ABSTRACT
Rachel Carson's book on the impacts of pesticide use on humanity and nature, Silent Spring, changed the way people perceive their relationships with nature, particularly those mediated through science and technology. This chapter focuses on Carson's book, not only as regards its success in changing the hearts and minds of her fellow citizens, but also as an important legacy for a deeper understanding of the many challenges people face in building a more sustainable future. The author and her personal and cultural context are introduced first, as well as the historical context of the book. The communication strategy and personal skills used by the author in writing Silent Spring are discussed as the key factors in determining the book's impact on the emerging environmental movement of the 1960s and early 1970s, which led to the creation of today's environmental policy.
