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Silent Spring
Silent Spring
Author: Rachel Carson
Reading Rachel Carson's books, one has the feeling that she is forever embarked on a voyage of discovery. As a professional writer she uses words to reveal the poetry - which is to say the essential truth and meaning - at the core of any scientific fact. As a trained scientist she has never lost the poet's sense of wonder. — The interests she w...  more »
ISBN: 45747
Pages: 297
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: The Riverside Press
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
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Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Silent Spring on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Bedrock to the environmental movement. Proves that an author has the power to instigate needed changes. Well researched. Solid science.
reviewed Silent Spring on
Helpful Score: 1
what an eye-opener. I'd think that if, in an effort to get rid of mosquitos, an area was sprayed, and then ALL the birds and fish and small animals in the area DIED of obvious chemical poisoning, and people got sick, and the MOSQUITOS WERE FINE⦠then you'd stop spraying and try something else, not spray again and again year after year with same results. that's the government for you.

yes, I know, they've banned DDT. but the same attitudes and lack of scientific method prevail overall. and specifically, they still use chemicals on our food (to the extent of genetically modified roundup ready crops)and there are still chemicals in the water that we don't even know the effects of⦠or, we KNOW that they're harmful, which is worse⦠organic, anyone?

chemical mutagens indeed. and when the book was written, in the 60s, predictions of a substantial increase in children born with developmental problems and defects, which has btw come true.

thank god she got the ball rolling. it's not rolling real fast, mind you, but at least it's rolling.
reviewed Silent Spring on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
"Silent Spring" is perhaps even more relevant today than when it was first published more than fifty years ago. Ms. Carson tells the story of DDT's effects on birds, but in the years since then the chemicals industry has doubled or tripled the number of nasty pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides being produced (some of which were supposed to be "safe" substitutes for DDT).

Ms. Carson was a prophet. She was also a fine writer. She tells a horrifying story, but she tells it beautifully.
reviewed Silent Spring on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the most important books of the twentieth century. Its age shows sometimes, but the writing remains lucid and too many of the concerns still valid.
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reviewed Silent Spring on + 2 more book reviews
Phenomenal book. For the time it was written, it was truly visionary. Much of the information is still incredibly relevant today. Thank you, Rachel.
reviewed Silent Spring on + 17 more book reviews
Really enjoyed this book. It is very well written. Highly recommended.
reviewed Silent Spring on + 813 more book reviews
This book is a relevant today as it was when published n 1962. It is a compelling examination of the use of chemicals as a means of combating insects, of greedy manufacturers and investors, of governments that are out of control, and of scientists who sell out to the highest bidder. All this while potentially more effective controls have been known for decades (at least).
reviewed Silent Spring on + 19 more book reviews
classic book, 1970 edition.
tamara avatar reviewed Silent Spring on + 78 more book reviews
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was a very fascinating novel. It is the "Environmental Bible" and started the environmental conservation movement.She directly focuses on the issue of DDT and other toxic chemicals that are used as pesticides and insecticides. Carson states how we, as humans, have caused many of the problems that Earth has encountered. Many organisms are no longer in existence because of our decisions and actions. I really enjoy how she gives a plethora of examples for each topic. Each chapter focuses on a cause of the environmental issues as well as the effects. I also enjoy her choice in the title of the novel. The first chapter is short and sweet; she speaks of birds that are no longer in existence or no longer living in that particular area and states how it was a silent spring. You learn a lot from her novel and if you're interested in environmental issues and even chemistry this book is vital to your studies. Overall, the book was good. However there were a few minor things I did not care much for. She was quite repetitious at times and got into depth a bit too much. I also felt that the book sort of lacked a plot which made itdifficult to stay focused. Other than that, Silent Spring is a brilliant novel and Rachel Carson deserves big time kudos for her excellent job in reshaping many people's views of the environment.
treehuggernumberone avatar reviewed Silent Spring on
Rachel Carson's classic on man's effect on the world's ecology.

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