The dramatic story of the Bushmen of the Kalahari is a cautionary
tale about water in the twenty-first century—and offers unexpected
solutions for our time.
“We don’t govern water. Water
governs us,” writes James G . Workman. In Heart of Dryness, he
chronicles the memorable saga of the famed Bushmen of the
Kalahari—remnants of one of the world’s most successful civilizations,
today at the exact epicenter of Africa’s drought—in their widely
publicized recent battle with the government of Botswana, in the process
of exploring the larger story of what many feel has become the primary
resource battleground of the twenty-first century: the supply of
water.
The Bushmen’s story could well prefigure our own. In the
United States, even the most upbeat optimists concede we now face an
unprecedented water crisis. Reservoirs behind large dams on the Colorado
River, which serve thirty million in many states, will be dry in
thirteen years. Southeastern drought recently cut Tennessee Valley
Authority hydropower in half, exposed Lake Okeechobee’s floor, dried up
thousands of acres of Georgia’s crops, and left Atlanta with sixty days
of water. Cities east and west are drying up. As reservoirs and aquifers
fail, officials ration water, neighbors snitch on one another,
corporations move in, and states fight states to control shared
rivers.
Each year, around the world, inadequate water kills more
humans than AIDS, malaria, and all wars combined. Global leaders pray
for rain. Bushmen tap more pragmatic solutions. James G . Workman
illuminates the present and coming tensions we will all face over water
and shows how, from the remoteness of the Kalahari, an ancient and
resilient people is showing the world a viable path through the
encroaching Dry Age.
Advance Praise for Heart Of
Dryness
"An astonishing synthesis of human and natural history, folly,
scarcity, beauty, dignity and power. Heart of Dryness is a must-read for
anyone invested in the future of life on earth."—Rick Bass, author of
The Wild Marsh
" A fascinating read and great
adventure story. The water challenge of this century must be informed by
looking back in time to traditional desert cultures like the
Bushmen."—Bruce Babbitt, Chairman, World Wildlife Fund, former
Secretary of the Interior, author of Cities in the
Wilderness
“In a highly original and very realistic manner, Heart of Dryness
addresses one of the most important issues of our time. Workman's
experiences and insights are fascinating, involving the Botswana
Bushmen, who are perhaps the most knowledgeable people in the world
about water, and the result is a real page-turner.”—Elizabeth
Marshall Thomas, author of The Old Way and The Harmless
People
“Heart of Dryness is an investigative and story-telling triumph.
Workman’s near-death experience upon entering the Kalahari places him,
and us, in a position so primal that compassion suffuses every ensuing
perception of the Bushmen. This remarkable book speaks to every
neglected water user and water source on earth, showing a way back to
accountability, sustainability, abundant life, and hope.”—David James
Duncan, author of The River Why and The Brothers K
“What separates Workman's research from the field is his ability to
unpack the complex dynamics and politics surrounding the water conflict
in the Kalahari and provide insights into how this situation sheds light
on wider sector challenges across the globe. This is critical reading
for those who are rightly concerned about the sustainability of our
planet where water resources are under considerable and growing
stress.”—Ned Breslin, CEO, Water For People
“Here are the universal politics of water uncovered by a storyteller
who, from despair and tragedy in the Kalahari, opens our eyes to the
planetary struggle underway to secure water for life on Earth. To win
that struggle with water crisis looming, we will have to urgently learn
from the water wisdom in Heart of Dryness.”—Mark Smith, Head, Water
Programme, World Conservation Union
