White knows water and what it can do to pebbles, people, communities, nations, and the planet. He is responsible for bringing much of what we know about water systems today to our collective attention by initiating the disciplines of floodplain management and natural hazards study, as well as inventing the US national flood plain insurance program. His efforts also include significant research on arid land preservation and work on water systems in developing countries, studies of global warming and nuclear winter, and consultation on international cooperation on water resources. Hinshaw, who holds several academic posts simultaneously, concentrates on White's ability to understand the human factor in nature and to work in a variety of disciplines to get a better understanding of real-world conditions. Hinshaw provides accessible explanations of White's (literally) groundbreaking work, and allows White to speak most eloquently for himself. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less