Silent Spring

By: Rachel Carson

Narrated by: Kaiulani Lee

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in 1962, Silent Spring can single-handedly be credited with sounding the alarm and raising awareness of humankind's collective impact on its own future through chemical pollution. No other book has so strongly influenced the environmental conscience of Americans and the world at large.

©1962 Rachel Carson (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"Silent Spring came as a cry in the wilderness, a deeply felt, thoroughly researched, and brilliantly written argument that changed the course of history." (Al Gore)

A must read

One of the most powerful books I’ve read, and one of the most eloquent performances I’ve heard. Kaiulani Lee truly does justice to Rachel Carson, who may be the most poetic scientist of all time.

Powerfully Enlightening - Presently Relevant

The author raised my awareness of the importance with which should view all life surrounding us. Her writing engenders a healthy respect for all life, including our own and how we are the primary catalyst and active participant in either our own destruction and the life surrounding us or the respectful stewards of the same. The narrator read as though she were the writer. This book should be in every government, school, business, and home library. I plan to listen to this again.

Great Work

I love that this book sparked such a change in how people behave. It gives me a lot of hope for our species that we are capable of seeing whats happening and changing. Carson writes in a beautiful way

Enlightening!

I loved this book! Very enlightening! Thank you Dr. Johnson. You were right! I will share .

Review

Interesting but monotonous narration. Almost computer like which did not make it so enjoyable. However, the topic itself is worth it.

Relevant To 2023 and Beyond

Over 50 years old and still relevant. It provides an excellent foundation to anyone interested in empowering themselves with environmental knowledge based in scientific fact. People will argue banning certain chemicals caused more deaths etc. due to insects, but what they seem to miss the point of, is the greater tragedy of using these chemicals (will and do) impact the health of every human being alive at the cellular level (as well as all life). This degeneration of cells leads to cancer, reproductive harm, and other autoimmune issues that are rapidly growing today. (Look at the statistics and how it correlates to the mass-use of chemicals) Another key point, is that these chemicals do no break-down in the body, they are stored and are passed on to our children, continuing to compound generation after generation leading to health issues in the very young.

Carson is my hero, and she had the gumption to use her intellect and honesty to educate the public, while corporations and individuals who managed them, openly tried to vilify and discredit her, because they didn’t care for the public or their employees and wanted to make money.

Unfortunately, today we see mega corporations like DuPont, Exxon, 3M, and so many more, still profiting off of the unknowing masses. Today, there is no more relevant time to read this book than now, and use it as a way to understand what exactly is on the line when we speak and do nothing.

Happy ready!

Very Informative

Very informative, especially when you consider the fact that the book was written 60 years ago.

Still Relevent

I didn’t read this book in my youth, even though I studied integrated pest management and organic farming in college. I was interested in learning if this book was still relevant. It is in many ways. Sadly, some of the promising methods, such as BT have had negative side effects. Overall, I highly recommend this book. 

A Great Book

An amazing read, Carson is an exceptional writer and the subject is as prescient today as it was when she penned it in the early 60's.

This book has been ranked one of the top most influential books in the twentieth century and Carson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work on this subject. I highly recommend it.

EPA NEWBIES A MUST READ

Society has come a long way since the publishing of this book. I hope it does not back slide.