Final answer:
The success of 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson can be attributed to its critical examination of the chemical industry and the health risks posed by pesticides, particularly DDT, which inspired environmental activism and political action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popular success of the 1962 book Silent Spring is most attributed to its criticism of the chemical industry and the health hazards of chemical pesticides. Rachel Carson, the author, drew attention to the dangers posed by pesticides, such as DDT, to the environment and human health. Her book brought to light the connections between the chemical industry's political power and adverse effects on food supplies and health. Despite being condemned by chemical companies, Silent Spring became a bestseller, inspired a generation of environmental activists, and was influential in the eventual US ban on DDT in 1972. The concerns raised in Carson's work highlighted the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability and inspired political action that contributed to the rise of the modern environmental movement.