Silent Spring
Books | Nature / Ecology
3.8
(475)
Rachel Carson
First Published in 1962, Silent Spring alerted a large audience to the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides, spurring revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. "Silent Spring became a runaway bestseller, with international reverberations ... Even if she had not inspired a generation of activists, Carson would prevail as one of the greatest nature writers in American letters" (Peter Matthiessen, for Time's "100 Most Influential People of the Century"). This fortieth anniversary edition celebrates Rachel Carson's watershed book with new essays by the author and scientist Edward O. Wilson and the acclaimed biographer Linda Lear, who tells the story of Carson's courageous defense of her truths in the face of ruthless assault from the chemical industry in 1963, the year following the publication of Silent Spring and before her untimely death. First published by Houghton Mifflin in 1962, Silent Spring alerted a large audience to the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides, spurring revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. "Silent Spring became a runaway bestseller, with international reverberations . . . [It is] well crafted, fearless and succinct . . . Even if she had not inspired a generation of activists, Carson would prevail as one of the greatest nature writers in American letters" (Peter Matthiessen, for Time's 100 Most Influential People of the Century). This fortieth anniversary edition celebrates Rachel Carson's watershed book with a new introduction by the author and activist Terry Tempest Williams and a new afterword by the acclaimed Rachel Carson biographer Linda Lear, who tells the story of Carson's courageous defense of her truths in the face of ruthless assault from the chemical industry in the year following the publication of Silent Spring and before her untimely death in 1964.
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More Details:
Author
Rachel Carson
Pages
378
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published Date
2002
ISBN
9780618249060 0618249060
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"A book I'm currently reading, for one of my classes, about different environmental issues. If you want to know more about environmental impacts and issues this book is for you."
Kaitlyn Kendall
"Had to read this for English class in high school. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t handle it I thought it was so boring. "
D
Dan
"Interesting to see what has changed and what has not changed when it comes to pesticide control. Written with urgency, which completely explains how this begun an environmental movement"
Chloe Salkeld
"This was a really interesting read. It was occasionally difficult to keep track of the different chemicals, but not too bad overall. It was written in the 1960s, so I had to keep reminding myself not to panic over the effects of pesticides on food, animals, and humans in today's world. These sprayings still do affect our world today, but I'm glad we've moved away from the practices described in this book. I feel like I need a sequel to it though! I want to know the way our practices evolved since the 60s and how well the alternatives to pesticides she described in the final chapter worked."
Julie Brough
"As an environmental scientist, I think it is worth reading. Some of the case studies described are shocking. Makes a strong case for testing, regulating the use of chemicals like pesticides."
Lysandra P
