Taking on Water: How One Water Expert Challenged Her Inner Hypocrite, Reduced Her Water Footprint (Without Sacrificing a Toasty Shower), and Found Nirvana

In case you needed another harangue about sustainability, here comes self-proclaimed "Water Diva" Pabich (according to Buddhist tradition, this is a water spirit, "connected to all liquids"). To be fair, Pabich has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from M.I.T., and is a recognized water expert, so if there is someone you should listen to on the subject of your wasteful water consumption, it is probably her. The impetus for this book was in fact Pabich's own water bill: the realization that she and her husband, James, had used "almost 30,000 gallons" of water in a month at their Idaho home. The disparity between her water usage and her water diva status causes Pabich to research and innovate in an attempt to curb her direct use of water and reduce her "water footprint"%E2%80%94the water required to produce other products she consumes, such as olive oil and bread. Pabich presents well-researched facts and some tips, but the book is relentlessly energetic in a way that can be off-putting. Perhaps only those fired up on the water-use issue themselves will find some common ground. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company. (Sept.)