The anthropologist in me loved that this 1) was a collection of firefighter narratives rather than just capturing a single person's experience and perspective, and 2) that it told these stories in the informants' own words. These qualities are what, I think, gives this particular book an edge over attempts to capture the lives and culture of firefighters.

I would have liked the different passages to be more clearly cited; that is, I would have liked them to be better identified with the informants they had come from, the places where they served, and maybe even other details. But other than that, it was an informative window into a distinctive and admirable community. ( )

The anthropologist in me loved that this 1) was a collection of firefighter narratives rather than just capturing a single person's experience and perspective, and 2) that it told these stories in the informants' own words. These qualities are what, I think, gives this particular book an edge over attempts to capture the lives and culture of firefighters.

I would have liked the different passages to be more clearly cited; that is, I would have liked them to be better identified with the informants they had come from, the places where they served, and maybe even other details. But other than that, it was an informative window into a distinctive and admirable community. ( )

Dennis Smith uses his own experience and that of his coworkers, friends and colleagues from around the U.S. to illustrate what it is to be a firefighter. The book is comprised of many individual stories and covers everything from actual fire fighting to the most basic medical response calls. He also includes a look into the private lives of firefighters and how they deal with religious issues and balancing career and family. The book is a good way to show all sides of the career and serves as a way to "bond" all firefighters together by sharing personal experiences. I would recommend the book to anyone considering the profession but also for those who are already serving the community as a firefighter. Because the stories are told in the words of individual firefighters, some of the stories are more basic and very simple to read. Other stories are more complex and would appeal to a more sophisticated reader. However, all stories of are worth reading. ( )