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241st out of 856 books
—
1,224 voters
Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
On December 18, 1999, Julia Butterfly Hill's feet touched the ground for the first time in over two years, as she descended from "Luna," a thousandyear-old redwood in Humboldt County, California.
Hill had climbed 180 feet up into the tree high on a mountain on December 10, 1997, for what she thought would be a two- to three-week-long "tree-sit." The action was intended to s...more
Hill had climbed 180 feet up into the tree high on a mountain on December 10, 1997, for what she thought would be a two- to three-week-long "tree-sit." The action was intended to s...more
Paperback, 262 pages
Published
April 3rd 2001
by HarperOne
(first published January 1st 2000)
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Sep 01, 2007
treehugger
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
environmentalists, spiritual seekers, interested folks...
This book is truly incredible, and I only wish everyone in this country would read it and receive it's meaning. While certainly not winning any prizes for style or literary merit, Julia Butterfly has such a wise and grounded slant on the amazing 2 years that were her life in a Redwood tree.
In many ways I felt a serious kinship with this woman, who was younger than I am now when she made the sacrifices she made, and in others I feel wholly inadequate in comparison.
She is a wonderful inspiration...more
In many ways I felt a serious kinship with this woman, who was younger than I am now when she made the sacrifices she made, and in others I feel wholly inadequate in comparison.
She is a wonderful inspiration...more
I would never spend two years in a tree. I knew that before reading this book and I'm even more convinced now. However, I have the deepest respect for people who put their heart, soul and life into what they believe - at the same time, I'm well aware of the thin line between standing up for what you believe in and becoming a fanatic. On the most part, Julie Butterfly Hill stays on the right side of this line and I'm amazed at how she survived 738 days in an ancient redwood in California to try a...more
This novel provides an autobiography of Julia Hill, and her experience living in a redwood tree for TWO YEARS. At first I thought it would be dull- how could I read a story about a woman living in a tree? I was quickly hooked to this book though. What makes it really fascinating is that Julia wasn’t your typical environmentalist. In fact, until she sat in the tree, she wasn’t an environmentalist at all (she was a business major-gasp!). The Legacy of Luna also points out that the traditional tree...more
If you have ever been called a tree-hugger, environmentalist, then this book is for you. When I first read this book, I wanted to do everything I could to save our trees, and subsequently almost got in a lot of trouble with the law because of it!
This book is about a young woman, Julie "Butterfly" Hill, who agrees to do a short "tree-sit" in a redwood in Northern Cali. Unknown to her at the time, she would not set foot on the ground again for nearly 2 years! Her story deals with everything from...more
This book is about a young woman, Julie "Butterfly" Hill, who agrees to do a short "tree-sit" in a redwood in Northern Cali. Unknown to her at the time, she would not set foot on the ground again for nearly 2 years! Her story deals with everything from...more
Out of five stars I give " The Legacy of Luna" four stars. This book was very interesting to read, I never wanted to put the book down because I wanted to know what comes next. A quote that was significant to me was, "If people's hopes are placed on me and I come down, do their hopes come down with me?" I was intrigued by this statement and it made me want to keep reading to see if she would come down from the tree or not. Because of her statement I knew that Luna would do something life changin...more
Julia Butterfly Hill spent 2 years living in a redwood tree called Luna to save the tree from being logged and to raise awareness of the issues surrounding unsustainable logging practices (clear-cutting, burning, deforestation, etc.). A complete neophyte when she did her first tree-sit, Julia gradually educated herself on all of the issues and became a prominent name/figure in the activist movement. Although she faced many hardships and dangers and suffered privations while she was “in-tree” she...more
This book is a real page-turner. I spent half the day reading it today, finished it in two sittings - that's very rare for me.
