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 in western Kansas. The book offers unexpected discoveries about inheriting the troubled legacies of the past and taking responsibility for a more inclusive, sustainable future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2022
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 ways in which individuals and communities can take responsibility for the past and work towards a brighter future.

"Running Out" is an urgent and unsettling meditation on environmental change that forces us to confront the profound consequences of our actions. It is a revelatory account of family, complicity, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through his profound exploration of the Ogallala aquifer and its devastating impact, Bessire offers a roadmap for navigating the challenges of our time and building a more sustainable and inclusive world.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691216430