I had higher hopes for this book. While I learned a lot, I didn't find it as in-depth as expected. The chapter on getting rid of dams seemed out of place in the middle of the book, It shouldn't have interrupted the flow of the book and either been placed at the back of the book or (my preference) not included at all. It seemed to take a factual science book to a politically tinged polemic.

This seemed a little non serious at times. I resented abbreviations like BuRec (its a book, is it that hard to write out Bureau of Reclaimation?). Much of it felt like preaching to the choir--readers of Patagonia books will likely enjoy it because they're folks who wear Patagonia clothing and subscribe to the companies ethos. I'm not sure this a book constructed to convince anyone.

I did find the part about why committing to not filling and draining Lake Powell really important--we're sort of in a place where that is naturally going to happen and some concern about methane is important.

Troubling stories about how the world created the dams it uses today as well as ideas on how to solve the problems they create. I am not necessarily on the same page as the author of rip all the dams out of the land because they serve vital purposes in many ways but there are dangers that lurk as a result of these giant, man made structures and must be resolved before more disasters strike. Hawkeye seems to be critical of any technology, which is a struggle when you are trying to replace outdated technology. But it is a good reminder of why we need to be questioning our long term commitments rather than just focusing on what is easier.

For decades, river dams were hailed as sources of clean energy and engineering marvels. Gradually, more and more people realised that trying to outsmart and contain nature is always a bad idea, with unforeseen negative consequences - for the environment and for the people the invention was supposed to serve. As a result, there is now a growing global movement to remove dams.

This book gives you a crash course in the history of river dams, with fascinating case studies (mostly from the US), and provides guidelines for people who want to get involved in the fight for free, wild rivers (there is even a chapter literally called 'Dam Removal 101'). It is also beautifully illustrated, with lots of striking pictures and infographics.

Thanks to the publisher, Patagonia, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Activist Polemic With Little Documentation - But The Pictures Are Stunning. Quite honestly, the description on this book as of the time I write this review roughly 10 days before publication (yes, meaning this is an advance reviewer copy with all that this entails) is quite misleading. The description makes it seem as though the reader is getting a well documented history of the history of water control and its current problems and potential solutions to those problems. Instead, this is an activist screed from the very beginning, with next to no documentation - just 7% of the text, when 20-30% is far more typical in my extensive experience.

Thus, as is very nearly always the case, one star was deducted for this lack of documentation. The second star is deducted because of the obvious slant and the strawman arguments so heavily used throughout the text. The third star is deducted for the inaccurate description provided by the publisher.

This is *a* history though, and from the activist, anti-dam perspective, a solid one in the mold of one preaching to the choir - as choirs never ask to see documentation, taking everything the preacher says on faith alone. Which is not science or journalism. ;)

And yet, the pictures provided throughout are truly stunning. Whoever took them did some truly excellent work in that space, and I can honestly recommend this book for the pictures alone. Which is why it doesn't sink any further in the rating.

Overall a dense and blatantly biased yet still somewhat interesting read, and absolutely get this for the pictures alone. (Meaning you need a print or tablet version of this book. :D). Recommended.

CRACKED - The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World, by Stephen Hawley

Full of spectacular panoramic views of water-supply and hydropower dams in Western USA, and also Albania and Patagonia. Over the past century, dams with hydropower and irrigation systems, sponsored mainly by government agencies, have been built with the best of intentions, but have ended up disproportionately benefiting corporations and the privileged few. A fascinating and sordid story of huge money, politics, lobbying, ineffective management, corruption, and poor-faith disregard of treaties with indigenous peoples.

The story progresses into the natural health of rivers and fisheries, and explains why it is ecologically better not to dam our rivers. It explains how removal of dams can (and has) improved our river ecology, and how to support such initiatives.

CRACKED seemed initially exhaustingly detailed and negative to industry, but Hawley convinced me that huge water-supply dams and hydropower systems are indeed poor social, economic and ecologic investments. The history of political chicanery was eye-opening, and is doubtless still relevant today. I was encouraged that Hawley included two practical alternatives: solar power initiatives and nuclear power plant, which together could remove incentive for governments and mining companies to enslave our river systems for electrical power. I recommend this book for its breath-taking photographs, its thought-provoking history of water-supply and hydropower dams, its explanation of the value of fisheries, and for raising awareness that western USA will be much more thirsty all too soon.