James Card, pictured with his favorite power tool.

As a chainsaw enthusiast, arborist and person who adores spending time in the forest, I found that “Chainsaw Love” was a delight to read. When the book was handed to me at TCI EXPO ’25 in St. Louis, the ask was, “Would you be willing to read this and write a review for TCI Magazine?” Protective of my time, I was initially cautious – but the bright orange cover and campy imagery were too hard to ignore.

Author James Card, a Wisconsin native, nails it. This is a great read for anyone even remotely interested in chainsaws. Through trips down chainsaw memory lane and visits with enthusiasts and fanatics alike, Card shows he’s done his homework. His personal love of saws shines through his research, encouraging the reader to lean in.

I learned quite a bit and appreciated his attention to detail, particularly how the book pays homage to those who invented, developed and improved chainsaw operation and efficiency over time. Knowledge, in this context, is clearly something meant to be shared and passed along.

A gifted writer with a brass-tacks approach that makes the book highly accessible, his ability to pull the reader in, chapter after chapter, is in part due to his genuine appreciation of chainsaws. “Chainsaw Love” reminds you not only of your passion for being in the forest, working with trees, and using chainsaws to fell trees or process firewood, but also of the simple pleasure of slowing down. It celebrates how fabulous it is to curl up with a cup of tea while turning the pages of a good book, especially next to a cozy fire.

One of the best pop-culture portrayals of a chainsaw being used for logging is by Paul Newman in “Sometimes a Great Notion.” He wears a safety helmet in the 1970s film, but eye and ear protection and high-visibility clothing were not commonly used at the time. Courtesy of Chain Saw Age magazine, Hatton-Brown Publishers.

Though I was not in step with him on every page when reviewing safety, I appreciate his perspective, especially the concept of “Safety Theatre.” The Z133 reminds us that our safety is our own responsibility. Card appears to be of the same mindset, though he also recognizes that you can’t teach common sense – and we are lacking common sense in this world.

If chainsaws are part of your life and they’ve ever made you smile, you’ll enjoy reading “Chainsaw Love.” It’s a book that invites you to think, reflect, cross-reference your own experiences – and laugh along the way.

Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, CTSP, is the co-founder of the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop, a three-year TCIA corporate member company based in Lincoln, Vermont.