 Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Rachel Carson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subjects | |
| Published | September 27, 1962 (Houghton Mifflin) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover · paperback) |
Silent Spring is an environmental science book by Rachel Carson.[1] Published on September 27, 1962, the book documented the environmental harm caused by the indiscriminate use of DDT, a pesticide used by soldiers during WW2. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting the industry's marketing claims unquestioningly.
In the late 1950s, Carson began to work on environmental conservation, especially environmental problems that she believed were caused by synthetic pesticides. The result of her research was Silent Spring, which brought environmental concerns to the American public. The book was met with fierce opposition by chemical companies, but it swayed public opinion and led to a reversal in U.S. pesticide policy, a nationwide ban on DDT for agricultural uses,[2] and an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.[3][4]
In 2006, Silent Spring was named one of the 25 greatest science books of all time by the editors of Discover magazine.[5]
- ^ McLaughlin, Dorothy. "Fooling with Nature: Silent Spring Revisited". Frontline. PBS. Archived from the original on March 10, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "DDT". United States Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original on October 22, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
- ^ Paull, John (2013) "The Rachel Carson Letters and the Making of Silent Spring" Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine, Sage Open, 3 (July):1–12.
- ^ Glausiusz, Josie (2007), "Better Planet: Can A Maligned Pesticide Save Lives?" Discover Magazine. p. 34.
- ^ "25 Greatest Science Books of All Time". Discover Magazine. December 2006. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2008.