Book review | "Confessions of a Wild Chaga Hunter"

This review is about “Confessions of a Wild Chaga Hunter”. As lived by Barry Glidden and recorded by Margaret Rose Scribner.

The book about Chaga goes back and forth between storytelling, information about the fungus, and testimonials. Having previous knowledge of Chaga, we found the story very captivating and well put together. Barry Glidden is a native of the great state of Maine, now living in central Florida. Passionate about Chaga, he’s currently focusing his time and talents on harvesting, processing, and educating people about this mushroom. In the book, you’ll learn about, the adventures and hurdles Barry has come across on his journey of discovering Chaga. You’ll find yourself on a charming journey, full of memories from hiking trails, his 1985 Mercedes, and the people he has met along the road.

Barry and Margaret go to great extents to unravel the myths of Chaga, replacing them with facts. Introducing the biggest gurus in the fields, with their strengths and weaknesses. You’ll learn a lot about the many gifts and benefits of the birch tree, with interesting information about Chaga. Along with the becoming story of the brand Burts Bees, Barry shares his experiences of starting a Chaga business, and the people he has come across in the industry. You’ll get to read interesting stories about cultivating Chaga, and how easy it is to fool people following the correct marketing guidelines. Barry also dedicates time to introduce his own products, along with his wife’s magnetic jewelry.

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The book seems to be written with a lot of integrity, pulling from holistic and scientific medicine to reach the ultimate well-being or “clean body”. Walking away with valuable insights into Chaga, “Confessions of a Wild Chaga Hunter” is a fun and easy read. Published by Scribner Family Publisher in 2016, the book is printed in black and white with many original pictures and illustrations.