From the Bookshelf of The Greener Reader…

Silent Spring

Rachel Carson

Start date: June 1, 2013

Finish date: July 2, 2013

Discussion: Silent Spring Discussion

Discussion leader: Marguerite Harden

Why we're reading this: The book is referenced all the time, but who has actually gotten to read it yet? Let's all read this clas…more
[close] The book is referenced all the time, but who has actually gotten to read it yet? Let's all read this classic book that set the stage for the modern environmental movement.

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Silent Spring Discussion

How outdated in Silent Spring, really?
By Marguerite · 9 posts · 96 views

last updated Jul 29, 2017 02:43PM

Inaccuracies/ Faults with Silent Spring
By Marguerite · 5 posts · 73 views

last updated Jul 29, 2017 02:21PM

What Members Thought

Feb 23, 2012 blereader rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-more-than-once, highly-influential, español, environment

I know of folks who are highly vehement against Carson. I cannot understand this, and can only assume that they have never actually read Silent Spring and instead indulge in third-party aspersions. For any in this situation, I would suggest reading at least chapters 16 and 17, then looking at the screwworm barrier maintenance program in existence today, "one of the greatest entomological success stories of all times" (USDA APHIS). The enterprise keeps screwworms from retaking North and Central A I know of folks who are highly vehement against Carson. I cannot understand this, and can only assume that they have never actually read Silent Spring and instead indulge in third-party aspersions. For any in this situation, I would suggest reading at least chapters 16 and 17, then looking at the screwworm barrier maintenance program in existence today, "one of the greatest entomological success stories of all times" (USDA APHIS). The enterprise keeps screwworms from retaking North and Central America and literally drilling to death not only livestock, but also human lives. The program relies on releasing sterilized flies. In chapter 17, Carson cites this case study of the screwworm as an example of an alternative to chemical pesticides that as far back as the 1930s proved highly effective and targeted, and required minimal costs. While citing limitations to the method of sterilization in general (such as population density and life cycle considerations), Carson urged scientists and the public to give greater attention to this method as well as other alternatives, rather than relying quite so heavily on cloud spraying and other haphazard uses of chemical pesticides.

Carson did not endorse eliminating chemical pesticides altogether. Carson spoke out against its liberal and indiscriminate use, and the dearth of research into potentially powerful and cost-effective alternatives, including selective spraying with chemical pesticides.

A source of inspiration and critical study. Not an easy book to read; each page is very weighty and pithy. But it is worth the effort as her prose is powerful, yet calm, elegant and dignified. (If you want to read it but are having trouble with the repetition, etc., perhaps try listening to it on tape).

A few things are out-of-date, such as the section about Warburg's hypothesis; a newer version of Silent Spring will note this and other updates in the margins. Otherwise, one of the hallmarks of Silent Spring is how forward-looking it was on topics that were still new and fresh at the time.

This is a book I plan to read again and again, wearing out the bind while putting notes in the margins and highlighting memorable quotes--so far I have read Silent Spring in English and Spanish, and both versions are beautifully written. Favorite quote: chapter 13, biologist George Wald states that when you look intensely into a very narrow subject matter, one can contemplate the universe. ...more

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