Google, Apple, Amazon, Uber: companies like these have come to embody innovation, efficiency, and success. How often is the environmental movement characterized in the same terms? Sadly, conservation is frequently seen as a losing battle, waged by well-meaning, but ultimately ineffective idealists. Joe Whitworth argues it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, it can’t be this way if we are to maintain our economy, let alone our health or the planet’s.

In Quantified, Whitworth draws lessons from the world’s most tech-savvy, high-impact organizations to show how we can make real gains for the environment. The principles of his approach, dubbed quantified conservation, will be familiar to any thriving entrepreneur: situational awareness, bold outcomes, innovation and technology, data and analytics, and gain-focused investment. This no-nonsense strategy builds on the inspirational environmental work begun in the 1970s, while recognizing that the next economy will demand new solutions.

As President of The Freshwater Trust, Whitworth has put quantified conservation into practice, pioneering the model of a “do-tank” that is dramatically changing how rivers can get restored across the United States. The stories in Quantified highlight the most precious of resources—water—but they apply to any environmental effort. Whether in the realm of policy, agriculture, business, or philanthropy, Whitworth is charting a new course for conservation.

Joe Whitworth has been responsible for the strategic direction of The Freshwater Trust, a nonprofit river restoration organization, for more than a decade. A sought-after speaker, he hosts the podcast Freshwater Talk, has been interviewed by Forbes, spoken at Social Capital Markets, and done a TEDx talk. Whitworth also blogs for Huffington Post, has authored op-eds and columns from Iowa to Oregon, and has been published in both popular and technical journals. He is a patented inventor and an advisor to B Corps, foundations, and governments.

"Quantified is a blueprint for fundamentally changing the nation's approach to conservation."

"Quantified reveals our mounting water issues as dire, important, and solvable."

"Quantified provides an analysis of why old models aren't working and how we can each play a role in optimizing for a shared and durable prosperity by rigorously quantifying benefits for all stakeholders."

"A clear-eyed view for how business should think about the critical resource of water in the coming century."

"By shifting away from procedure-based conflicts to outcome-based solutions, Quantified describes a paradigm that can work for production agriculture and the environment."

"From investment to governance to conservation, this book lays out a path that very few knew existed."

"If you believe in audacious, courageous and leapfrog solutions to save the planet, this book is for you. It's not just for environmentalists but for philanthropists and anyone brave enough to stand up and be accountable for real impact."

"Cogent, compelling, and provocative."