Is A River Alive? is the second Robert Macfarlane book I’ve read after The Gifts of Reading, and once again, his words felt like walking through a mysterious forest with a dear friend who knows every hidden path. He writes in that gentle, storytelling words of his, full of wonder, wisdom, and poetic beauty. They’re rich with quotes, curious facts, and a deep reverence for nature.

In this book, Macfarlane follows the flow of three different rivers, weaving together encounters with activists, scientists, and local communities who are doing the quiet, difficult work of protecting these waterways. Through their stories, he returns again and again to one powerful question: Can a river be alive?

The answers come in many forms, some spoken and some felt, then they gather like a current, building toward a resonant and thoughtful yes.

The idea of granting rivers legal rights, similar to how corporations have them feels radical, at first. But the more you read, the more it starts to make perfect sense. In some parts of the world, it’s already happening. Still, the journey is far from smooth. Development and profit often push nature to the margins.

Is A River Alive? blends travel writing, nature writing, and big-picture thinking in a way that’s both grounded and expansive. It made me pause, reflect, and see the world a little differently.

My Favorite Bits

To be silenced is not the same as to be silent; to go unheard is not the same as to be speechless.

Robert Macfarlane, Is A River Alive?

No one is without another.

Robert Macfarlane, Is A River Alive?

Author: Robert Macfarlane
Publication date: 1 May 2025
Number of pages: 384 pages