IN A LETTER written in January 1958, Olga Owens Huckins told me of her own bitter experience of a
small world made lifeless, and so brought my attention sharply back to a problem with which I had
long been concerned. I then realized I must write this book.
During the years since then I have received help and encouragement from so many people that it is
not possible to name them all here. Those who have freely shared with me the fruits of many years’
experience and study represent a wide variety of government agencies in this and other countries,
many universities and research institutions, and many professions. To all of them I express my
deepest thanks for time and thought so generously given.
In addition my special gratitude goes to those who took time to read portions of the manuscript and to
offer comment and criticism based on their own expert knowledge. Although the final responsibility
for the accuracy and validity of the text is mine, I could not have completed the book without the
generous help of these specialists: L. G. Bartholomew, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, John J. Biesele of the
University of Texas, A. W. A. Brown of the University of Western Ontario, Morton S. Biskind, M.D., of
Westport, Connecticut, C. J. Briejer of the Plant Protection Service in Holland, Clarence Cottam of the
Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, George Crile, Jr., M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic, Frank
Egler of Norfolk, Connecticut, Malcolm M. Hargraves, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, W. C. Hueper, M.D.,
of the National Cancer Institute, C. J. Kerswill of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Olaus Murie

of the Wilderness
Society, A. D. Pickett of the Canada Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Scott of the Illinois Natural
History Survey, Clarence Tarzwell of the Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, and George J. Wallace of
Michigan State University.
Every writer of a book based on many diverse facts owes much to the skill and helpfulness of
librarians. I owe such a debt to many, but especially to Ida K. Johnston of the Department of the
Interior Library and to Thelma Robinson of the Library of the National Institutes of Health.
As my editor, Paul Brooks has given steadfast encouragement over the years and has cheerfully
accommodated his plans to postponements and delays. For this, and for his skilled editorial judgment,
I am everlastingly grateful.
I have had capable and devoted assistance in the enormous task of library research from Dorothy
Algire, Jeanne Davis, and Bette Haney Duff. And I could not possibly have completed the task, under
circumstances sometimes difficult, except for the faithful help of my housekeeper, Ida Sprow.
Finally, I must acknowledge our vast indebtedness to a host of people, many of them unknown to me
personally, who have nevertheless made the writing of this book seem worthwhile. These are the
people who first spoke out against the reckless and irresponsible poisoning of the world that man
shares with all other creatures, and who are even now fighting the thousands of small battles that in
the end will bring victory for sanity and common sense in our accommodation to the world that
surrounds us.

RACHEL CARSON