The Golden Spruce [Book Review]

While I almost exclusively read Science-Fiction, I've been dabbling in a bit of non-fiction these days. One of the most recent books I've read is The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed.

I had been telling a group of friends about my recent trip to the central coast of British Columbia when one of them recommended the book

At it's heart, it's a book about the history of logging in British Columbia. That might sound a bit dull, but it's fantastically written and a pretty interesting history, at that. It's not until the first half of the book that the story really focuses on Grant Hadwin, a logger-turned conservationist who played a large role in what happened to the fabled Golden Spruce.

I don't want to spoil too much of the story, but I will say that anyone with an interest in history, the outdoors, logging, conservation/environmentalism or just great story should give it a shot. You should even just read it to hear about the legendary exploits of  Grant Hadwin. The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed

Fashion Friday: Anything Other Than Naked

A few weeks ago, I was asked to review a copy of Anything Other Than Naked, a guide to fashion and style for men by a former financial services advisor and Captain in the U.S. Air Force.

As someone who works in a slightly less formal environment these days (the only ties I see in our office are the skinny kind worn with plaid shirts), I'm not sure how handy this book will come on a daily basis. However, for buying a new suit or formal wear (or for those pesky Fashion Friday questions that pop up), this book will a great resource.

In a no-nonsense style, it covers almost everything the white-collar male needs to know about getting dressed for work and the formal occasions in his life. I think this would be a great gift for a young gentlemen just graduating from university or about to start his first job.

A few of the pieces of advice that really stand out are that I should buy proper pants hangars to keep my trousers from wrinkling (hang them by the cuffs, not folded over) and that I seriously need to get a better spring-weight jacket.

You can grab a copy of the book at the following links:

Anything Other Than Naked (on Amazon)

Anything Other Than Naked (on Amazon, Kindle edition)

However, the publisher has also  been kind enough to provide an extra copy of the book as a giveaway to one extra-lucky BlogCampaigning reader. For a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment telling us what topic you'd like us to cover in an upcoming Fashion Friday.

I'll choose the best answer on Wednesday, April 13th and notify the winner via email.