Silent Spring
by Carson, Rachel
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good/Very Good
- Seller
-
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin, 1962. Book Club Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Lois and Louis Darling. 1962 Houghton Mifflin First Book Club Edition in VG/VG condition. The HB is very clean and tight with the minor wear at the spine ends. The DJ has some wear and tiny chips along the edges. Now repaired and in mylar.
Synopsis
Silent Spring is a groundbreaking environmental science book by Rachel Carson that brought environmental concerns to the general population. It was published in 1962, a decade after Carson won the National Book Award for her best-selling book The Sea Around Us (1951). When Silent Spring was published, Rachel Carson was already a well-known writer on natural history but had not previously been a social critic. Silent Spring served as a catalyst for the modern environmental movement, shedding light on the detrimental effects of indiscriminate pesticide use on ecosystems and human health. Examining the widespread use of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, and their unintended consequences on wildlife and the environment, Carson exposes how pesticides harm beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life. Silent Spring argues that these chemicals accumulate in the food chain, posing serious risks to human beings. Upon its release, Silent Spring sparked both praise and controversy. The book's publication history reflects this dynamic reception. The first edition was published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1962, with illustrations by Louis and Lois Darling. The initial print run of 50,000 copies sold out quickly, indicating the significant public interest in the subject matter. The book's first edition has a few notable points. The cover of the first edition features a striking illustration of a forest with silhouetted birds created by Paul Bacon. The book consists of 17 chapters and ends with a chapter titled "The Other Road," which suggests alternative methods of pest control that are less harmful to the environment. Despite initial criticism from the chemical industry and agricultural interests, Silent Spring garnered widespread acclaim for its scientific rigor and persuasive arguments. It raised awareness about the need for environmental protection and led to increased scrutiny of pesticide use. The book ultimately influenced policy changes, such as the banning of DDT in the United States and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring remains a seminal work in environmental literature, inspiring generations of activists, scientists, and policymakers to address the ecological challenges facing our planet. Its enduring impact continues to shape environmental discourse and conservation efforts worldwide.
Read More: Identifying first editions of Silent Spring
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Details
- Seller
- Bren-Books.com
(US)
- Seller's Inventory #
- 008424
- Title
- Silent Spring
- Author
- Carson, Rachel
- Illustrator
- Lois and Louis Darling
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Book Club Edition 1st Printing
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin
- Place of Publication
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Date Published
- 1962
- Keywords
- Science, Environment, Non-Fiction
- Bookseller catalogs
- Non-Fiction;
Terms of Sale
Bren-Books.com
All books guaranteed! Full refunds given when notified within 14 business days.
About the Seller
Bren-Books.com
Biblio member since 2005
Rockville, Maryland
About Bren-Books.com
Bren-Books.Com specializes in first edition books specializing in Classic fiction, books made into films and mysteries. We also carry many SIGNED books both in fiction & non-fiction.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- VG/VG
- Very Good Condition book with a Very Good Condition dust jacket. Very Good Condition indicates a used book that does show some...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Book Club Edition
- A generic term denoting a book which was produced or distributed by one of any number of book club organizations. Usually the...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
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