Summary of The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed delves into the story of Grant Hadwin, a logger and environmental activist who, in 1997, felled the rare golden spruce tree of the remote rainforest of British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands. The book chronicles Hadwin's life leading up to this momentous event and his ultimate disappearance into the wilderness. As the book unravels the mystery of the golden spruce and Hadwin's mysterious disappearance, it also looks into the complex subject of the conflict between the preservation of pristine wilderness and the advancement of logging interests. In tracing Hadwin's journey of self-reflection, exploration, and resilience, author John Vaillant raises questions about our society's commitment to saving the environment, and the true cost of greed and destruction.