Silent Spring

Locations
Call Number: Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Conservation / Carson, Rachel, 632.9 Ca
On Shelf At: Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Conservation / Carson, Rachel	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	632.9 Ca	4-week checkout	Due 04-01-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Conservation / Carson, Rachel	4-week checkout	Due 05-05-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Conservation / Carson, Rachel	4-week checkout	Due 04-24-2024
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Conservation / Carson, Rachel	4-week checkout	Due 05-23-2024

"A Mariner book."
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).
A handsome anniversary edition of the classic environmental study discusses the reckless annihilation of fish and birds by the use of pesticides and warns of the possible genetic effects on humans, in a volume that incorporates new essays by Terry Tempest Williams and Linda Lear.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Save the Earth! submitted by Jen Chapin-Smith on July 23, 2013, 5:48pm First published in 1962, "Silent Spring" is the first (or at least one of the first) books about how humans are destroying the environment. "Silent Spring" focuses on the devastating effects the artificial pesticide DDT had on the environment, particularly birds. The book led to a grassroots nationwide movement to ban the chemical and the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Many people attacked Carson for the work, including accusing her of not caring about the future because she had no children of her own (although she was raising her orphaned nephew). President Jimmy Carter posthumously awarded Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Amazing... and important submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on July 11, 2014, 1:43pm An amazing and classic book that was largely responsible for bringing the environmental movement to the general public.

I was largely struck by how much it is like the current book _Slow Death by Rubber Duck_, except Carson was writing about DDT (not much in use now) and other "new" (to the time) pesticides while _Slow Death_ is about all the chemicals deliberately worked into our household products (phthalates, PCBs, PFCs, etc.). I wonder if some years in the future people will read _Slow Death_ with as much head shaking and "why didn't they pay attention?" as I read _Silent Spring_.

I'm officially depressed submitted by tbbrown76 on July 4, 2018, 10:16pm The book, though well written, is a bit of a downer. It is nice to look back 60 years to see what sparked Earth Day and the environmental movement.
5/5 stars
Tom

The Book that launched an environmental movement! submitted by ekjensen on July 11, 2019, 4:52pm Interesting read even after 50 years: Rachel Carson was a scientist near and dear to the hearts of chemists (and others) against the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides et al in the environment without careful consideration to the big picture of the impact on the environment including, but not limited to water, wildlife, insects, plants, and most importantly to man. This book is a valuable book on instruction on how to think, plan and innovate how we deal with insects, in particular, mostly leave them alone.

Classic of the environmental movement submitted by redwood on August 3, 2019, 9:21pm Carson uses many rhetorical strategies to advocate for banning pesticides. A great book for all ages.

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