Brush Cat by Jack McEnany – A Review
On Trees, the Wood Economy, and the Most Dangerous Job in America
Jun 18, 2009
In Brush Cat (it was almost called Brush Ape, but the Brush Cats didn't much care for it), Jack McEnany spends quite a bit of time in the woods. His writing is engaging, and conversational—it's easy to read and understand. Jack is probably a good guy to go on a hike with, followed by a relaxing chat with a cold beverage.
It's About Brush Cats (Sort Of)
According to the main title, one would expect the focus to be on Brush Cats, the independent north woods loggers who make a living cutting timber. These folks are independent in both spirit and employment—they're their own bosses. Out of 224 pages, about 75 of them do that. The rest of the pages don't.
According to statistics, independent logging, which involves a lot of manual tree cutting and hauling without the benefit of heavy duty specialized equipment, is in fact the most dangerous job in America. It's got crab fishing in the Bering Sea beat by quite a bit. That ought to make exciting reading. It does up to a point, but the point fades, and gets mingled with a lot of other things that aren't dangerous, so the edge gets lost along the way.
Logger Bob is the author's main logging contact. He's a real pro, as are most of the other brush cats encountered. There are a few idiots in the woods too. It's a tough life, and as is the case in many other professions, it's getting harder to make a go of it. The book doesn't inspire one to go out and become a brush cat—it's not intended to—but it does give good reason to admire and appreciate what they do. It succeeds in that respect.
The Wood Economy
As hinted at by the subtitle, the book is mostly NOT about brush cats but the state of the northern forest in the region including and surrounding New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. And it's not entirely that either.
Which is not to say it isn't interesting—it is. But McEnany meanders all over the place, mentioning forest management practices there, telling the tale of a nasty multiple murder over there, then heading some place else to describe a visit to a chainsaw artist's show. The story of Rusty DeWees, an actor from Vermont (well, he's almost from Vermont) is well told. Once in awhile McEnany ties this all in with life in the woods, or forest management, or the timber industry (at least what's left of it in these parts).
In all, Brush Cat is entertaining and not too taxing on the mind. People who care about the woods will probably enjoy it. If you re looking for a timber cutting version of Deadliest Catch, you won't find it here.
References
Brush Cat: On Trees, the Wood Economy, and the Most Dangerous Job in America, 2008, Jack McEnany, St. Martins Press, NY, ISBN-10 0-312368917, ISBN-13 978-0312368913
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