deb:
Very enlightening.
United States on Dec 26, 2023
DianeDiane:
Very satisfited. Book arrived when expected in excellent condition.
United States on Nov 25, 2023
VJ:
Not just about the Golden Spruce! We had stayed at the Golden Spruce Motel in Port Clements just months after the incident, so I was interested in reading the story. The author provided so much more, not just about the tree, but the First Nations culture woven into the story of logging in the area. A great read!
Canada on Sep 27, 2023
M. Portnof:
This book was an absolute delight to read. From beginning to end Vaillant writes about the natural world, mainly the woods of the Northwestern parts of British Columbia. It details the logging industry, and the destructive nature of how they log old growth forests. It’s absolutely mindnumbing how quickly we are leveling these forests, which will never be replaced, certainly in our lifetimes, or in several generations beyond; if at all.
The book talks about the Haida people of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Their struggle for control over their islands, which have never been fully relinquished to the “English “and also never fully bequeathed ( or “ returned to “ ) the Haida people.
Of course, the entire book revolves around the Golden Spruce and Grant Hadwin’s misplaced anger towards the civilized world at large.
It is a fascinating, fast-paced read; a real page-turner. I was fully engrossed for two days. Then the book ended and I’m now on the hunt for something else to read that is as spellbinding.
United States on Feb 04, 2023
Medlgr:
Received this book in the post and decided to read the first few pages. I ended up putting my current read down until I could finish this one.
It is informative and quite a gripping story.
Delivery was quick and good condition.
United Kingdom on Dec 01, 2018
Martin Cole:
Great arrived timely though it had a 99p of am price tag on it and I had sent as a gift though 2nd hand as new would not arrive in time. All good.
United Kingdom on Aug 02, 2015
MATTHEY JEAN-YVES:
For all those who have read with much interest "into the wild", related by Jon Krakauer, or when Men and Nature encounter themselves....
France on Nov 02, 2014
sonicbooming:
This book is well written and provides a rich & nuanced history of many diverse subjects: first nations culture/history, empire, piracy, forestry, the logging industry, environmentalism, media, and more. I learned quite a bit about the landscape and history of this particular region of B.C. & Canada. If you're looking for a simple "Why? & How?" that led to the cutting of the tree then I should warn you, you'll need to be patient. Hadwin does not fully enter the book until about half way through. First a very thorough and enjoyable history of the people and places of that region is given: from the expansion of farming in Europe to wood's essential importance to the various Empires that eventually mapped out North America. Mr. Vaillant lays down a solid groundwork for the meat of the story: Grant Hadwin's cutting of the Golden Spruce.
It would be easy to lay the blame entirely on Grant Hadwin, a former logger who worked in the industry his entire life before setting in motion the events that led to his disappearance. Hadwin had a family history of psychological disorders and his extremist views toward those who worked in the industry was not a shock...
United States on Apr 03, 2011
James Denny:
John Vaillant's "The Golden Spruce," is a strangely uneven read. Like many other readers, some of whom are Amazon reviewers, I purchased it because of the connection to Jon Krakauer's work.
I do recommend this book. But it comes with a warning: the story line is choppy. There are a number of tangents that Vaillant goes off on. Some are relevant, some not. Some are interesting, some not.
The central theme is of course, "why did forester Grant Hadwin do it?" Vaillant's tale of sleuthing and detective work drives this, the story line. This will be the force that motivates most readers.
Some readers will be disappointed because Vaillant's tale ends without clarity or resolution. Above all, there is much sadness and pain, for Hadwin has committed a deliberate and evil act, designed to hurt. His crime is an act of eco-terrorism inflicted upon native people, for whom the Golden Spruce is not only a "cash-cow," but more importantly a symbol of pride and heritage. Hadwin's crime is a crime against nature and a people, although Vaillant does his best to salvage and explain the twisted logic that may have motivated him.
"The Golden...
United States on Mar 06, 2008
| The Golden Spruce: A Tale of Myth, Madness, and Avarice | Learn About Dinosaurs with the Fun Phrase 'Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?' | The Stranger in the Woods: An Unforgettable Tale of the Last True Hermit | |
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| B2B Rating |
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| Sale off | $5 OFF | $5 OFF | $4 OFF |
| Total Reviews | 21 reviews | 271 reviews | 138 reviews |
| Forests & Rainforests | Forests & Rainforests | ||
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,270 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when.execute { if { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative { if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when.execute { A.declarative{ if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } }); }); | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 19,302 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when.execute { if { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative { if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when.execute { A.declarative{ if { ue.count || 0) + 1); } }); }); | 4.4/5 stars of 9,717 ratings |
| Language | English | English | |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0393328646 | 978-0679891147 | |
| Paperback | 288 pages | ||
| Forests & Forestry (Books) | Forests & Forestry | ||
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches | 6.81 x 0.35 x 9.31 inches | |
| ISBN-10 | 0393328643 | 9780679891147 | |
| Environmentalism | Environmentalism | ||
| Item Weight | 12.5 ounces | 7.9 ounces | |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition | Random House Books for Young Readers; 37642nd edition | |
| Best Sellers Rank | #26 in Forests & Rainforests #54 in Forests & Forestry #363 in Environmentalism | #2 in Children's Prehistoric Books #6 in Children's Dinosaur Books #32 in Children's Beginner Readers | #227 in Hiking & Camping Instructional Guides#376 in Crime & Criminal Biographies#431 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies |
Canada on Jan 12, 2024