Best Selling Books by Rachel Carson

In ''Silent Spring,'' Rachel Carson delivers a groundbreaking critique of the environmental impact of pesticides, particularly DDT, weaving together compelling scientific evidence with lyrical prose. First published in 1962, the book is a pivotal work in the American environmental movement, employing a poetic yet factual narrative style that underscores the interconnectedness of nature. Carson''s meticulous research reveals the dangers of chemical pollutants, not only to wildlife but to humanity itself, challenging the prevailing notion that technological progress comes without consequence. Her literary context is enriched by an era of burgeoning environmental awareness and skepticism towards industrial practices, making her work resonate deeply within the socio-political climate of the time. Rachel Carson was a biologist and nature writer whose life experiences fueled her commitment to environmental advocacy. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Carson developed a profound appreciation for nature that informed her scientific endeavors. Her previous works, such as ''The Sea Around Us,'' established her reputation as a writer, but ''Silent Spring'' marked a radical shift towards environmental activism, showcasing her determination to confront societal indifference to ecological harm. This essential reading is recommended for anyone interested in the origins of environmentalism and the ongoing discourse of humanity''s role within the natural world. Carson''s eloquent arguments and urgent call to action encourage readers to reconsider our relationship with the environment, making ''Silent Spring'' a timeless and crucial text in the quest for ecological consciousness.

National Book Award Winner and New York Times Bestseller: Explore earth’s most precious, mysterious resource—the ocean—with the author of Silent Spring. With more than one million copies sold, Rachel Carson’s The Sea Around Us became a cultural phenomenon when first published in 1951 and cemented Carson’s status as the preeminent natural history writer of her time. Her inspiring, intimate writing plumbs the depths of an enigmatic world—a place of hidden lands, islands newly risen from the earth’s crust, fish that pour through the water, and the unyielding, epic battle for survival. Firmly based in the scientific discoveries of the time, The Sea Around Us masterfully presents Carson’s commitment to a healthy planet and a fully realized sense of wonder. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Rachel Carson including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Discover the previously uncollected works of the author of the environmental classic Silent Spring—considered one of the best nature writers of the 20th century. "Lyric, descriptive, informative, and moving."—The New York Times When Rachel Carson died of cancer in 1964, her four books, including the environmental classic Silent Spring, had made her one of the most famous people in America. This anthology of previously uncollected writings is a priceless addition to our knowledge of Rachel Carson, her affinity with the natural world, and her life. Featuring nature writing, speeches, field notebook passages, and letters, this collection is an invaluable insight to Carson''s thought and philosophy and a treasure trove for environmentalists.

In twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement. With the precision of a scientist and the simplicity of a fable, Rachel Carson reveals how man-made pesticides have destroyed wildlife, creating a world of polluted streams and silent songbirds. Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades, becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world.

These letters between the pioneering environmentalist and her beloved friend reveal “a vibrant, caring woman behind the scientist” (Los Angeles Times). “Rachel Carson, author of The Silent Spring, has been celebrated as the pioneer of the modern environmental movement. Although she wrote no autobiography, she did leave letters, and those she exchanged—sometimes daily—with Dorothy Freeman, some 750 of which are collected here, are perhaps more satisfying than an account of her own life. In 1953, Carson became Freeman''s summer neighbor on Southport Island, ME. The two discovered a shared love for the natural world—their descriptions of the arrival of spring or the song of a hermit thrush are lyrical—but their friendship quickly blossomed, as each realized she had found in the other a kindred spirit. To read this collection is like eavesdropping on an extended conversation that mixes the mundane events of the two women''s family lives with details of Carson’s research and writing and, later, her breast cancer. . . . Few who read these letters will forget these remarkable women and their even more remarkable bond.” —Publishers Weekly “Darting, fresh, sensuous, pleasingly elliptical at times, these letters also serve to tether the increasingly deified Carson firmly to earth—just where she’d want to be.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “It is not often that a collection of letters reveals character, emotional depth, personality, indeed intellect and talent, as well as a full biography might; these letters do all that.” —The New York Times Book Review “Provides insight into the creative process and a look into the daily lives of two intelligent, perceptive women whose family responsibilities were, at times, almost crushing.” —Library Journal “Dotted with vivid observations of the natural world and perceptive commentary on friendship, family, fame, and life itself, Always, Rachel will appeal to readers interested in biography and women’s studies as well as those drawn to nature writing and the history of the environmental movement.” —Booklist Online

"The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place." A book to be read for pleasure as well as a practical identification guide, The Edge of the Sea introduces a world of teeming life where the sea meets the land. A new generation of readers is discovering why Rachel Carson''s books have become cornerstones of the environmental and conservation movements. New introduction by Sue Hubbell. (A Mariner Reissue)

