Bottlemania

Big Business, Local Springs, and the Battle Over America's Drinking Water

By: Elizabeth Royte

Narrated by: Judy Young

Bottled water is on the verge of becoming the most popular beverage in the country. But what's the cost of all this water for us and for the environment? In this eye-opening book, Elizabeth Royte does for water what Michael Pollan did for food: She examines the people, machines, economies, and cultural trends that surround it on its journey from distant aquifers to our supermarkets and homes.

Royte looks at the various sources of drinking water (including the embattled Maine town that Poland Spring exports from), the chemicals we dump into it to make it potable, and the real differences between tap and bottled.

Bottlemania is the story of one of the greatest marketing coups of the 20th century and one of the most troubling issues facing our environment today. With a new afterword on the developing issues in clean water around the world.©2009 Elizabeth Royte (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This portrait of the science, commerce and politics of potable water is an entertaining and eye-opening narrative." (Publishers Weekly)

Informative but dated (2007)

Despite being almost 20 years old, this was an informative listen about the bottled water industry with a particular focus on Poland Springs in Fryeburg Maine. I would love an update with a discussion about Nestle/Zephyrhills in Florida. The performance was good but the mispronunciation of the Saco River made me cringe every time.

WOW

Would you listen to Bottlemania again? Why?

I have listened to it twice as I wanted to make sure I understood everything correctly. I was amazed on what I did not know about bottled water.

Decent introduction to Tap vs Bottle

Elizabeth Royte has done a very good job of presenting the tap water vs bottled water argument. It is a nuanced and complicated issue. However, for readers interested in a broader discussion of the water issues, there are more comprehensive books.