Bill Berry’s careful research and straightforward writing approach help us better understand the ruinous effect that DDT, the so-called miracle insecticide, had on the environment—and the steps leading to its banning. Lessons can be learned from the book: Citizen activists can make a difference and chemicals widely applied in agriculture and beyond must be carefully studied for negative effects that go well beyond their intended use before they are licensed. (Jerry Apps, author of The Quiet Season, Old Farm: A History, and other books on environmental topics)


Bill Berry manages to turn one of the state's most historic- and perhaps longest- environmental battles into what sometimes feels like a fast-paced thriller... David is going up against multiple Goliaths: the very powerful pesticide industry, a university where researchers relied upon millions of dollars from the pesticide companies to fund their research, and a state in which agriculture is zealously protected as a key part of the economy.Berry's book is a must read for those engaged in such battles. It is by turns, inspirational and entertaining. Perhaps more importantly, Banning DDT  provides lessons in how to patiently carry on in the face of powerful, entreched bureaucracies that, whether through intertia or corruption, turn a deaf ear to the ordinary person who finds a dead bird in their yard and wants to know why.(Ron Seely, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, & Letters)


...the history of DDT cannot be told without referencing the people and events of the state. Wisconsin's history of strong environmentalists such as Aldo leopold and Gaylord Nelson, EDF's decision to use Wisconsin as a test case, and the remarkable mobilization of volunteers all contributed to the success of citizen activists and serve as an example of how a grassroots movement can influence policy. Berry writes, "Citizen movements are built on guts and tenacity.  They are propelled by commitment and a belief in purpose."(Elizabeth Wheat, Voyageur Magazine)