Silent Spring by Rachel Carson ushered in the Environment Era when published in 1962.
Rating: 5 of 5 – Type: Science
In many ways it was the harbinger of the tumultuous 60s. Whereas the 50s were a quiet Leave it to Beaver era the 60s were civil rights, war protest, riots, and society disruption era typified by Four Dead in Ohio.
In the book Rachel describes mankind’s destruction of the natural order though the use of pesticides in the environment. It is equally a science book and a political call to action on the harm we are inflicting on Nature. The modern environmental movement is the direct result of the book. Many believe the political activism of the 60s started with the public outcry her book spawned.
Unlike many books promoting this cause or that cause Rachel’s analysis and conclusions are backed up by a tome of references. The book’s reference section is almost as large as the rest of the book.
On a personal note I turned 16 the year she published her work. I grew up on a Illinois farm. The day she published the book I probably sprayed DDT around our three milk cows to kill flies twice a day in the barn before I milked them. Thankfully my using caustic chemicals on the farm in my younger days did not cause me lasting harm as those same chemicals have done to many.
Summary – It’s a sobering book that everyone should read.
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