Section IV: Decision to Write a Book
Rachel Carson planned to complete the brief book by the
summer of 1958. As she worked on it, she realized that the task
she set out to complete was growing more complex each time she
uncovered a new piece of information. She knew what her book
needed to be. Science must be the base for her work. But she
also needed to persuade.
In writing her book, Rachel Carson was in close contact with
scientists in the US and Europe. She sifted through thousands
of research papers and articles. Thus, she discovered those
people who would be helpful based on the soundness of their
knowledge.
In 1959 she shared with Clarence Cottam, her former superior
in the US Fish and Wildlife Service, her concern on her
project. Because the issue was so explosive and the pressures
on the other side were so powerful, she felt that it was wiser
to keep her own counsel until she was ready to launch her
attack as a whole.1
Notes
- Graham, 28.
(We have not used Rachel Carson's exact words because Fran
Collins, the Trustee of Rachel Carson's estate, does not want
any quotations from Carson to appear on the WWW. You may read
her exact words in the source cited.)
Cite this page:
"Section IV: Decision to Write a Book"
Online Ethics Center for Engineering
7/6/2006 12:12:22 AM
National Academy of Engineering
Accessed: Tuesday, January 06, 2009
<www.onlineethics.org/CMS/profpractice/exempindex/carsonindex/4-decision.aspx>