Silent Spring Revolution

John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening

By: Douglas Brinkley

Narrated by: Stephen Graybill

Length: 29 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed presidential historian Douglas Brinkley chronicles the rise of environmental activism during the Long Sixties (1960-1973), telling the story of an indomitable generation that saved the natural world under the leadership of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

With the detonation of the Trinity explosion in the New Mexico desert in 1945, the United States took control of Earth’s destiny for the first time. After the Truman administration dropped atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II, a grim new epoch had arrived. During the early Cold War years, the federal government routinely detonated nuclear devices in the Nevada desert and the Marshall Islands. Not only was nuclear fallout a public health menace, but entire ecosystems were contaminated with radioactive materials. During the 1950s, an unprecedented postwar economic boom took hold, with America becoming the world’s leading hyperindustrial and military giant. But with this historic prosperity came a heavy cost: oceans began to die, wilderness vanished, the insecticide DDT poisoned ecosystems, wildlife perished, and chronic smog blighted major cities.

In Silent Spring Revolution, Douglas Brinkley pays tribute to those who combated the mauling of the natural world in the Long Sixties: Rachel Carson (a marine biologist and author), David Brower (director of the Sierra Club), Barry Commoner (an environmental justice advocate), Coretta Scott King (an antinuclear activist), Stewart Udall (the secretary of the interior), William O. Douglas (Supreme Court justice), Cesar Chavez (a labor organizer), and other crusaders are profiled with verve and insight.

Carson’s book Silent Spring, published in 1962, depicted how detrimental DDT was to living creatures. The exposé launched an ecological revolution that inspired such landmark legislation as the Wilderness Act (1964), the Clean Air Acts (1963 and 1970), and the Endangered Species Acts (1966, 1969, and 1973). In intimate detail, Brinkley extrapolates on such epic events as the Donora (Pennsylvania) smog incident, JFK’s Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Great Lakes preservation, the Santa Barbara oil spill, and the first Earth Day.

With the United States grappling with climate change and resource exhaustion, Douglas Brinkley’s meticulously researched and deftly written Silent Spring Revolution reminds us that a new generation of twenty-first-century environmentalists can save the planet from ruin.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Douglas Brinkley (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Important history

Love this book as it shows the importance of the environmental movement in the sixties

Poetically Informative

While the information presented in this book is informative and insightful, the excessive use of poetry can be off-putting for some readers. The author has a penchant for using flowery language and metaphors, which can make it difficult to follow along with the main points. I found myself looping back 30 seconds to refresh on the original topic. I understand that the environmental movement was propelled by poets and artists, but I was selfishly looking for the facts without the fluff.

Despite this, the book is still worth reading, especially for those who enjoy poetry. The author's unique writing style adds a certain charm to the book, and it is evident that they put a lot of effort into their work. Overall, "Silent Spring Revolution" is a valuable resource for those looking to expand their knowledge in the environmental movement (especially during the Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon years), but readers should be prepared for a healthy dose of poetry along the way.

Powerful

Sweeping in its voice of progress and how the legal framework sustains the responsibility we all share

Amazing trilogy

This was a great ending to three of the best history books I’ve read. This series was superbly written (but would you expect anything less from Mr. Brinkley?) I may have to start back over with the first one now.

Detailed look at the development of the modern environmental movement.

Brinkley does a great job here covering the environmental movement in detail. He draws a clear delineation between Truman and Eisenhower - neither of whom gave much thought to the environment - to JFK, who very much did because of his upbringing on the Massachusetts seashore. JFK was then followed by LBJ, who passed a bevy of environmental laws (and then pissed away all his goodwill with the movement over Vietnam), and then Nixon, who had a surprisingly good environmental record (in contrast to Reagan), The other heroes of the book are Rachel Carson, Stewart Udall, and William O. Douglas. It’s heartening to think of the successful efforts to stop the massive pollution caused by nuclear tests, industrial runoff, and DDT, knowing that we will need to do even more to fight climate change.

Painted a beautiful and inspiring view of nature, naturalists, and our shared legacy

I found the early chapters and personalities inspiring. It again reinforced my appreciation for the character and charm of JFK I never knew how critical Rachel Carson was to modern life. It also struck me that the same tropes and criticisms we hear today were used to sully the work and characters of those working to save to natural world for future generations.

By the time it got into the Nixon years, I grew tired of the minutiae of each park created or bill passed. The early chapters were inspiring.

Need one more book...

We need one more in the series started by Carson.., sadly the last one will be "Revolution Lost" & a super heated earth that will wreak destruction across the globe & mainly caused by the USofA(-holes)...

Excellent and Informative

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring changed my life to the point I feel it’s my purpose on this planet to save it.
Silent Spring Revolution is the perfect accompaniment to Carson’s book in that it tells the story of its influence on the leaders of her time and directly after. I especially appreciated learning that some leaders (Johnson, Nixon) had spots in their hearts for the natural world, even if their whole hearts weren’t entirely there. It gave me hope that ALL leaders can make a difference to save the planet, despite being influenced to the contrary.

Opponents (industries/companies) could be expanded

Excellent in depth academic description for future historians. The political forces at work down to individuals (road blocks/ funding) would help fill in the canvas ie less dancing around the fundamental motivations.

Important history

This very well researched book was eye opening, and thought provoking. Solid narration as well.