Peter Gleick’s Book ‘When the Well is Dry’ Examines Water Conflicts and Solutions
PAGE, ARIZONA - APRIL 30: The Colorado River winds through the valley near Horseshoe Bend before entering Marble Canyon on its southwest journey on April 30, 2026, near Page, Arizona. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Airdate: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 9 am
The first documented war over water happened 4,000 years ago between Sumerian city-states fighting over Tigris River canals. Access to water has been a consistent source of human conflict from ancient Athens to modern day Ukraine. Scientist, water expert and MacArthur Fellow Peter Gleick traces this history in his new book, “When the Well is Dry” and offers solutions to mitigate conflict and forge a path of cooperation for a sustainable future.
Guests:
- Peter Gleick, author, When the Well is Dry: How Water Fuels Violence and Shapes Peace; senior fellow and co-founder of the Pacific Institute, and a MacArthur Fellow