Rivers of Power

Laurence C. Smith

Allen Lane

£20

This may not be an obvious choice for a yachting library as it’s about rivers but not boats. Laurence C Smith is a hydrologist who is currently tracking changing river flows in the Arctic. The scope of this book is global, ranging from the earliest geology to the latest hydro-electric diversion projects. I was shocked by the callous cruelty of river use in warfare and mildly cheered by the focus on riverfront access in modern urban planning. Smith is American with access to astonishing satellite technology (and research funding, it seems).  The personality of his book is humane and his writing style often thrilling. This is a big book which may change your view of even the smallest river.