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silkyfrack's review
5.0
I knew timber theft was something that existed, but I was unaware of how common it was. This book explains the causes and consequences of timber theft very well. The chapter on tree DNA was one of the most interesting things I've ever read.
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
This book was a great overview of a topic that I'm sure could get very complicated and deep. It was very much just an introduction to the topic of tree poaching, and very narrow in scope to a specific region, but the introduction is very upfront about that, and it serves the purpose well.
I felt like Bourgon was very fair and balanced in her discussion of the topic. She provides reason for protections to be in place, but never vilifies the people that go around them. She's very sympathetic to the people who are in circumstances that would lead to committing these crimes. And I left the book feeling educated.
I felt like Bourgon was very fair and balanced in her discussion of the topic. She provides reason for protections to be in place, but never vilifies the people that go around them. She's very sympathetic to the people who are in circumstances that would lead to committing these crimes. And I left the book feeling educated.
schnoebs13's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I think this book does a great job of providing a full analysis of an issue from both sides. I feel like the author allowed us to see the pros and cons of tree conservation while also discussing the complexities of impacts on logging communities. Though I feel like I learned a lot, the author’s writing style didn’t pull me into the discussion as much as other true crime investigation books have done in the past. I will say, the second half of this was a lot stronger on the intrigue of wanting to know more about this issue and exploring the latest developments in addressing poaching in the court systems. Overall, I’m really happy I read this and I definitely learned a lot.
alexdelnorte's review
2.0
this read about trees really needed to get into the weeds. it’s a good book on a topic that deserves a great book. writing far too surface-level and localized to specific legal cases. missed opportunity for a definitive piece on tree thievery and illicit lumber trade.