Silent Spring

4 Pages 938 Words

Silent Spring Book Review


Rachel Louise Carson (1907-64) was an American marine biologist, and author of widely read books on ecological themes. Carson was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania, and educated at the former Pennsylvania College for Women and Johns Hopkins University. Rachel Carson taught Zoology at the University of Maryland from 1931 to 1936. She was an aquatic biologist at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and its successor, the Fish and Wildlife Service, from 1936 to 1952. Rachel Carson wrote 4 books including The Sea Around Us for which she was awarded the 1952 National Book Award for nonfiction. At the end of Rachel Carson's career she wrote Silent Spring, which questioned the use of Chemical Pesticides and was responsible for arousing worldwide concern for the preservation of the environment.
Silent Spring takes a hard look at the effects of the insecticides, weed killers and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture. By introducing these deadly substances, we have poisoned are lakes, streams, wild and domestic animals, and even ourselves. The book focuses on the importance of balance within the environment. Rachel Carson wrote... "Where spraying destroys not only the insects but also their principle enemy, the birds. When later there is a resurgence in the insect population, as almost always happens, the birds are not there to keep their numbers in check." Carson examines the way dangerous chemicals have been used without sufficient research or regard for their potential harm to wildlife, water, soil, and humans, creating an evil chain of poisoning and death.
The over use of DDT, dieldrin and other pesticides eventually poisoned an entire world of living things. Silent Spring not only recognizes the severity of the chemicals usage but also recognizes the effect of substance use on a community. It helped people to look at the whole picture, to look into the future instead of the present. ...