March 2025: What We’re Reading - The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant

This month we read the book The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed by John Vaillant

When a shattered kayak and camping gear are found on an uninhabited island in the Pacific Northwest, they reignite a mystery surrounding a shocking act of protest. Five months earlier, logger-turned-activist Grant Hadwin had plunged naked into a river in British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands, towing a chainsaw. When his night's work was done, a unique Sitka spruce, 165 feet tall and covered with luminous golden needles, teetered on its stump. Two days later it fell.

As vividly as John Krakauer puts readers on Everest, John Vaillant takes us into the heart of North America's last great forest.

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Discussion questions:

1. What would you say to Grant Hadwin if you could meet him?

2. Do you agree with John Vaillant when he says “It seems that in order to succeed – or even function – in this world, a certain tolerance for moral and cognitive dissonance is necessary”? (page 220 of hardcover)

3. Which parts of the book do you find most stimulating? Why? Do you have any criticisms of The Golden Spruce?

4. Do you find The Golden Spruce to be a dispiriting or inspiring read? What do you leave it thinking?

5. What does The Golden Spruce tell us about our experience of nature, our economy, and how we see ourselves?

6. Would you recommend the book to someone else? Why, or why not?

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You're invited to participate in the Wilderness Reading Group, led by the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA). We delve into topics related to the outdoors, nature, and wilderness through reading, contemplation, and discussion. We'll gain a deeper understanding of wilderness through fiction and non-fiction selections, including works by renowned authors such as Aldo Leopold, Timothy Egan, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Wallace Stegner, Terry Tempest Williams, Edward Abbey, E.O. Wilson, and others. Check out past readings on our Blog Reading list!

The reading group meets every other month, in person, in Boulder, Colorado. All are welcome (IPWA and the general public). Please RSVP. Even if you haven't finished the book selection, feel free to join us for informal conversations where we reflect on the book, answer discussion questions, and foster connections with each other.

These books are widely available at local libraries, online library apps (such as Libby), bookstores (including our favorite local independent bookstore, Boulder Bookstore), and online retailers.

Check out our Events page for upcoming dates!