Pamela Michael is the editor of “The Gift of Rivers: True Stories of Life on the Water,” a collection of writings by distinguished and emerging authors examining the spiritual, practical, and historical significance of rivers. Our collection here includes all seventeen rivers referenced in her book published by Travelers’ Tales.

The book is a must-have for river enthusiasts and budgeting globetrotters as readers can travel vicariously and experience world rivers through the eyes of luminary authors. Robert Hass, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, explores in the book’s introduction how rivers have shaped societies and stimulated people’s imaginations since the beginning of time. Other prominent contributors to “The Gift of Rivers” includes Richard Bangs, Simon Winchester, Isabel Allende, Barry Lopez, Wendell Berry, Jan Morris, and William Least Heat-Moon.

* Celebrated as a part of our collection.