I am far from being environmentally conscious. I eat meat, I'm not part of any environmental protection initiative and I don't recycle (I would, but our country doesn't have recycling). But Julia's example has made me aware of the problems that we're facing, and has encouraged me to research environmental issues in my country and do something in order to help. Indeed, we...more
I am far from being environmentally conscious. I eat meat, I'm not part of any environmental protection initiative and I don't recycle (I would, but our country doesn't have recycling). But Julia's example has made me aware of the problems that we're facing, and has encouraged me to research environmental issues in my country and do something in order to help. Indeed, we...more
It happened: I was on vacation, less than halfway into the week, and had only one book left with me, so I started borrowing things from my hosts' shelves. This book is one of those books that always sounded vaguely interesting, something I might like to read sometime, but that I'd never bother to get from the library let alone purchase for myself. It's the story of Julia Butterfly Hill's two years living in an ancient redwood tree to protest the logging industry's clear-cutting of the forest. Ms...more
On December 10, 1997, Julia Butterfly Hill climbed 180 feet to the top of a 1,000-year-old redwood in Humboldt County, California. She was not being playful. Her act was one of civil disobedience. The Pacific Lumber Company was about to cut it and the trees around it down.
A small platform, barely big enough for two people, covered by a tarpaulin had been constructed for her “tree sit.” Hill thought she might be off the ground for two, maybe three weeks, but her vigil took much longer. Her feet d...more
A small platform, barely big enough for two people, covered by a tarpaulin had been constructed for her “tree sit.” Hill thought she might be off the ground for two, maybe three weeks, but her vigil took much longer. Her feet d...more
Oct 21, 2012
Mollyeswaidan
added it
WELL
it talks a lot about God and stuff which if you're not into, well i wouldnt say that i wouldnt reccomend it in which case because its still a cool story. i spent one afternoon angry as hell at my best friend and reading this book in my room while she was in the living room eating lunch and i could hear her talking and it was driving me crazy and meanwhile Julia Butterfly Hill is learning to climb up to the top of a redwood in barefeet, or surviving a wicked storm. oh, and, getting hassled by...more
it talks a lot about God and stuff which if you're not into, well i wouldnt say that i wouldnt reccomend it in which case because its still a cool story. i spent one afternoon angry as hell at my best friend and reading this book in my room while she was in the living room eating lunch and i could hear her talking and it was driving me crazy and meanwhile Julia Butterfly Hill is learning to climb up to the top of a redwood in barefeet, or surviving a wicked storm. oh, and, getting hassled by...more
"The Legacy of Luna" is the auto-biographical story of Julia Butterfly Hill and her two-year squat in a large redwood tree in northern California in the late 1990s, protesting against clear-cutting by Pacific Lumber, which had then become a part of the Texan-owned Maxxam corporation, turning former family-owned companies into cash cows to milk, not regarding any ill effect to employees or the environment.
By living in this tree, named "Luna" by activists (since they built the platform she later l...more
By living in this tree, named "Luna" by activists (since they built the platform she later l...more
So this is a non-fiction book but it almost reads like fiction. I mean, how many people do you know that have ever lived 180' up in a redwood tree? That's what Julia Hill did in the late 1990's in an effort to prevent the tree - called Luna - from being cut down. And she was successful. There are parts of the book that are truly harrowing, mostly dealing with the loggers attempts to get her down (using helicoptors to scare her, shining bright lights, blaring loud music, preventing supplies from...more
Julia Butterfly Hill is real. I love how this book was not only inspirational, but it was inspirational AND written by a young woman whose sincerity shines through page by page. This book dives into self-discovery and purpose. My favorite thing about this book is the author's being young (she hasn't yet graduated college during her story) and without a huge bank account, degrees, status. Someone living out her life's purpose could be a highly accomplished individual, with the resume and educatio...more
(TW)
This book is a fascinating account of the author's time living in a giant redwood to protect it (or perhaps I should say "her", as Julia Butterfly Hill came to identify very strongly with the tree and converyed her personality to readers) and the surrounding forest from logging. If you read this book hoping for a detailed examination of the consequences of logging or the economic systems that allow it to take place you will be disappointed, but this is instead a deeply personal account of ho...more
This book is a fascinating account of the author's time living in a giant redwood to protect it (or perhaps I should say "her", as Julia Butterfly Hill came to identify very strongly with the tree and converyed her personality to readers) and the surrounding forest from logging. If you read this book hoping for a detailed examination of the consequences of logging or the economic systems that allow it to take place you will be disappointed, but this is instead a deeply personal account of ho...more
I might have given 4 stars instead of 3 only because of the place I'd bought the book and read it, in San Miguel Allende about the middle of my honeymoon. After a week at the beach, then a few days in Guanajuato tooling around and being lazy, we took a bus to SMA because I felt like getting a newspaper or book, in English. I was so starved of the English speaking world I read half the book on the way back to our hotel. I'd have given the book to my good friend, B Kingsolver, but the physical boo...more
I remembered this news story from the late 1990's so was interested when a friend leant me this book. I have to admit I was highly skeptical of Julia at the start of the book - she seemed so naive and blindly idealistic before heading up into the tree. But it didn't take long for her to win me over, whatever she lacked in knowledge of the issues she more than made up for in heart and courage. I know the second my feet got cold I would have hightailed it for the nearest bathtub, but this girl stu...more
What can I say about this book. Really. I bought it by chance one day. I had gone to the bookstore to pick up different book for an environmental literature class I was in. I saw this book. Bought it and read it in one sitting that very night. I could not put it down.
