More than any road, technology, or political leader, rivers have shaped the course of human civilization. They have opened frontiers, founded cities, and fed billions, yet can capriciously destroy everything in their path. Exploring the timeless yet underappreciated relationship between rivers and civilization as we know it, geographer Laurence Smith also points out that rivers define and transcend international borders, forcing cooperation between nations. As climate change and urbanization transform our relationship with nature, Smith suggests here, new opportunities are arising to protect the waters that sustain us. "This book about rivers is as fascinating as it is beautifully written."—Jared Diamond