Can water be cool? Most definitely--if it’s enhanced, infused, and revved up like the thirst-quenching recipes found in Cool Waters. As the authors write in their introduction, “Water is the basis of all life on earth, and its consumption is the very foundation of a healthy lifestyle.” But plain water is just so, well, plain. Enter Cool Waters. and its 50 ways to turn ordinary water into extraordinary, healthful, tasty beverages.

This unique cookbook starts off with a chapter of Quick Quenchers--recipes with just a few ingredients and fast, easy steps to get readers going. Honeydew-Mint Mist, Blueberry Twist, Lychee and Lime Water, and Red Cherry Spritzer all promise to refresh and revive. Want an alternative to those sugary sports drinks, with their artificial flavors and colors? Try the recipes in the Nutritious Nectars chapter--such as Workout Fuel, Antioxidant Power, Liquid Iron, and Wind-Down--which deliver superior rehydration and other benefits without any added sweeteners or unpronounceable ingredients. Travel the world in the Special Sippers chapter, with exotic beverages such as Orange and Tamarind Elixir, Sangria de Agua, and Rain from Spain. As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a chapter on making specially flavored ice cubes--from mint to Jamaican-spiced pineapple--and a guide to creating flavored waters to suit your personal tastes. Lovely color photos throughout the book amply demonstrate that water doesn’t have to be boring.