“Missourians have long used and admired their rivers, streams, and springs, but until the twentieth century gave little thought to preserving or protecting them,” writes Loring Bullard in his new book, “Living Waters: The Springs of Missouri”.

More than a shallow look of our state’s many natural fountains, baths, and seeps, this thoughtful treatise delves deep into how our ancestors interacted with springs over time — and how this confluence shaped our history, society, and economy.

The 160-page, heavily photo’d softcover flows with fascinating stories of Missourians’ connections to water and leaves the reader with an understanding on why we should care for our springs now and into our future. Price: $20. Published by the Ozarks Studies Institute, Missouri State University.