Synopses & Reviews
More than 6 years after his death David Halberstam remains one of this country's most respected journalists and revered authorities on American life and history in the years since WWII. A Pulitzer Prize-winner for his ground-breaking reporting on the Vietnam War, Halberstam wrote more than 20 books, almost all of them bestsellers. His work has stood the test of time and has become the standard by which all journalists measure themselves.
"In the firehouse, the men not only live and eat with each other, they play sports together, go off to drink together, help repair one another's houses, and, most important, share terrifying risks; their loyalties to each other must, by the demands of the dangers they face, be instinctive and absolute."
So writes David Halberstam, one of America's most distinguished reporters and historians, in this stunning New York Times bestselling book about Engine 40, Ladder 35, located on the West Side of Manhattan near Lincoln Center. On the morning of September 11, 2001, two rigs carrying thirteen men set out from this firehouse: twelve of them would never return.
Firehouse takes us to the epicenter of the tragedy. Through the kind of intimate portraits that are Halberstam's trademark, we watch the day unfold--the men called to duty while their families wait anxiously for news of them. In addition, we come to understand the culture of the firehouse itself: why gifted men do this; why, in so many instances, they are eager to follow in their fathers' footsteps and serve in so dangerous a profession; and why, more than anything else, it is not just a job, but a calling.
This is journalism-as-history at its best, the story of what happens when one small institution gets caught in an apocalyptic day. Firehouse is a book that will move readers as few others have in our time.
Review
"A graceful and moving book." New York Times Book Review
Review
"Halberstam writes in this always clear-eyed but affecting group portrait." Newsweek
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"Halberstam's achievement is in remembering these men not just for how they died but for how they lived." People
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"[Halberstam's] special contribution is to anatomize the culture that incubated and nourished these remarkable public servants." Bookpage
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"The best of funerals manage to mourn the dead and celebrate their lives, which is what Halberstam does." USA Today
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"[Q]uite an achievement....Understandably, some portraits are more rounded than others....More often, the descriptions click, Halberstam succeeds in bringing his subjects back to life, and we ache as we suddenly remember that this man is no more. Fine work that will leave most readers with even higher esteem for firefighters." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A moving testament to the remarkable brotherhood of firemen, from the Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author.
On a day when the worst of mankind showed itself, the best of mankind answered it.
Firehouse is an intimate portrait of the courageous men who sacrificed their lives during the New York City terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. Following the lives of Engine 40 Ladder 35, Firehouse offers a view both into the epic center of the tragedy and into the daily life of firehouses across the nation.
Every American will want to know these courageous men who experienced first hand the worst terrorist attack to ever take place on American soil. Full of astonishing detail, lingo, humor, and danger, Firehouse is a terribly moving story that will inspire readers today and for years to come.
Synopsis
One of America's most distinguished reporters and historians offers the deeply moving personal story of Engine 40, Ladder 35 -- located on the West Side of Manhattan near Lincoln Center -- and the absolute sacrifice its firefighters made on September 11, 2001. On the morning of September 11, 2001, two rigs carrying thirteen men set out from this firehouse: twelve of them would never return.
Firehouse takes us to the epicenter of the tragedy. Through the kind of intimate portraits that are Halberstam's trademark, we watch the day unfold--the men called to duty while their families wait anxiously for news of them. In addition, we come to understand the culture of the firehouse itself: why gifted men do this; why, in so many instances, they are eager to follow in their fathers' footsteps and serve in so dangerous a profession; and why, more than anything else, it is not just a job, but a calling.
This is journalism-as-history at its best, the story of what happens when one small institution gets caught in an apocalyptic day. Firehouse is a book that will move readers as few others have in our time.
More than 6 years after his death David Halberstam remains one of this country's most respected journalists and revered authorities on American life and history in the years since WWII. A Pulitzer Prize-winner for his groundbreaking reporting on the Vietnam War, Halberstam wrote more than 20 books, almost all of them bestsellers. His work has stood the test of time and has become the standard by which all journalists measure themselves.
Synopsis
David Halberstam has spent a lifetime defining the events that have shaped the modern age of our nation, both politically and psychologically.& nbsp; From his reporting on the Civil Rights movement to his award-winning coverage of Vietnam, Halberstam is often considered the voice that personifies our nation??'s collective consciousness.& nbsp; Following in the successes of his national bestsellers, Halberstam now turns his astute eye to the latest events that have entwined themselves within the American psyche.& nbsp; FIREHOUSE is a portrait of Engine 40 Ladder 35 located on the Upper West Side in New York City, which lost twelve men in the World Trade Center attack.& nbsp; FIREHOUSE also offers insight into daily life in a firehouse that is representative of every urban firehouse in America. This is a book full of astonishing detail: the lingo, the relationships, the dangers, and simple daily life.
About the Author
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and best-selling author David Halberstam has spent a lifetime defining the events that have shaped the modern age of our nation, both politically and psychologically. From his reporting on the budding Civil Rights movement to his award-winning coverage of Vietnam, he is considered to be one of the voices that personifies our nations collective consciousness. Halberstam is the author of numerous bestsellers, including
The Best and the Brightest, The Powers that Be, The Reckoning, The Fifties, and
War in a Time of Peace. A contributing editor to
Vanity Fair, he lives in Manhattan only blocks from Engine 40 Ladder 35.
Halberstam will be donating a portion of his profits to the families of the victims.