First published more than three decades ago, this reissue of Rachel Carson''s award-winning classic brings her unique vision to a new generation of readers. Stunning new photographs by Nick Kelsh beautifully complement Carson''s intimate account of adventures with her young nephew, Roger, as they enjoy walks along the rocky coast of Maine and through dense forests and open fields, observing wildlife, strange plants, moonlight and storm clouds, and listening to the "living music" of insects in the underbrush. "If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder." Writes Carson, "he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." The Sense of Wonder is a refreshing antidote to indifference and a guide to capturing the simple power of discovery that Carson views as essential to life. In her insightful new introduction, Linda Lear remembers Rachel Carson''s groundbreaking achievements in the context of the legendary environmentalist''s personal commitment to introducing young and old to the miracles of nature. Kelsh''s lush photographs inspire sensual, tactile reactions: masses of leaves floating in a puddle are just waiting to be scooped up and examined more closely. An image of a narrow path through the trees evokes the earthy scent of the woods after a summer rain. Close-ups of mosses and miniature lichen fantasy-lands will spark innocent''as well as more jaded''imaginations. Like a curious child studying things underfoot and within reach, Kelsh''s camera is drawn to patterns in nature that too often elude hurried adults''a stand of beech trees in the springtime, patches of melting snow and the ripples from a pebble tossed into a slow-moving stream. The Sense of Wonder is a timeless volume that will be passed on from children to grandchildren, as treasured as the memory of an early-morning walk when the song of a whippoorwill was heard as if for the first time.

Cut-paper wizard Nikki McClure is a brilliant steward for the words of a pioneering environmentalist in this wondrous ode to clouds—and the scientific “language of the sky.” Rachel Carson once wrote, “It is not half so important to know as to feel.” What do we know about clouds? There are three basic types: stratus, cumulus, and cirrus. Some are fleecy and fair-weathered while others portend storms. But clouds are more than pretty or ominous backdrops. They’re the vehicle of water between sea and land, land and sea, in a cycle without end or beginning. They are the writing of the wind on the sky, a language all their own. An illustrator note explains the origins of Rachel Carson’s shimmering essay—previously unpublished in its entirety—and the process of adapting it to picture book format, as well as how the author of Silent Spring forever changed the way we think about science and progress. Bringing the soft edges of clouds and the natural world to vivid life with a new, more fluid approach to her signature cut-paper technique, Nikki McClure inspires true emotional engagement with the world we all share. An antidote to “get your head out of the clouds,” this art-meets-science tribute to curiosity and wonder is a gift for daydreamers and nature lovers of all ages.

This New York Times bestseller by the author of the environmental classic Silent Spring beautifully details the coastal ecosystem of birds and the sea. In her first book, preeminent nature writer Rachel Carson tells the story of the sea creatures and birds that dwell in and around the waters along North America’s eastern coast—and the delicately balanced ecosystem that sustains them. Following the life cycles of a pair of sanderlings, a mackerel, and an eel, Carson gracefully weaves scientific observation with imaginative prose to educate and inspire, creating one of the finest wildlife narratives in American literature. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Rachel Carson including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

In "Under the Sea-Wind," Rachel Carson combines lyrical prose with meticulous scientific observation to explore the intricate ecosystems of the marine world. Set against the backdrop of the Atlantic coast, the book delves into the lives of various sea creatures, presenting their experiences with an empathetic gaze that blends poetic language with natural history. Carson''Äôs masterful use of vivid imagery and rhythmic narration invites readers to immerse themselves in the natural phenomena of the ocean, highlighting the profound relationship between humanity and the environment during a time marked by industrial expansion and ecological oversight. Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was a pioneering marine biologist and conservationist whose work laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement. Her deep affinity for the natural world stemmed from her early experiences in the coastal landscapes of Pennsylvania. "Under the Sea-Wind" reflects her commitment to ecological education, as she sought to raise awareness about the fragility of marine life and the interconnectedness of natural systems, issues she felt were critically urgent even then. This remarkable work is an essential read for anyone interested in the environment, marine biology, or the intersection of science and literature. Carson''Äôs passionate narrative not only educates but also inspires a sense of wonder and responsibility toward the ocean, making it a timeless classic relevant to today''s environmental challenges.

