Here in Arizona and the rest of the desert Southwest, the future may very well be determined in large part by water — how much we have, and how it’s distributed.

And the impact of climate change is dramatically increasing how challenging that future could look.

But the presence of water has driven societies for thousands of years and has often played a role in who has power and control over nations, regions and empires.

In his new book, "Water: A Biography," Giulio Boccaletti attempts to tell the history of water from ancient times to the present and how influential it has been — and continues to be. 

The Show spoke with him to learn about the relationship between water and mankind.

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