Rare Book of the Day – Silent Spring, Rachel Carson. First Edition.
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson. First Edition.
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
~Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was a marine biologist, conservationist and writer. She started her career working as a biologist for the US Bureau of Fisheries but in the 1950s turned her attention towards nature writing and, in particular, nature conservation. The culmination of this was Silent Spring. Carson had become increasingly concerned with the effect synthetic pesticides were having on the environment, and Silent Spring detailed these concerns and also her philosophy regarding the impact humans have on the natural world. Upon its publication in 1964, it was immediately opposed by chemical companies, but eventually led to an outright ban on DDT and new laws protecting the planet. It's now considered one of the greatest science books ever written and is credited with inspiring the environmental movement. This is the first edition:
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I read this when I was younger. I think it had quite an influence on my thinking, but I don't remember any particular passage clearly.