With a passion for nature instilled in her at an early age, writer and biologist Rachel Carson became a fearless champion for the environment. She had been a biologist for the federal government when she first took note of the effects of the unregulated use of pesticides and herbicides. Carson's great love of the natural world drove her to write an expose of the chemical industry, specifically its unregulated use of DDT. Defying her failing health and risking her reputation, Carson published her controversial work, Silent Spring, in 1962. She was viciously attacked, called "an ignorant and hysterical woman." But her warning sparked a revolution in environmental policy and created a new ecological consciousness. Silent Spring, which became an instant bestseller, was translated into 22 languages and changed the way we think about the natural world. Special DVD features include: a link to the American Experience Web site; and scene selections.