Silent Spring

This is the book that started it all, and eventually led to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency. As an aquatic biologist, Carson discovered firsthand the unintended consequences of pesticide sprays on aquatic life and tree populations. From the massive destruction of salmon breeding grounds in the North East to the entire loss of elm tree populations in Mid-Western towns, she meticulously documents the results of massive pesticide spray campaigns and then relates how they affect the environment and ultimately human health.