Water Borne

“This is where Rubinstein shines — with people … He was vulnerable, but he opened his arms and welcomed in humanity. That’s a pilgrimage.” — Literary Review of Canada
“In an age where that connection often feels broken, this book offers an alternative: Water is a unifier.” — Mountain Life Magazine
“With Water Borne, his engaging tale of traveling solo for more than 1,200 miles on his paddleboard, Dan Rubinstein cements his place among today’s great outdoor adventurers. I’ve been exploring the Hudson River for decades and was delighted to experience the river anew through his lively writing and wry observations about life and the power of water to heal.” — Ned Sullivan, President, Scenic Hudson
“Dan Rubinstein’s Water Borne is exhilarating, meditative, and funny — but most of all, it’s a paean to the power of blue space in our lives, our communities and our society. You won’t be able to read it without feeling an overpowering urge to get wet.” — Alex Hutchinson, New York Times bestselling author of The Explorer’s Gene
“Water Borne is a captivating journey that made me want to escape the office, grab a paddleboard, and truly reconnect with the world. Dan Rubinstein is a masterful storyteller, guiding us through the Great Lakes Basin with vivid prose that moves seamlessly from the sublime beauty of open water to the gritty realities of industrial shorelines. More than just a travelogue, this book dives deep into the inland maritime history that shaped Canada and the northeastern U.S., revealing how these waterways built nations and continue to shape our future. A must-read for anyone drawn to the intersection of nature, history, and adventure.” — Colin Angus, author and adventurer
“Modern humans have separated ourselves from water, burying streams, confining rivers, dumping waste. Rubinstein’s contemplative journey offers us poignant reconnection, stitching threads of intimacy as he confronts industrial devastation, state violence against Indigenous water defenders, our ongoing responsibility to nature, and the beauty that persists.” — Erica Gies, author of Water Always Wins
“Got to read this beauty in galleys and loved every drop.” — Chris Dombrowski, author of The River You Touch: Making a Life on Moving Water
“Water Borne blends travel writing with science and shows the reader how rivers, lakes, and shorelines can inspire joy, wellness, and activism…a refreshing read for anyone who loves spending time by the water.” — Blue Dot Living

Dan Rubinstein is an Ottawa-based writer, editor, and stand-up paddleboarder. His first book, Born to Walk, was a finalist for the Ottawa Book Awards and Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. He’s also a National Magazine Award–winning journalist who contributes to publications such as The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, and enRoute, and he’s a former editor at Canadian Geographic magazine.

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