- Unknown Binding: 317 pages
- Publisher: Penguin in association with H.Hamilton (1965)
- Language English
- ASIN: B001AH22CQ
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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First Sentence
THERE WAS ONCE a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THERE WAS ONCE a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read the original version of this book published in 1962, and I believe this book should be compulsory reading not only for every person who says that s/he cares for the environment, but also for those that say they don't care. Maybe it'll make them care. The book is a strong indictment against the chemical industry and the havoc that their products create in every part of the world (including our cosy homes), about the dangers of more and more insects and pests becoming resistent to chemicals and a strong call to look for alternatives that do not damage all our lives (animal, plant and human). But when I read the newspapers, not much appears to have changed in almost 40 years: many of us (especially politicians) still live in the back pockets of the chemical industry! After all, money and jobs are more important than saving what is left, isn't it?
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"The sedge is wither'd from the lake, and no bird sings." So begins this book with an eerie quote from Keats. Imagine a world without birdsong, with decreased biodiversity and increasingly threatened species, on account of human ignorance and technological pollution. Rachel Carson tells it like it is in Silent Spring, credited by many as the book which ignited the environmental revolution in the 60's. "What we have to face is not an occasional dose of poison which has accidentally got into some article of food, but a persistent and continuous poisoning of the whole human environment". Written in 1962, this book is more relevant today than ever, and based on science that still holds good. It will basically scare the hell out of you- you may never reach for an innocent looking can of fly spray or some other household chemical again. The science of Clinical Ecology wasn't around when Rachel Carson wrote this book, and I credit her with founding a whole science based on her tireless work of advocacy for the cause against the agrochemical and pharmaceutical machine. Due to family circumstances and her humanity in caring for her sick and elderly parents, and then her own breast cancer, she was unable to undertake doctoral work. I believe she is a worthy candidate for a posthumous award- a shining light in the science world who deserves far more credit for her work.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In "Any Questions" on BBC Radio 4 a panel of politicians were quizzed in turn as to one person they thought would be regarded as an important person in the future from the 20th century who improved the lot of us humans. Of about four panelists one said Nelson Mandela. Important though Mandela is, none of the other panelists had anyone else to suggest so they also ended up saying Nelson Mandela. I would have mentioned Rachel Carson representing as yet an unsung heroine - the pioneer of the "Deep Ecology" movement.
Unfortunately a lot of what she had to say is still ignored by mainstream politicians though enough has trickled through to create a stream of people who think in the context of concern for all life on Earth rather than how best one group of us can dominate and manipulate our human and environmental resources at irreplaceable cost to life as we know it.
This is the book that started it all - showing us that science and technology unrestrained were not the solution to all our problems. The EPA at least owes its very existence to Carson.
I salute Carson and her book as a lighthouse that guided our thinking from the cliffs of short sighted destructiveness. Long may the beacon prevail.
This is an important book. Perhaps dated, Carson's voice is not shrill but reasoned and strident. A classic worth sharing and upgrading.
Unfortunately a lot of what she had to say is still ignored by mainstream politicians though enough has trickled through to create a stream of people who think in the context of concern for all life on Earth rather than how best one group of us can dominate and manipulate our human and environmental resources at irreplaceable cost to life as we know it.
This is the book that started it all - showing us that science and technology unrestrained were not the solution to all our problems. The EPA at least owes its very existence to Carson.
I salute Carson and her book as a lighthouse that guided our thinking from the cliffs of short sighted destructiveness. Long may the beacon prevail.
This is an important book. Perhaps dated, Carson's voice is not shrill but reasoned and strident. A classic worth sharing and upgrading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good buy to read such a classic
Can't decide what I think of this book- over the top or truthful and down to earth? Anyway, it is a definite read.
Published 2 months ago by Ms. Katrina Beach
Food for Thought 50 years on
My Biology teacher recomended this book as a must read almost 50 years ago. I finally got round to reading it recently and it's message is as true today as it was back in the early... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alcedo
Very intersting
I brought this to do some background reading before I go to university. It is very interesting and even though it was written in the 60's it has a lot of useful and interesting... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Emily Tabernor
Silent Spring - a warning
I borrowed this book from the local library so was aware of its content, but it was not on the library shelves and had to be ordered. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Greeneliza
Excellent service
I was pleasantly surprised at the condition of this book. For the price I had expected it to be in readable but not fantastic condition. As it was the condition was amazing. Read more
Published 12 months ago by L. Baker
read it and weep
for anyone who cares about the fragile biodiversity of our beautiful planet and believes its our responsibilty to address the crimes against nature we have comitted in the past. Read more
Published 14 months ago by lottedee
Sadly relevant
When reading this book, you cannot help but be filled with an innate sense of sadness, in part due to the horrific tales which Carson tells (all of which are a necessity in order... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Erik Paterson
Book review
Havn't finished reading as yet. Got a little dreary after a while. Bit outdated but hey she did write the thing back along, reference updated info if your really interested in... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Toby Palmer
Slightly dated, but no less interesting for this
An amazing piece of work, and interesting to see where it all began. The book becomes a bit of a slog towards the end mainly because of the repetition of the core ideas. Read more
Published on 9 April 2010 by S. Zacharias
Think twice before you spray
Excellent book that is well written. Takes you on a journey through how mankind is wrecking its own home. Why are we poisoning our own planet? Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2009 by Ferretusmaximus
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