The Big Thirst: Chapters 5-7

Precis:
    In his novel "The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water" (2011), Charles Fishman continues to assert how crucial water is to human life. However, in the course of these chapters in comparison to the previous ones; Charles Fishman illustrates the various actions countries are taking to conserve water. Fishman uses statistics to portray how "big companies" like that of Coca Cola " Between 2004 and 2008, [have] cut the amount of process water per litter of a drink by eight ounces." Fishman claims that these companies aren't doing it to "satisfy their curiosity or to amuse us.." but are rather "doing it because they want to use less water" which will benefit our future. He further on compares and contrasts how these big companies like that of Coca Cola, CEO, and Las Vegas Hotel attempt  to conserve water. Fishman continues the novel by giving real-life experiences where countries have struggled because of droughts,specifically a small municipal in Australia; Toowoomba. Fishman on average makes the course of these chapters rich on personification and similes to emphasize how devastating living without water would be; "like slipping off the edge of a cliff..hard to be saved". Fishman's purpose is to advise everyone, particularly Americans of how crucial it is to conserve water and how we should all attempt to conserve it any way possible. Fishman maintains an objective and informative tone throughout.
Vocabulary:

• Harrumphed: (v.) to express oneself gruffly. 
• Couture: (n.) high fashion designing and dressmaking. 
• Lanolin: (n.) a fatty substance, extracted from wool.
• Disdain: (v.) to look upon with contempt.
• Acclimated: (v.) to adapt to a new climate or environment.
• Pub: (n.) a bar or a tavern.
• Insular: (adj.) pertaining to an island.
• Abattoir: (n.) a slaughterhouse.
• Visceral: (adj.) proceeding from instinct rather than intellect
• Pharmaceutical: (adj.)  pertaining to a pharmacy or pharmacist
• Cognizant: (adj.) to be awaire; have knowledge 
• Cantankerous: (adj.) disagreeable to deal with; hard to deal with; contentious 
• Boisterous: (adj.) noisy and lively; unruly
• Pirouetted: (n.)  a whirling about on one foot or on the points of the toes; like that of ballet dancing
• Desalination: (n.) the process of removing salt especially from sea water as a method of purifying water to drink or use to irrigate.
• Austerity: (n. pl.) strict form of economy.
• Acrimonious: (adj.) caustic, stinging, or a bitter in nature or behavior.

Tone: Objective, Informative

Rhetorical Strategies:

• Statistics: "So one gallon of water used by Intel in 2005 generated $5.74 in revenue and $1.29 in profit; in 2009, a gallon of water generated only $4.37 in revenue and 55 cents in profit." (Pg.120)
• Expert Opinions: "Back in the 1980's we were using in excess of a gigaliter of mains water a year...says David Mitchell, comanaging director of Michelle...Michelle is one of the largest single users of water in the state of South Australia..." (Pgs. 114-115)
• Simile: "But running out of water is like slipping off the edge of a cliff-it's hard to be saved." (Pg.147)
• Compare and Contrast:  " These companies aren't metering their water use with such precision to satisfy their curiosity or amuse us. They're doing it because they want to use less water, because they may soon have no choice..."  (Pgs. 114-125)
   -Throughout the course of these pages, Fishman compares Coca Cola company, Las Vegas Hotels, CEO company's  method's in preserving or reducing their water usage.
• Allusion: "Every ship that leaves Australia probably has wool from Michelles on it, " the Sydney SunHerald quoted...." (Pg.113)
  - Fishman quotes and refers back to newspaper articles.

Discussion Questions:

• Why does Charles Fishman begin Chapter six by referring back to several examples of death-related events that occurred because of dehydration? Specifically why does he have to refer to a car in these deaths? Is this some sort of sarcasm or awareness?  
• What are some of the methods California is taking in reducing water usage? Has the United States used " the technology" of recyclable water? 
• Why does Fishman compare Toowoomba water technology to that of Orange County? Is this to portray the advancement of technology in the United States in comparison to other nations? 

Quote:

"When you start to think like we think, you don't see water in the pipes. You see dollar signs." (Pg.112)