Review
PRAISE FOR HARLEY RUSTAD AND BIG LONELY DOUG
“Among the joys of good writing and deep research are the ways in which it can reinvigorate a place you thought you knew, inviting you to see it, and feel it, afresh. This is just one of the gifts of Big Lonely Doug, an avatar of the west coast rainforest that, through Harley Rustad’s insightful and nuanced telling, embodies this vital ecosystem in all its beauty and complexity. Reading this book made me want to drop everything and meet Doug in person.” ― John Vaillant, author of The Golden Spruce
“[Harley Rustad] is a gifted researcher and writer and a valuable enabler whose book is a must-read for anyone interested in ecology.” ― Winnipeg Free Press
“Blending thoughtful historical research with vivid reportage, Harley Rustad begins with the story of a single tree but masterfully widens his scope to encompass so much more: all the other grand old trees that have been felled on Vancouver Island, all those that have been saved, and most importantly, why it all matters. A complex and at times alarming tale, but also, in the end, a deeply hopeful one.” — Robert Moor, author of On Trails
“Having spent time, personally, with Big Lonely Doug, and wandering through the last of our ancient forests in British Columbia, it’s never been more clear to me how imperative it is for us as humans to recognize the magnificence of these ancient trees and forests and do everything that we can to preserve them. With less than 1 percent of the original old-growth Douglas-fir stands left on B.C.’s coast, it’s time for Canadians to embrace Big Lonely Doug and his fellow survivors, and keep them standing tall. Harley Rustad’s story brings both the majesty and adversity of Big Lonely Doug a little closer to home.” — Edward Burtynsky
“You can see the forest for the trees, at least when the trees in question are singular giants like Big Lonely Doug, and the writer deftly directing your gaze is Harley Rustad. This sweeping yet meticulous narrative reveals the complex human longings tangled up in B.C.’s vanishing old-growth forests — cathedrals or commodities, depending on who you ask, and the future hinges on our answer.” — Kate Harris, author of Lands of Lost Borders
“[Rustad’s] microscale descriptions of the landscape and how commercial forestry has changed it bring you into the depths of Vancouver Island.” ― Outside Magazine
“An affecting story of one magnificent survivor tree set against a much larger narrative — the old conflict between logging and the environmental movement, global economics, and the fight to preserve the planet’s most endangered ecosystems. If you love trees and forests, this book is for you.” — Charlotte Gill, author of Eating Dirt.
PRAISE FOR HARLEY RUSTAD
National Magazine Award (Silver) for The Walrus article “Big Lonely Doug”
National Magazine Award (Honourable Mention) for “Where the Streets Have No Names,” a feature on digital mapping in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut.
National Newspaper Award (Collective Nomination) for “Cashing In,” an investigation into a failed immigration program in Prince Edward Island.
About the Author
HARLEY RUSTAD is an editor at The Walrus magazine. His articles and photography have been published in magazines, newspapers, and online outlets including The Walrus, Outside, the Globe and Mail, Geographical, Reader’s Digest, the Guardian, and CNN. He has reported from India, Nepal, Cuba, and across Canada. Born on Salt Spring Island, BC, he now lives in Toronto.