I met Julia Butterfly Hill at a rally in Houston. She is the only person that I've ever been in the presence of and have the feeling that I am in the presence of a Saint. I do not agree with all of her stances on things, but I admi...more
I met Julia Butterfly Hill at a rally in Houston. She is the only person that I've ever been in the presence of and have the feeling that I am in the presence of a Saint. I do not agree with all of her stances on things, but I admi...more
What an inspiration! I LOVED this book. I love the whole idea that this young person with nothing more than a desire to follow her guidance, do the right thing, and help where she could was able to make such a difference in the world! Her story is so moving because her success is a direct result of her willingness to remain rooted in loving intention and peaceful action. She is living proof that peaceful forms of activism ARE effective, and in fact, transformative. I also received a brief educat...more
Never underestimate the power of an idealistic hippy living in a tree for two years. Also understand that most people will never nearly was amazingly awesome as Julia Butterfly Hill. I think many of us could be, but we are not and that's what's absolutely horrible about this world. Perhaps if more people were like her, we would have never destoryed 98 percent of a most sacred forest. I've been to the redwood forest, I have seen what she fights for and that is why there will always be a special p...more
You know when people ask ' If you could have lunch with anyone, who would pick' ? Well you might just want to consider adding Julia "Butterfly" Hill to that list of potential fantasy lunch dates!
This humble story shows just how much one person really can make a difference. As Julia spends over 2 years living in a tree to protect the forest, we learn not only about her, but about how consumerism/greed, violence, and the lack of love in our society, is destroying our world.
This is a truley remarka...more
This humble story shows just how much one person really can make a difference. As Julia spends over 2 years living in a tree to protect the forest, we learn not only about her, but about how consumerism/greed, violence, and the lack of love in our society, is destroying our world.
This is a truley remarka...more
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Ah! This book was fabulous. At first, I thought there is no way I will like this book. A woman living in a tree for two years? How interesting can this be? Oh it was interesting!
I don't think the overview gives the book enough credit! But this books gives you a new sight for what goes on with our forests. I have always been the one to want to save our Earth, but this book makes you want to climb in a tree to protest! This books leaves you with a pair of new eyes and the urge to help heal and pr...more
I don't think the overview gives the book enough credit! But this books gives you a new sight for what goes on with our forests. I have always been the one to want to save our Earth, but this book makes you want to climb in a tree to protest! This books leaves you with a pair of new eyes and the urge to help heal and pr...more
A few years back I spent a summer living in a house with a revolving cast of international wanderers. I had an internship in town, and others in the house were working in coffee shops, or restaurants, or on lawn maintenance -- not jobs that they expected to have forever, but something that let them pay the rent while travelling or living away from home for the first time or figuring out what they wanted to do with their lives. I remember that summer as the time I figured out that, oh, you don't...more
The Legacy of Luna is the autobiography of Julia “Butterfly” Hill. Julia, originally taking a world trip, stopped at Grizzly Creek State Park to see the California redwoods. The beauty of the forest overwhelmed her and she was horrified and called to action when she learned that huge portions of ancient forests were being cut down. She ended up sitting in a nearly 200 foot redwood named Luna for over two years in order to bring some rightful change.
