences; sometimes through greed and selfishness; sometimes through short-sightedness. I had to stop reading several chapters if I wanted to sleep that night.

    Highly recommended., especially for people who aren't as sensitive and wimpy as I am.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • TexasMike
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Water!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A good non fiction "business" book typically covers just a couple of interesting areas or makes a handful of points; The Source covered many more areas than usual (all water-related), and in a very readable fashion. It's great to learn about the history of several "businesses" while also being entertained. One of the best non-fiction books I've read this year.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • tjw
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!!! Highly Recommend
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
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    The Source is fabulous! It’s dense, authoritative, well-researched & well-referenced.
    For me, it was a slow read - because it is filled with thought-provoking information & insights.
    Rivers have shaped the basic facts of America - where we live, how we conduct business, how we deal with risks, and how we govern ourselves.
    By this great work, Martin Doyle (author) provides a thorough history of the central role Rivers have played in our local/national development. He informs us how vital (despite being taken for granted & oft-abused) Rivers are to our future.
    For anyone wishing to better understand issues of American Environment, Government, and History - this seems a “must read”.
    Fabulous job, Mister Doyle!!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • David Crumbaugh
    4.0 out of 5 stars hKnow how America was shaped, and how it responded.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019
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    Powerful insights into how America was shaped by its rivers and how it reshaped those rivers to meet its needs.
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  • Dianne May
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is THE Book About Water
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I've been interested in water issues for over thirty years and have explored lots of books on the topic. I usually found myself with questions that no one answered. Behind the modest title of this book lurks what you need to make sense of the many issues facing the US about water --floods in the Midwest, Western water wars -- and the historical decisions that have left us where we are. Highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • RLL
    3.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile read, but ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2019
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    This is a thought provoking book, but it covers a broad range of topics in sometimes inadequate detail.
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