Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.

Rivers run deep. They are the source of civilizations, philosophical contemplation, and inspiration for human culture and creation. They defy 'thingness' – it is hard to say where a river starts or ends. Despite their ambiguity, rivers are ever present, whether through the cleansing baptismal waters of the river Jordan in the Bible or the metaphors of soul singer Sam Cooke, the river is a device for communicating human experience and contemplation.

With River, Peter B. Campbell interweaves his personal experience as an underwater archaeologist with literature, poetry, and music. Each chapter is a concise deep dive, filled with the stories of celebrated rivers, details of important archaeological sites or cultural practices, and insights from leading river philosophers and writers.