The book that sparked the modern environmental movement, with an unprecedented collection of letters, speeches, and other writings that reveal the extraordinary courage and vision of its author Library of America launches its Rachel Carson edition with this deluxe illustrated volume presenting one of the landmark books of the twentieth century together with rare letters, speeches, and other writings that reveal the personal courage and passionate commitment of its author. A huge bestseller when published in September 1962, Silent Spring led not only to many of the laws and government agencies that protect our air, land, and water, but prompted a revolution in environmental consciousness. Now for the first time, in previously unpublished and newly collected letters to biochemists, ecologists, cancer specialists, ornithologists, and other experts, Carson''s groundbreaking expose of the unintended consequences of pesticide use comes together piece-by-piece, like a puzzle or detective story. She makes common cause with conservationists and other allies to build public awareness, hiding her private battle with cancer for fear it might distract from her message. And in the wake of her book''s astonishing impact, as she becomes the target of an organized campaign of disinformation by the chemical industry, Carson speaks out in defense of her findings while remaining a model of grace under pressure. Throughout the collection, Carson''s lifelong love of nature shines through. In writings both lyrical and intensely moving, she conveys her "sense of wonder" to her young nephew, dreams of conserving old-growth forest in Maine for posterity, and recounts her adventures and epiphanies as birdwatcher and beachcomber. A future companion volume will gather Carson''s "sea trilogy": Under the Sea-Wind (1941), The Sea Around Us (1951), and The Edge of the Sea (1955). LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

A marine biologist and gifted author introduces the reader to the birds, snails, jellyfish, seaweed, and other denizens of the New England shore.

Pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson explores the wonders of the Earth''s oceans in these classics of American science and nature writing. Rachel Carson is perhaps most famous as the author of Silent Spring, but she was first and foremost a "poet of the sea" and the three books collected in this deluxe Library of America volume are classics of American science and nature writing. Under the Sea-Wind (1941), Carson''s lyrical debut, offers an intimate account of maritime ecology through the eyes of three of the ocean''s denizens, the individual lives of sanderling, mackerel, and eel dramatically intertwined in the enduring ebb and flow of the tides. The Sea Around Us (1951)--a winner of the National Book Award--draws on a wealth of oceanographic, meteorological, biological, and historical research to present its subject on a grand, biospheric scale, revealing not only many mysteries of the still-unfathomed depths, but a reverence for the sea as a source of global climate and of life itself. Concluding Carson''s "sea trilogy," The Edge of the Sea (1955) explores the habits of the many small creatures that live on shorelines and in tidepools accessible to any beachcomber: part identification guide, part hymn to ecological complexity, it is a book that conveys the "sense of wonder" in nature for which Carson is justly celebrated. At a moment when overfishing, pollution, and global warming are causing catastrophic changes to marine environments worldwide, Carson''s lyrically detailed accounts of these environments offer a timely reminder of their beauty, fragility, and immense consequence for human life.

Information of the constituents, characteristics, health effects, environmental impact of pesticides, and the pesticides'' toxic effects on mammals, other forms of life, and the environment.

Millions of Americans are developing new wartime food habits, trying foods they once neglected, turning to alternates for long familiar products. For everyone of the ten fish or shellfish that make up mere than four-fifths of New England''s catch there are seven species little known or utilized, many of which could provide tasty and nutritious foods. Turning to these under-utilized species will conserve food resources by lifting the burden of over-exploitation from such fishes as cod and haddock and will augment dwindling supplies of protein foods. Exploring the seafood markets for unfamiliar species rewards the housewife and her family with delightful taste surprises, for scarcely any other class of food offers so great a variety, so rich an opportunity for mealtime adventures. Before we can try new foods, we must know what they are- something of their nutritive value, where they come from, how market supplies vary with the season. Our enjoyment of these foods is heightened if we also know something of the creatures from which they are derived, how and where they live, how they are caught, their habits and migrations. This publication provides such an introduction to the more important fish and shellfish of New England.

It is summer, 1940. As Hitlers armies turn mainland Europe into a mass graveyard, his feared Luftwaffe rain bombs on England. Meanwhile, amid the green hills of the Cotswolds, a nest of enemy aliens has been discovered: the Bruderhof, a Christian community made up of German, Dutch, and Swiss refugees, and growing numbers of English pacifists. Having fled Nazi Germany to escape persecution, the Bruderhof had at first been welcomed in England. Now, at the height of the Battle of Britain, it is feared. Curfews and travel restrictions are imposed; nasty newspaper articles appear, and local patriots initiate a boycott. Determined to remain together as a witness for peace in a war-torn world, the little group of 300 half of them babies and young children looks for a new home. No country in Europe or North America will take them. And so they set off across the submarine-infested Atlantic for the jungles of ParaguayIn this gripping tale of faith tested by adversity, Emmy Barth lets us hear directly from the mothers, fathers, and children involved through their letters and diaries. Especially eloquent are the voices of the women as they faced both adventure and tragedy.