"Sllent Spring" and "Silent Spirit Revisted"
I have recently read two books 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, having discovered an old copy in a charity shop and 'Silent Spring Revisited' by Conor Mark Jameson, bought in Waterstones.
'Silent Spring' was published on 1962. This book has been credited with having had as big an effect on changing the course of thinking and history as Karl Mark's 'Das Capital', Adam Smith's 'The wealth of Nations', Charles Darwin's 'The Origin of the Species' and Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. Rachel Carson is up there among the really great thinkers.
Rachel Carson began university reading literature but switched to Science, at a time when women in science were still looked down upon. Her life of public service was at a time when conformity was expected of public servants. However in this, her last book, she challenges the political, scientific and economic establishments for what they were doing to this planet.
Rachel Carson became aware that things were going badly wrong in nature. Birds were disappearing from whole areas, fish were ceasing to be abundant in streams where they had once thrived. Insects were in danger of becoming extinct. All these were happening, she discovered, because of changes in agricultural practice and the increasing use of chemical pesticides and herbicides.
The book carefully weaves together a compelling scientific picture of what was happening in the world. How action in one area had very serious consequences in another. Spraying trees for an insect pest causing massive declines in common species of birds. This book gave a real boost to the relatively new science of ecology, how all of the natural world relates to every other part.
No write up can do this book justice it really needs to be read. It is as relevant today, perhaps even more so, as when it was first published. Age has not diminished its arguments.
Prince Philip was in the USA soon after 'Silent Spring' was published. He was so impressed by it that he purchased a number of copies to give, on his return, as gifts to his influential friends.
'Silent Spring Revisited' does not go back over the arguments of Rachel Carson's book. It is a very different style of writing, but inspired by her. It's five chapters, one for each decade following the publication of 'Silent Spring', is divided into 10 sections, one for each year. It is perhaps best thought of as a type of personal journal where the author reflects on the ups and downs of the natural world, as he experiences them. His life and work took him to some exotic places, Seychelles, Kenya and Cornton. It also takes you to the early heady days of the University of Stirling.
In 'Silent Spring Revisited ' new threats and challenges emerge, global warming and climate change come to the fore.
Like 'Silent Spring', 'Silent Spring Revisited' leaves one with a feeling of dread and horror for the future, especially if the systems that currently dominate the world are left unchallenged. Both books though also exude HOPE, because things are changing, even if somewhat slowly. Too slowly for some. Environmentalists are having a positive effect, the EU has done some very good things, even if somewhat reluctantly at times. We are now in danger of undoing these things in our post Brexit age.
As with 'Silent Spring' 'Silent Spring Revisited' needs to read to be fully appreciated. Neither is a difficult read but both are certainly challenging and ultimately hopeful.
Walter