Silent Spring is one of those books you'll find in almost any "top 10" list of environmental books or green books. Originally released in 1962 by natural history writer, Rachel Carson, many credit this scientifically based social critique with launching the environmental movement in the western world.

Understatements aside, this book was by all means simply groundbreaking. It was perhaps the first time that a scientist publicly accused the then still sacred scientific and industrial complex of manufacturing and widely using dangerous chemicals and pesticides such as DDT. Not only that, she also criticized the establishment in not questioning claims made by science and industry.

Prior to that Rachel Carson was usually described as “the essence of gentle scholarship”, with bestselling natural history books such as “Under the Sea Wind,” “The Sea Around Us,” and “The Edge of the Sea.” Unfortunately, plunged into a world of criticism and controversy, Carson died of cancer two years after the publication of Silent Spring.

 Our recommendation:

Silent Spring is an important book and a turning point in the history of the environmental movement. An important read and highly recommended!

 More sources: 

1. Rachel Carson's website - http://www.rachelcarson.org/
2. Silent Sprint wikipedia page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Spring
3. Buy the book at Powell's - http://www.powells.com/biblio/7-9780395683293-1

Related green books, concepts and resources: Ecological footprint, Carbon emissions, Sustainable living, Carbon offsetting

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