Rating: 
Summary: A sad book.
Review: This book might be of interest for experienced woodcutters but is useless for an inexperienced person who wants to learn about chainsaws. The author does not define any of the dozens of technical terms he uses.As a retired professor of mathematics I am full of sympathy for people who have great difficulties with elementary notions of arithmetic and geometry. Dave Johnson is obviously one of those. One example among many : "Cubic inch displacement is the volume swept by the piston in a single full stroke. Basically, it is the diameter of the piston time the length of the stroke" (page 35). A good book editor should have protected the author from flaunting his shortcomings.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly recommended for anyone who owns or uses a chain saw
Review: This well-written, humorous and truly unique book addresses the issues of productive, safe woods work and chain saw use from an accessible and delightful perspective. In that respect, it is unlike any other book on the subject that I have seen. Admittedly, there aren't many others to choose from. The author, Dave Johnson, describes how he and his wife make their living from their own 500-acre woodlot by doing most of the work themselves. In the process, he explains clearly--and when necessary, in great detail--issues as diverse as properly sharpening a saw chain, starting a saw, felling a tree or choosing the best work clothes. The entire text is laced with a mixture of humorous and profound observations about what the author sees as the true nature of work, workers, trees, machines and a whole lot more. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who owns or uses a chain saw.
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