The Big Thirst: Chapters 1-4

     In his novel The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water (2011), Charles Fishman describes the beneficial qualities of water to our planet Earth, but claims that many people do not appreciate the presence of water. To support his argument, Fishman composes his books rich on statistics and anecdotes where he analyzes the importance of water for the daily life of humans as well as how many people manipulate and misuse water. Charles Fishman begins the novel by describing how water is used in our planet. He gives examples by describing the uses of water from a "simple cup of coffee to rocket ships". Furthermore, Fishman asserts that scientists claim they know everything about water from its uses to the amount there is in our planet, but in reality no one knows the exact percent of water in our Earth because " most of the water is missing...It's in the mantle, and it, too, cycles" therefore water contains its mysteries. Fishman continues to analyze the beneficial uses water has in our planet , but articulates how people misuse water and take too much advantage of it unwisely, especially Americans whom are lucky to have easy access to purified water in comparison to other countries.  Fishman argues that it is easy to have a relationship with your car or your "valuable necessities" but when it comes to water "most of us don't think of ourselves as having a relationship with water" a relationship where we learn to value its presence. To conclude, Fishman implies that we will truly learn to value water until it is gone.

Vocabulary: 

• Ricochet: (v.) to rebound from a surface or surfaces with characteristic of whining or zipping sound.
• Aqueducts: (n.) a bridge-like structure that carries a water canal across a valley or over a river. 
• Succumbed: (v.) to surrender; yield
• Hydrant: (n.) a water faucet or pipe with a spout, nozzle or other outlet. 
• Viscosity: (n. pl.) the state or quality of being vicious.
• Magnetron: (n.) An electron tube that produces microwave radiation.  
• Alchemy: (n. pl)   process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value inot a sustance of greater value, ex. gold. 
• Nimble: (adj.) quick to understand, think, devise.
• Prosaic: (adj.) lacking imagination
• Debris: (n.) the remains of anything broken or destroyed.

Tone: objective, sincere

Rhetorical Strategies: 

• Personification: "The wind across the surface of a lake or a bay writes clearly on the waves..." (Pg.26)
• Simile: "..the three joined atoms look a bit like Mickey Mouse's head..." (Pg.41)
• Antithesis: "Water is the source of life, and also the source of death." (Pg. 49)
• Statistics: " Water used in the United States peaked in 1980, at 440 billion gallons a day for all purposes." (Pg. 21)
• Imagery: " We know the sharp smell of rain misted through the air after a summer downpour." (Pg.26)

Discussion Questions: 

• Why does Charles Fishman include questions and answers by Jacobsen in the first few chapters? Is this to restate important facts the readers may have missed while reading the book?
• Which country is the one that misuses water the most? 
• What are some daily-life changes people can make to conserve water?

Quote: 

"But water has achieved an invisiblity in our lives that is only more remarkable given how central it is. Water used to be part of rhythm and motivation of daily life..." (Pg.3)