Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
The Price of Thirst summary
Karen Piper
Global Water Inequality and the Coming Chaos
15 mins
Brief summary
The Price of Thirst by Karen Piper is a nonfiction work focusing on the global water crisis. Piper draws on her experiences in high-risk areas to explore the politics and economics of water access, and looks at our changing view of a resource we once took for granted.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Price of Thirst
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Urbanization, agriculture and climate change – problems we’ve created – are why we’re running out of water.
Some 70 percent of earth’s surface is covered with water. So why has the issue of water scarcity become such a hot topic?
It’s not that we lack water in general; it’s a lack of drinkable water that has become a global concern.
Much of the water available for drinking is actually polluted; and waterborne diseases, such as cholera and dysentery, are actually the leading causes of death and sickness around the world. The combination of highly populated cities and poor sanitation has led to a rise in waterborne diseases.
Another source of drinkable, or potable, water is groundwater found in natural underground reservoirs, or aquifers. Yet when we pump water out of aquifers faster than it can be replenished, these reservoirs collapse, preventing them from absorbing any more water.
Crucially, when aquifers dry up, the land can actually sink, a process called subsidence. In California’s San Joaquin Valley, the constant extraction of groundwater to irrigate crops is believed to have caused the land to sink some 40 feet over the past 90 years.
What’s more, aquifers in coastal regions are at risk of taking on seawater when groundwater levels fall too low, turning once potable water into non-potable water.
Many freshwater rivers are fed by glaciers. Yet because of climate change, these glaciers are melting at ever faster rates. While the flow of freshwater into rivers might increase in the near term, in the long term as the glaciers melt completely and disappear, so too will the rivers.
The distribution of potable water is also a concern. Importantly, we as a society are distributing water unequally among ourselves.
Increasing urbanization has put pressure on water systems. As some 55 percent of the world’s population lives in cities, the demand for water in metropolitan areas far exceeds the supply from nearby ground- and surface water sources. Demand thus can only be met through deeper wells or even transporting water from increasingly remote areas.
Within certain municipalities, water is often unequally allocated by agencies or the government. New Delhi, for example, distributes water to certain regions based on geography. So while some 500 liters per person per day goes to the local army base, some 225 liters goes to official settlement areas. Yet only 50 liters per person per day is delivered to New Delhi’s overpopulated slums.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Price of Thirst?
Key ideas in The Price of Thirst
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Price of Thirst about?
In The Price of Thirst (2014), author Karen Piper reveals how private water companies have not only failed to offer universal access to clean water but also contributed to environmental degradation and political conflict amid a quest for profit.
The Price of Thirst Review
The Price of Thirst (2014) by Karen Piper explores the global water crisis and its far-reaching consequences. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It sheds light on the urgent and pressing issue of water scarcity, prompting readers to consider the true value of this precious resource.
- Through thorough research and personal experiences, it paints a compelling picture of the individuals and communities affected by water scarcity, creating a sense of empathy and understanding.
- With its gritty and honest portrayal of the challenges faced by those in water-stressed regions, the book offers a thought-provoking and eye-opening exploration of a topic we often take for granted.
Best quote from The Price of Thirst
Investment companies describe water as the new oil.
—Karen Piper
Who should read The Price of Thirst?
- Environmentalists concerned with global concerns over water
- Political scientists studying water rights issues
- Anyone interested in the environment and climate change
Categories with The Price of Thirst
Book summaries like The Price of Thirst
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Price of Thirst FAQs
What is the main message of The Price of Thirst?
The main message of The Price of Thirst is the battle for water and the consequences of privatization.
How long does it take to read The Price of Thirst?
The reading time for The Price of Thirst varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Price of Thirst a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Price of Thirst is an eye-opening and thought-provoking book that sheds light on the global water crisis. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of The Price of Thirst?
The author of The Price of Thirst is Karen Piper.
What to read after The Price of Thirst?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Price of Thirst, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Agile Selling by Jill Konrath
- Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
- When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein
- The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer
- See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar
- The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill
- The First Rule of Mastery by Michael Gervais
- A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
- The Idea Is the Easy Part by Brian Dovey
- The Monopolists by Mary Pilon