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)

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.

The most important book of the century

Another demonstration of corporate immorality associated with the pesticide industry and the dangers of the unexpected consequences of chemicals upon health and the environment. Impeccably researched and stylistically through and brilliantly written.

Changed my outlook on chemical use.

Carson gives countless examples of the small atrocities that combine to paint a horrifying picture, and plants the seed of many different alternatives to spraying.

Since reading Silent Spring I have found myself engaging in discussions with friends and family over common pesticide use and alternatives.

timeless but goes on and on and on and on....

By the time a subject was finished, I struggled to remember the point. So descriptive with examples that you get lost in the slow soft spoken voice.

Living in "Silent Spring, Volume II"

This book deserves five stars in all categories, but I must admit that I had to think twice before clicking the 5th star for "Overall", when the dialog box saying "I loved it" popped up. To say that I loved this book is a bit untrue...I actually HATED this book. I didn't hate Carson's research work, or her writing, or the narrator's work. I hated the facts that were stated, and which are proving themselves out, which Carson puts forth in this book. Do I recommend the book? YES!! ABSOLUTELY!!

Rachel Carson died a little more than a year before I was born, and wrote this book not long before she died. Most of the production, marketing, storage, and application practices of the chemicals she discusses were common parts of the early years of my life. While listening to her descriptions of the way chemicals were marketed and stocked in stores was like being whisked away in a time machine...I could literally SMELL and SEE the "safe" chemicals on those store shelves from 50 years ago! And I was "right there" where all of our lawn and garden supplies were stored, and used, at home.

A few years before listening to this book, my mother passed away from complications related to Alzheimer's. Her brother passed away with a similar malady, just months before I listened to it. Shortly before I listened to the book, my brother-in-law passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or "Lou Gehrig's Disease"). He had been a forester most of his life, and had been on the ground right after many aerial spraying operations to inspect the spray coverage. A few months after listening to the book, a good friend (only a few years older than me) was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Four months later, he lost the battle. A good friend, who is a Viet Nam combat Veteran, deals with the effects of Agent Orange in his retirement years. All of us grew up during the years that Carson discusses in detail, and would have been exposed regularly to many of the chemicals in the book, throughout our lifetimes. Are all of these illnesses and deaths, or any of them, related to the chemical usages that Carson discusses? Is it true that diseases that once seemed rare are now affecting scores of people that we all know, or does modern information accessibility just make it seem that way? Are Carson's predictions coming to fruition? We may never know for sure, but the book will certainly make one think.

I'm not a "sky is falling" type of person. I've lived and worked around many, if not most, of the chemicals Carson discusses. I've made my living in the chemical production industry, and in other industries that are highly dependent on chemicals. I've also made my living in environmental science, management, and regulation. I have a scientifically-based professional history and credentials. I require factual basis and understanding, and I have no use for hype or sensationalism. The information Carson presents just plain makes sense. Her book is written at a layman's level, so there's no need to have a chemistry degree to understand what she's trying to convey.

I highly recommend this book. Not because I think you'll enjoy it...it's not an enjoyable book...but because I think you need to consider the information Carson presents, and come to your own conclusions. For me, it's starting to feel like I'm living in the "Silent Spring, Volume II" that Carson didn't live to write.

Sleepy narration

A little difficult to follow with the audio version. The narrator is ok but put me to sleep with her calm voice more than once.

should have read this a long time ago.

there needs to be a sequel... how are we doing since then.?? so I'm forced to write 15 words.