Is a River Alive?

SHORTLISTED FOR BLACKWELL'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025<BR>SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION WRITING 2025<BR>SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2026<BR><BR>From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new book - which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title.<BR><BR>At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings - who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Is a River Alive? takes the reader on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept.<BR><BR>The book flows first to northern Ecuador, where a miraculous cloud-forest and its rivers are threatened by goldmining.<BR><BR>Then, to the wounded rivers, creeks and lagoons of southern India, where a desperate battle to save the lives of these waterbodies is under way.<BR><BR>And finally, to north-eastern Quebec, where a spectacular wild river - the Mutehekau or Magpie - is being defended from death by damming in a river-rights campaign.<BR><BR>At once Macfarlane's most personal and most political book to date, Is a River Alive? will open hearts, spark debates and lead us to the revelation that our fate flows with that of rivers - and always has.<BR><BR>2025 BOOK OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO SPECTATOR, I PAPER, ECONOMIST, ESQUIRE, TIME<BR><BR>SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026<BR>SHORTLISTED FOR THE SHERBORNE PRIZE FOR TRAVEL WRITING 2026<BR>LONGLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE 2026