The Water Method Man (1972) is the second published novel by American novelist John Irving. A little-known fact about this novel is that Irving, for a time, considered making the "Old Low Norse" poem, "Akthelt and Gunnel", into his actual second novel. It was going to be called, Love Among the Greths. But after reading about Walker Percy's novel, Love in the Ruins, Irving abandoned the whimsical idea and wrote the now-published novel.