Consumption of bottled water has skyrocketed in the past fifty years. Photo by Ricardo Bernando, used under Creative Commons licensing. Consumption of bottled water has skyrocketed in the past fifty years. Photo by Ricardo Bernardo, used under Creative Commons licensing.

Thirsty? Every second, a thousand people in the U.S. are, and they reach for a disposable plastic bottle to quench it. In Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water, freshwater expert Peter Gleick examines the causes and consequences of favoring bottled water over tap and uncovers the marketing behind the trend. And an exciting announcement about our ForewordFriday feature: It will now include a giveaway! Each week, enter to win a copy of the featured book (an e-book will be substituted for our international friends). We'll pick the winner on the following Thursday.