Rachel Carson's Silent Spring: Words that changed the World

by Alex MacGillivray, Neil Turnbull (Editor), James Petro (Editor)

From the final decades of the eighteenth century to the present day, a relatively few social and political documents have been written and circulated, then have gone on to change the course of human history. The Manifesto Series surveys some of those documents, presents an account of each manifesto�s immediate impact, then explains how and why its influence spread to a wider audience. Brief and concisely written, each title in this series makes engrossing reading and provides readers with insights into the dynamics of modern history. Each title in this series is enhanced with approximately 70 color illustrations. Lengthy excerpts from Rachel Carson�s compelling Silent Spring are presented in this book, with extensive commentary and analysis. Carson�s book, published in the 1960s, exposed the hazards inflicted on the earth�s environment by powerful industrial concerns. Her book focused especially on the harmful effects of DDT, while on a broader level it also questioned the domination of our culture by modern technology. Silent Spring thus became a springboard for a multitude of environmental movements and reforms which, to the present day, influence all of our lives for the better.

Genres: Science, Environment

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2004

Reviews

[Diane Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short and concise history of Rachel Carson's life and events leading up to the publication of Silent Spring, as well as events after the publication, woven together with a history of pesticides, the environmental movement, conservationism, and much more. Really made me want to go back and re-read Silent Spring! Highly recommended!

[Greg Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

a neat and appealing commentary of one of the most significant books of the 20th century (or ever); looks to be one of a series; nicely formatted; sympathetic and sufficiently encouraging for the reader to actually read the real thing

[Reema · Rating 4 out of 5]

good if brief overview. astounding and revelatory in hindsight how much opposition--and bias--carson faced down. particularly the ridiculous sexist comments leveled at her by institutional groups and the media. and esp. given how transformative her book was in shaping today's environmental justice movement. her book really brought the environmental movement (largely conservationist up til then, i think) into people's homes, so that they were much clearer and more alarmed at the profound daily devastation created by chemicals/industry.

[N.A. Forbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachael Carson was perhaps the first to realize the devastating effects pollution was having on the environment. Her research has since been expounded upon and her conclusions have been verified time after time. If our planet has any hope of turning back the tide, it will be in great part a result of her work.

[Gerald]

mine is published 1962, w/ original illustrations by Lois & Louis Darling