 Released in 1962, “Silent Spring” was the first book to shatter the modern mainstream American paradigm. Written by naturalist Rachel Carson, “Silent Spring” unveiled the troubling atrocities and reality of chemicals used in agriculture. In an age where more than 300,000 books are published annually in the United States, it is sometimes easy to forgo books not written in the past year or two. Publishers today advertise the importance of new information and relevant topics, but “Silent Spring” could not be more relevant.
“Silent Spring” was a groundbreaking piece of literature. In many ways, it was revolutionary. Very few books in history have shattered the paradigm as fiercely as Carson’s . The only book that could even compare in terms of its effect on society is Upton Sinclair’s 1906 book, “The Jungle,” in which the atrocities of the meat packing industry were revealed. Sinclair’s book inspired both the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
Carson’s influence is equally comparable to Sinclair’s. Despite the chemical industry’s efforts to label her as hysterical and extremist, Carson’s book and ideas became famous, and the fifty-five pages of references found at the end of the book gave her scientific credibility. Indeed, the science that reinforces Carson’s claim was poignant, but her real-life examples hit the American public right in the heart.
“Silent Spring” focuses on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which is a pesticide that was used to combat unwanted pests in agriculture. The main problem with DDT is that it kills everything, not just the unwanted gopher or opportunistic critter looking for a meal. The use of DDT as a means to kill the spruce budworm led to the significant decline in the wild salmon population.
Carson offers other examples, such as how the use of DDT in the mid-1950’s to prevent the spread of Dutch Elm disease effectively killed a large number of robins. Other animals suffered, too, like earthworms that fed on the leaves of trees that were inundated with the poison. Skeptics may be wondering about the importance of a few dead earthworms, but they reduce erosion, and aerate and fertilize soil.
But the most important real-life example Carson offered is the death of Bald Eagles. This predator bird preyed on insects and critters poisoned with DDT, which led to a thinning of the eggshells of baby Bald Eagles, almost rendering the species extinct.
In many ways, Carson is the founder of the modern environmental movement. Before “Silent Spring,” Americans were completely unaware of the danger of chemicals. Until then, chemicals were thought to have no side effects. After “Silent Spring,” however, Americans came to realize that modern technologies had a consequence, not only for wild animals, but for their own health, as well. This book is enjoyable and essential and should be a requirement in any curriculum.
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