Is Silent Spring by Rachel Carson a good book to read for a book report?

Question

My grandma bought this book for me while we were on vacation last year. I have been reading it and it seems to make a very good point- the environmentalist's Bible. I do have respect for the environment so this has been an enjoyable book(but it was a little boring at times).

But the problem is the book is outdated- written over forty years ago. The threat of DDT and other pesticides has been greatly reduced since then, and I'm wondering if I should keep dwelling on the past. I really was really shooting at doing a report on a book of a more modern cause- like AIDS or someting. So, is Silent Spring as worthwhile as everyone says it is?

Answer 1

I think it could be a great book report, if you get the facts and use them. Here's the thing though, the book is more than outdated, it has been to a large degree DISCREDITED. Rachel Carson's assertions on DDT were overblown, irresponsible and incorrect.
Her exaggerations were not without consequence. DDT had it now been banned could have been safely used to prevent the spead of malaria and millions of deaths from the same throughout the world!
Rachel Carson may well have cared about the environment, but her use of sensationalism and the resulting activism have done much more harm than good.
I think this could be a great report, if you wanted to write it. You could write about how the writing influanced people, how ideas can have serious consequences, about journalistic hubris. You could do a lot of cool things with this. Or, if this wouldn't be appropriate for your class, you might go ahead and choose a book that has not been discredited


P.S. Cause I like his style: "World-renowned DDT expert Dr. Gordon Edwards used to eat a spoonful of DDT whenever he gave lectures about it. He finally died, at age 85 – of a heart attack, while hiking in the mountains."

Answer 2

Positively. Ms. Carson was saying that if we don't do something about the environment soon, we will be having a Silent Spring - with no birds to sing to us. She was saying this over 40 years ago. The threat of DDT may be reduced but there are still plenty of pesticides and fertilizers being used that effect the ground water and the environment. The sad part is Ms. Carson died of breast cancer as a result of her work with DDT. She was light years ahead of her time in terms of environmental research and a hero of mine, Al Gore's and anyone else who works to protect this earth. Read the book. You will be surprised to find that it is not outdated in the least. Pax - C.

Answer 3

Have you read "My Pet Goat"? I understand it's the President's favorite book!

Seriously, another book which you may enjoy and is still very current is "The Coming Plague: " by Laurie Garrett. It tackles similar issues, namely, how urbanization in the so-called "Third World" is helping to introduce or re-introduce deadly, treatment-resistent diseases. Check with your local library!