Julia Hill’s determination is unmatched by an...more
Julia Hill’s determination is unmatched by an...more
I highly recomend this book. Julia Butterfly Hill is the woman who lived for two years 180 feet up in a Redwood tree. When it was happening I heard little news things about it, and I was curious... but I am completely humbled by this first hand account by the woman who did this! Her feet did not touch the ground for 2 years! The story is facinating on every level. For one thing, she's a good writer. Then there's how she ended up in the tree, her personal inner life, the daily particulars of livi...more
Jun 13, 2008
Janelle
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
environmentalists, activists, loggers, people who love nature
Julia was living in Luna while I was in college. I remember being intrigued by her at the time, and meant to read the book when it came out years ago. I'm glad I finally got around to it.
It was nice to hear the story from her point of view - what motivated her to do this, what day-to-day life was like. I'm a camper and I've lived in rustic conditions, and the book did remind me how little we really need to survive, but no way could I have made it up there. I think I would have struggled most wi...more
It was nice to hear the story from her point of view - what motivated her to do this, what day-to-day life was like. I'm a camper and I've lived in rustic conditions, and the book did remind me how little we really need to survive, but no way could I have made it up there. I think I would have struggled most wi...more
The story was interesting, but her writing was terrible. She lacked depth and thoughtfulness. She frequently did extreme actions just because she 'knew she had to'.
I am very much unimpressed by people who do extreme things because of a feeling with little knowledge or reasoning. This is the sort of thing that leads to suicide bombings and airplane hijacking.
While her cause happened to be good, and those others we see as bad, the motivations are the same.
This book was in no way inspirational to m...more
I am very much unimpressed by people who do extreme things because of a feeling with little knowledge or reasoning. This is the sort of thing that leads to suicide bombings and airplane hijacking.
While her cause happened to be good, and those others we see as bad, the motivations are the same.
This book was in no way inspirational to m...more
A lot of history. One of my former bosses was Irish and I remember him telling me all the things that happened to his home land. He actually wrote some articles for our local newspaper about the events in the early 70s and his memories. Sad story in certain parts; too bad about the twins. This was a very thorough picture of the potato famine and what immigrants went through coming to America years ago. Unlike some of the reviews I have read on line, I understood the different generations.
Julia does a great job communicating her perspective. I think her idea of getting the opposition to see her as a "real person" is quite valid and think this could be good advice for other causes. For example, people with mental illness are often mistreated or neglected, or people on disability are often seen as if they were "taking" from society. Perhaps if we knew them as "real people", we might feel differently about their situations.
I was pretty excited to pick this up for $4. It's a thoroughly inspiring story about a woman that I have always admired.
The writing quality left a lot to be desired, and there wasn't much for "character development" other than in Julia herself (which is okay, it is about -her- after all).
I give it four stars because I read it in one sitting (without having to force myself) and when I finished, I felt re-inspired to embrace my tree-hugger ways. Lovely.
The writing quality left a lot to be desired, and there wasn't much for "character development" other than in Julia herself (which is okay, it is about -her- after all).
I give it four stars because I read it in one sitting (without having to force myself) and when I finished, I felt re-inspired to embrace my tree-hugger ways. Lovely.
The Legacy of Luna is the story about Julia Butterfly Hill, who lived in a redwood tree for 2 years to keep it from being logged and to try to raise awareness about the logging of old growth redwood forests. It's an interesting story because it's so unusual, and it's a topic that can easily get me feeling passionate about the environmental movement. But Julia Hill is a very strange person and a very strange writer. She could really have used a stronger editor, if she had one at all. Overall, the...more
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Julia Butterfly Hill is an enviornmental activist and author who was known for her effort to protect a tree in California Redwood from being cut down. She lived on the tree for two years, and eventually succeeded in preventing the lumber company from cutting trees in the area.
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I would not do it either, but I do respect her pass...more
Dec 31, 2007 07:25pm