Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods

by Julia Butterfly Hill

Book Overview

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 stop Pacific Lumber, a division of the Maxxam Corporation, from the environmentally...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062516590
• ISBN13: 9780062516596
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Heartfelt memoir that lights a candle in the darkness

Julia Butterfly Hill, an extraordinary woman, has written an equally extraordinary book detailing her two years living on a small platform hundreds of feet up "Luna," an ancient California redwood. What drives a young woman to give so much of herself, even risking her life, for the sake of a tree? The answers are fascinating, and reveal how much more is at stake than only a single redwood.Julia Hill is that rare individual: a political activist who is above partisan rancor; a moralist who transcends ideologies. Because of this, she draws fire from all sides, since she is bound to offend those who offer their allegiance to political orthodoxies. But here she writes a compelling and vivid tale that is wonderfully cinematic and sparkles with her wit and insight, more than justifying her new incarnation as one of the brightest and most personable spokespersons for environmentalism one would hope to find.In "Legacy of Luna," we learn how this itinerant preacher's daughter came to a fuller awareness of what was important in life after her brush with death in a terrible auto accident. She finds her higher cause in the old-growth forests of the West Coast, where environmentalists desperately place their own bodies in harm's way in an effort to stop overlogging. Like an early Christian aescetic, she soon found herself suspended in the air, nearer to heaven, hoping for a miracle, while the world watched. Defying all attempts by the Maxxam Corporation to force her from her perch, surviving storms, cold, and loneliness, Julia describes in this remarkable book exactly why the old-growth forests are worth preserving and shares the lessons she learned from her long ordeal. She writes about the media frenzy that developed, about the celebrities who offered support, and how she maintained her sanity and perspective in dealing with the whirlwind her action created.Heroes come from the strangest places and sometimes do what appear to be the strangest things. The truest heroes are those who inspire the rest of us to heroic living, and no one who reads this book with an open heart will fail to be inspired by Julia Butterfly Hill's saga of courage and love.

Julia Butterfly Hill: as revolutionary as Rachel Carson

This book is comprised of two parts, the shocking reality of logging and the spiritual lessons one can learn from nature, which Julia Butterfly Hill has woven together using the words of a poet. What I learned about logging practices has opened my eyes in much the same way that "Silent Spring" opened people's eyes decades ago. If read by enough people Julia could follow in Carson's footsteps and bring about a new awakening of environmental concience which is much needed in this fast paced modern life. What allows Julia to make such an impact is that she has completely bared her soul to the public. She talked about life from the persepctive of 100-180 feet up in the air, and also told us how this made her feel. She also talked about what she learned from Luna, and the forest in genral. These observations she makes bring the forest to life in such a way that most people never would have thought possible. This book has given me more food for thought than any other book has in quite a long time. I have developed huge respect for Julia Butterfly (not just as a writer, an environmentalist, or someone who held out completely for her beliefs) but as a woman.

An inspiring, coming-of-age-tale.

I don't understand the overly critical reviews here... this in not a text book but story of grit and determination in an age of selfish materialism. Julia Hill writes in the spirit of a young girl with a big story to tell. In an age of self absorbed memoir writing her story stands apart for its focus on something other than herself. I loved hearing of her day to day existence in the tree. I loved how she first went to the forest to pray for direction and purpose. Julia Hill is a listener in a world full of shouters. Her writing style is simple and pure. I predict this book will become a cult classic someday. Her passion alone is enough to sustain the reader to the end.

A quick read; great nonetheless

Ok, ok. Julia Butterfly is now a celebrity in her own right,she's doing the speaking tour, now the book... so watch for the majormotion picture......Well, cynics beware! This is a great book, and the integrity, honor, intelligence and love flows from Julia onto the pages and into your heart. I was especially struck by her humanity- no superhero, she speaks freely of her doubt and of her fear. But always you see her courage and depth of commitment. Our country is blessed to have her in our midst at this time... fewer than 1% of our original forests remain in the lower 48 states. It is indeed time to stop, and to use our brains.The book is a quick read- I finished it in 1 night- but I'm returning to it again and again, like my favorite CD's. I have no illusions though, that this book was written in a fortnight... she was up there for 738 days; plenty of time for writing! (Plus, the negotiations necessary to produce the book in the manner that follows her convictions).She says what needs to be said- no more, no less. If you are curious about what it's like to sit in a tree for 2 years sustained by the strength of your convictions, get the book. If you can, go see her speak. She's intelligent and articulate.Julia is a hero, and this is the story of her awakening.

This book is love on paper

I've always heard people say, "I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down," but I've never had that experience. That is, until I picked up Luna. I was up until 3am finishing it, because I had to know what happened. And because I felt so entranced by this woman and her story, I didn't want it to end. Which is why, after I finished the book, I tiptoed out to my computer to look at her website. I had to have more. Now, I've loaned my copy out to a friend, because this story shines - it will warm the coldest of hearts, and soften the hardest of souls. I am buying 2 more copies, so that I can loan them to my friends and family. This is one of those special, sparkling books that truly will make the world a kinder place. Please read it.