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  • Silent Spring

  • By: Rachel Carson
  • Narrated by: Kaiulani Lee
  • Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,246 ratings)

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Silent Spring

By: Rachel Carson
Narrated by: Kaiulani Lee
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Publisher's summary

First published in 1962, Silent Spring can single-handedly be credited with sounding the alarm and raising awareness of humankind's collective impact on its own future through chemical pollution. No other book has so strongly influenced the environmental conscience of Americans and the world at large.
©1962 Rachel Carson (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC
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Critic reviews

"Silent Spring came as a cry in the wilderness, a deeply felt, thoroughly researched, and brilliantly written argument that changed the course of history." (Al Gore)

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What listeners say about Silent Spring

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Ahead of her times...

I listened to this as I was finishing my Masters in Environmental Engineering. Rachel Carson was right every inch of the way. We (the US and the world) are still dealing with environmental issues foretold in this book. The readers tone of truth is dynamic and a great listen. Recommend this for all consumers (adults and young readers as well).

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, great voice, great pace

This is a book that everyone should be assigned to read during some level of one's education. I decided to read it years ago and then refresh my memory with this audible version. This speaker delivered the message in a way that allowed every word to sink in for me. I got more out of listening to it than reading it. I'm so glad that I decided to make this purchase.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very informative

the book is very factual, alarming, and informative. it's a lot of information to digest, lots of science to understand, but it's presented in a way that's easily understood by someone from any walk of life. highly recommend for those of you who better want to understand the crisis of the environment

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

GREAT "story" - beginning of ecology movement

Rachel Carson's original investigation into the harms of pesticides is groundbreaking. But - no fault of the narrator - much does not convey audibly - long lists of numbers, statisics, etc. Better to read this classic in print.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

More relevant and needed than ever before

Silent Spring should be required reading for every citizen of the world. In a time when glyphosate can be found in the blood of each of us, her message is needed as we enter a period of toxicity on this planet from which there may be no turning back.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Topic needs a more energetic reader.

This book is a must read, but while the reader was undoubtedly chosen to sound “right” for the topic (female, nurturing, mild, inoffensive) the net effect is soporific. This vital book demands more energy...and a bit of outrage.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

this book is self-help On repeat

ive read more self help books than i can think of.... but nothing struck me like this one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Had to read for class

This was a great way to read for class on my busy schedule. I appreciate the book but reader beware, it's one of those enlightening but super sad reads!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

Love the introduction to the book that offers glimpses into Rachel Carson’s biography and background. What a brilliant and visionary woman!

Rachel Carson’s writing marvelously brings to life countless studies, experiments and research observations in a coherent, easy to understand and accurate way. Very few scientists have such a knack for writing - lucky that she existed during the pesticide crisis in the US.

The book explores the effects of pesticides on humans, on the targets (insects), on plants, on fish and animals, on the ecosystem, and even down to the cell level (many now banned pesticides are known carcinogens).

Rachel Carson finishes the book on a hopeful note of targeted biological pest-control methods that have had tremendous success and are still all the rage today (what a visionary this woman!)

Great narrator - very warm, passionate, soothing and empathetic voice. Great job all around :)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Prescient and beautiful

Feels like it hasn’t a day, even though I know it was written in the midst of a completely different crisis.

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