Silent Spring

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). This fortieth anniversary edition celebrates Rachel Carson's watershed book with a new introduction by the author and activist Terry Tempest Williams and a new afterword by the acclaimed Rachel Carson biographer Linda Lear, who tells the story of Carson's courageous defense of her truths in the face of ruthless assault from the chemical industry in the year following the publication of Silent... First Published In 1962, This Book Alerted A Large Audience To The Environmental And Human Dangers Of Indiscriminate Use Of Pesticides. The Outcry That Followed Its Publication Forced The Banning Of Ddt And Spurred Revolutionary Changes In The Laws Affecting Our Air, Land, And Water. Silent Spring Became A Runaway Bestseller, With International Reverberations ... 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). This Fortieth Anniversary Edition Celebrates The Author's Watershed Book With New Essays By The Author And Scientist Edward O. Wilson And The Acclaimed Biographer Linda Lear, Who Tells The Story Of Carson's Courageous Defense Of Her Truths In The Face Of Ruthless Assault From The Chemical Industry In 1963, The Year Following The Publication Of Silent Spring And Before Her Untimely Death In 1964. A Fable For Tomorrow -- The Obligation To Endure -- Elixirs Of Death -- Surface Waters And Underground Seas -- Realms Of The Soil -- Earth's Green Mantle -- Needless Havoc -- And No Birds Sing -- Rivers Of Death -- Indiscriminately From The Skies -- Beyond The Dreams Of The Borgias -- The Human Price -- Through A Narrow Window -- One In Every Four -- Nature Fights Back -- The Rumblings Of An Avalanche -- The Other Road. Rachel Carson ; Introduction By Linda Lear ; Afterword By Edward O. Wilson ; [drawings By Lois And Louis Darling]. A Mariner Book. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [301]-355) And Index. "First published in 1962, this book alerted a large audience to the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides. The outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred 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'). This fortieth anniversary edition celebrates the author's watershed book with new essays by the author and scientist Edward O. Wilson and the acclaimed biographer Linda Lear, who tells the story of Carson's courageous defense of her truths in the face of ruthless assault from the chemical industry in 1963, the year following the publication of Silent Spring and before her untimely death in 1964"--Publisher's description Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was first published in three serialized excerpts in the New Yorker in June of 1962. The book appeared in September of that year and the outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century. First published in 1962, Silent spring can single-handedly be credited with sounding the alarm and raising the awareness of humankind's collective impact on its own future through chemical pollution. Scientist and pioneering enviornmentalist Rachel Carson presents a detailed account of the development of military biocides and their derivative cousins: our common pesticides and herbicides "An important, controversial account ... of the way in which man's use of poisons to control insect pests and unwanted vegetation is changing the balance of nature." Booklist. This account of the effects of pesticides on the environment launched the environmental movement in America.