Running Out: In Search of Water on the High Plains

The Ogallala aquifer has been depleted due to unsustainable irrigation farming, leading to a global crisis. Anthropologist Lucas Bessire's book Running Out offers a personal account of aquifer depletion and the deeper layers that give it meaning and force. He explores the stark realities of industrial agriculture, eroding democratic norms, and surreal interpretations of a looming disaster, offering unexpected discoveries about inheriting the past and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The Ogallala aquifer, a vital source of life on the American Great Plains for countless generations, has been severely depleted due to unsustainable irrigation farming practices. The impending depletion of the Ogallala and other aquifers worldwide is a pressing global crisis that demands our immediate attention.

In his book "Running Out," anthropologist Lucas Bessire delves into the complex issue of aquifer depletion, offering a deeply personal and insightful account. Bessire returns to western Kansas, the heartland of his family's irrigation farming and ranching heritage, to explore the significance of this precious resource and its tragic loss. Through his journey across the parched High Plains, the reader is confronted with the harsh realities of industrial agriculture, the erosion of democratic norms, and surreal interpretations of a looming disaster.

However, the book goes beyond mere description and offers unexpected discoveries about the legacies of destruction and the path toward a more inclusive and sustainable future. Bessire challenges the traditional narratives of eradication and explores the complex interplay between family, complicity, loss, and the search for homecoming. He sheds light on the emotional toll of environmental change on individuals and communities, emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and working towards a brighter future.

"Running Out" is an urgent and unsettling meditation on environmental change that forces us to confront the harsh realities of our impact on the planet. It is a revelatory account of family, complicity, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through Bessire's thoughtful and compassionate storytelling, the book encourages us to reflect on our past and present actions, and to embrace the necessary changes to create a more sustainable and equitable world for future generations.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 146 x 223 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691212647