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Is a River Alive?

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Is a River Alive?

By: Robert Macfarlane
Narrated by: Robert Macfarlane
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new book – which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title.

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 listener on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept.

The book flows first to northern Ecuador, where a miraculous cloud-forest and its rivers are threatened by goldmining.

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.

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.

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.

©2025 Robert Macfarlane (P)2025 Penguin Audio Ecosystems & Habitats Environment Natural Resources Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Politics & Government Science Inspiring

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Critic reviews

A rich and visionary work of immense beauty. Macfarlane is a memory keeper. What is broken in our societies, he mends with words. Rarely does a book hold such power, passion, and poetry in its exploration of nature. Read this to feel inspired, moved, and ultimately, alive (Elif Shafak)
This book is a beautiful, wild exploration of an ancient idea: that rivers are living participants in a living world. Robert Macfarlane’s astonishing telling of the lives of three rivers reveals how these vital flow forms have the power not only to shape and reshape the planet, but also our thoughts, feelings, and worldviews. Is a River Alive? is a breathtaking work that speaks powerfully to this moment of crisis and transformation (Merlin Sheldrake)
This book is itself a river of poetic prose, an invitation to get onboard and float through the rapids of encounters with places and people, the eddies of ideas, to navigate the resurgence of Indigenous worldviews through three extraordinary journeys recounted with a vividness that lifts readers out of themselves and into these waterscapes. Read it for pleasure, read it for illumination, read it for confirmation that our world is changing in wonderful as well as terrible ways (Rebecca Solnit)
Profound and playful, revelatory and realistic, intimate and epic, humble and absolutely huge – this supremely enjoyable masterpiece will change the world (Patrick Barkham)
In answering this essential question of matter or life-force, Macfarlane has created a braided, roaring and brilliant book that is a true landmark in more-than-human writing . . . A personal and beautifully poetic polemic, this may be Macfarlane’s best book yet (Rob Cowen)
Shattering and sublime, Is a River Alive? offers a question, an answer, and perhaps the greatest challenge and opportunity of our times: to accept our place in the mesh of things and act accordingly in the interests of the whole (Amy Jane Beer)
Is A River Alive? is a beautifully written, poetic testament to the vitality of the Earth and the forms of politics that can be based upon that premise (Amitav Ghosh)
Robert Macfarlane is a once-in-a-generation virtuoso, and I don’t know when his kaleidoscopic language and world-expanding scholarship have been used to more potent effect than in this impassioned, resounding affirmative to the title’s urgent question (John Vaillant)
All stars
Most relevant  
What a wonderful illustrator with words. Robert McFarlane has incredible colleagues and friends who journey with him on secret adventures into both forgotton and obviously urban environments. He depicts many places and lifeforms in both pure, thriving, and degraded ecosystems, that many maybe largely unaware of. A mystical and enticing listening experience.

Earth jurisprudence made real

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He writes passionately, but a bit on the florid side for me. There's a terrible lack of politics in the story, no recognition that the dismantling of capitalism, putting the brakes on expansionist policies that hoover up resources with no regard for the future of the people, the creatures and the planet. He uses too many big words that I forget to look up afterwards, as I listen while I'm driving or doing some tedious task. His voice, though is very relaxing and I need that in my life. I envy his resources to be able to do these projects, I've never had the money and now I don't have the strength. I've read a few of his books and they always teach me something, lots of things, actually. Definitely worth a read/listen.

He cares passionately about his subject.

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Robert MacFarlane's "Is a River Alive?" is, without a doubt, his most profound and essential work to date. This isn't merely a book; it's an achingly beautiful experience, particularly when absorbed in the author's own voice, which lends an undeniable authenticity to every carefully chosen word.
In this captivating animistic prose-poem, Mr MacFarlane invites us into a deeper relationship with the natural world, challenging our perceptions and reigniting a sense of wonder. His journey takes him to Ecuador, India, and Canada, where he visits with environmentalists and activists fighting to protect their rivers. Through his eyes, we witness the disheartening governmental and corporate indifference to the plight of these vital waterways.
I am especially grateful to him for introducing me to the exquisite poetry of the Innu poet Rita Mestokosho, whose voice, like the river itself, flows through the pages relating to Canada, enriching the journey.
"Is a River Alive?" resonates long after the final word, a testament to Robert MacFarlane's singular ability to connect us to the pulsing heart of our planet and the urgent need to protect it.

An Animistic prose-poem for our times

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Lyrical reading and passionate at times. Thoroughly recommend. Educational but enjoyable. Even better if you like Johnny flynn and Wet Leg!

Beautifully read by the author

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The writing is deliciously but devastatingly evocative and brings the impact of what is happening slamming into you heart.
As someone who has spent much of my life in water, this is a visceral read and I defy anyone not to be moved by it

Devastatingly evocative

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It took me a while to get into this book as it almost has its own river language. But as I settled into it. I loved the narration and the story telling and being able to see rivers in a whole new way; through history, experience and community. What a powerful book.

A new language for Rivers

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Three contrasting and poetic portraits on the impact of capitalist societies on world’s river systems. This old school rationalist couldn’t quite accompany the illustrious author on all his natural mystic flights, but excellent nonetheless.

Natural Mystic

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Thank you for reading this book yourselves and sharing the journeys.
So happy to have been able to listen to the wisdom so beautifully described.

Rivers are alive

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Like :- The story…
Dislike:- Not enough scientific evidence to back up the subject of whether a river is alive or not?

Raw natural phenomena…

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The depth and meaning of this book goes beyond ecological writing. It brings humanity and environment together, where they belong by the river.

Ecological and Human Depth

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