Water is one of the most essential substances on our planet, yet we don't think about until there's a problem. This book combines scientific explanations with historical anecdotes about H20, distilling (haha) complex concepts into accessible language. This is definitely a good addition addition to the realm of popular science literature.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book was received as an ARC from The MIT Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Water is something I take for granted. I've been told all my life that water is important (and not just for the human body, since our bodies are made up of 90% water). Water is important for transportation, for wildlife, to grow food, and much more. This is the ultimate guide on water. Jack Challoner did a remarkable job with the detailed explanations and illustrations to bring the concept of water to life using a new, unique method of learning that children of all ages will immediately grasp the concept of water and why we need it on this earth. We have many students come through the library with science projects focusing on water and I am glad this will be another print source they can use for insightful information to present their findings. The book was exceptionally well-edited, well structured, and the illustrations were creative and helpful.

A knowledgable source that will leave readers more excited about water. This book gets 5 stars.

Water: A Visual and Scientific History by Jack Challoner is currently scheduled for release on August 31 2021. The story of the most abundant substance on Earth, from its origins in the birth of stars billions of years ago to its importance in the living world. Water is so ubiquitous in our lives that it is easy to take for granted. The average American uses ninety gallons of water a day; nearly every liquid we encounter is mostly water--milk, for example, is 87 percent water. Clouds and ice--water in other forms--affect our climate. Water is the most abundant substance on Earth, and the third-most abundant molecule in the universe. Water is perhaps the most studied compound in the universe--although mysteries about it remain--and Challoner describes how thinkers from ancient times have approached the subject. He offers a detailed look at the structure and behavior of water molecules, explores the physics of water--explaining, among other things, why ice is slippery--and examines the chemistry of water. He investigates photosynthesis and water's role in evolutionary history, and discusses water and weather, reviewing topics that range from snowflake science to climate change. Finally, he considers the possibility of water beyond our own hydrosphere--on other planets, on the Moon, in interstellar space.

Water: A Visual and Scientific History is a well researched, organized, and written book. It goes into great detail on the different aspects and history of our understanding of water. There were moments that it went a little too technical for my personal tastes, but I think I just was not ready for that level of detail and explanation when I opened the digital galley. I do think that it is very well done, and will appeal to those looking for a in depth look at all things water in our past, present, and future- including things you might not have even considered.

A good scientific reference book about water. I enjoyed all the visual aids and it would make a nice textbook or reference book for geography classes or other science classes that include an in depth look into water.

Water. It is everywhere and it is the one item on this Earth that makes our planet different than the other planets out there. Great pictures and an easy understandable story of water. This would be a great conversation book for those starting to understand chemistry or the deeper understanding of how important the knowledge about water is. Fun and interesting scientific read.

I absolutely loved the imagery, magic and imagination this put me through. I especially liked learning about the origins of water on Earth and also about ice and snowflakes. I can the author is passionate about Earth's future and water conservation, which is an important global issue. An interesting and intriguing read that I could not put down and read in a day.

Highly recommended book. I might buy this at publishing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jack Challoner and MIT Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 8/31/21

Very scientific and in-depth with visual aids throughout. I especially enjoyed the sections pertaining to space, snowflakes and ice. Water is amazing.

Beautiful book well written

I enjoyed this book. There is so much more to water than I had previously appreciated. From different types of water, to different types of ice, this book is an eye-opener. And it’s coverage of water extends from the cosmos down to the interior of the cell. It was all explained very clearly and the photography/art are excellent. My only quibble with the book is that the author chose to use American units without giving the metric equivalents. Overall this book is a worthwhile read. Thank you to Netgalley and MIT Press for the advance reader copy.

A really solid reference book about Water. I would say it leans more to education and is pretty scientific. I loved seeing the gorgeous photos throughout and found the book to be a valuable tool. Very solid author, very solid information. A great asset to the shelf.

It would help if the publisher sent this file in a less archaic mode. Since it cannot be transformed into a file for Kindle or Netgalley shelf, there is no way to make notations. The Adobe system necessary is clunky and outdated. Seems like this is a disservice to the author. The book is interesting, and I may include it in a review of similar books, but I can't do a review elsewhere if I can't grab quotes. This is a shame, because it is topical, and it coming out amidst a "wave" (ha) of water and climate-change books.

Thank you to the author and publisher, as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for honest feedback. I looked through this book on Adobe Digital Editions and didn't have any issues.

I approached this book with the price tag in the back of my mind. I noted that it was going to retail at nearly $40, so I thought, what could make a book be worth that price? Well, here are the strengths of this book:

1. It is comprehensive in its aims and boasts about 200 pages in length.
2. Lots of colorful and high-quality photos.
3. Packed with info. I looked up the author, Jack Challoner, and apparently he is a former science and math teacher and educator at the London Science Museum. Pretty cool. Perhaps a blurb about the author will be included, I looked but didn't see. Sometimes it's on the back or inside covers though.

Stylistically, this reads like a textbook. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see this in an introductory science course. I think the only suggestion I can give about where this book could be better would be in the paragraph formatting. If it was possible, I would've suggested adding more paragraph breaks, although I can understand why there are not as many (save space, save costs on the pages, etc).

Overall, it achieves its aims in discussing the versatile and multifaceted "history of water" and includes some nice captures.

This is an extremely informative book on the natural resource of water. I’ve already read extensively on this topic but even I was surprised to learn some of the information in this book. Highly recommend