- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Basic Books (Oct 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0465027407
- ISBN-13: 978-0465027408
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 19.3 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 887,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
A gifted reporter--and scion of the FDNY--chronicles the amazing history of the New York City Fire Department, from the volunteers of the early 1700s to the rescue teams of September 11. On September 11, 2001, the courage and sacrifice of the New York City Fire Department inspired the nation, giving new meaning to the word "hero. " But the heroism of the firefighters was not unique to September 11--it has been part of the FDNY's tradition from the very beginning. Journalist Terry Golway, whose father, father-in-law, godfather, and uncles were all New York firefighters, tells as no one else could the story of the men and women, tragedies and triumphs of the FDNY throughout its history. From the original eighteenth-century volunteer force to the New York Firefighter unit in the Union Army, from the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire to the arson epidemic of the 1970s, to contemporary issues of diversity and efficiency, Golway's history holds up a mirror for firefighters throughout the U. S. In this first comprehensive chronicle of the FDNY in over sixty years, Golway weaves together stories of heroic firefighters and extraordinary fires to create a moving and original history of the city and the vocation as seen through the eyes of "New York's Bravest. " From America's most ambitious public-works project of the 1700s--the building of aqueducts from upstate to help control fires--to firefighter-turned-politician Boss Tweed's backroom politics, fire and firefighters have always been an integral part of the history of the city. Lively, gut-wrenching, and ultimately inspiring, So Others Might Live offers a new view of the building of American cities and the people who made them great. As a tribute to the firefighters of New York, Basic Books will donate a portion of its proceeds from the sale of So Others Might Live to the New York Firefighters 911 Disaster Relief Fund.
About the Author
Terry Golway, columnist and City Editor of the New York Observer, is a frequent contributor to the Irish Echo, American Heritage, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, coauthor of The Irish in America and the author of For the Cause of Liberty: A Thousand Years of Ireland's Heroes, and Irish Rebel: John Devoy and America's Fight for Ireland's Freedom. He lives in Maplewood, New Jersey.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
ON THE MORNING of September 10, 2001, Father Mychal Judge, the fire Department's popular Roman Catholic chaplain, was on his way from the Franciscan friary in midtown Manhattan to the quarters of Engine Co 73 and Ladder Co. 42 on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
ON THE MORNING of September 10, 2001, Father Mychal Judge, the fire Department's popular Roman Catholic chaplain, was on his way from the Franciscan friary in midtown Manhattan to the quarters of Engine Co 73 and Ladder Co. 42 on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
Terry Golway has done an outstanding job of compiling this concise and totally enthralling history of "New York's Bravest", all the more interesting because of the reports on, and personal experiences of, the actions of the generations of New York fire fighters which he astutely uses to help weave the continuing timeline into a fascinating narrative. The machinations of a wide variety of corrupt and inept politicians as they attempted to manipulate the activities (and the finances) of the old New York Fire Service are particularly interesting, and the descriptions of the physical battles between the volunteer brigades as they fought (literally) to be first to the fire are laugh out loud. The final couple of chapters regarding the tragic loss of 343 fire fighters at the twin towers, and the detrimental effects on both their surviving colleagues and the efficiency of an emergency service suddenly depleted of skilled and experienced staff, is particularly moving told, as it is, largely through the voices of those that were there as well as those who still feel guilty as a result of their absence that day. Mr Golway does an excellent job of defining why individuals have always felt so strongly motivated to enter a profession which, in all honesty, gives them no guarantee that they may actually survive to return home at the end of the day. The team spirit and commitment which is literally "forged in fire" is a constant thread throughout the book, despite some shameful historical episodes regarding the integration of minority groups,and as a volunteer fire fighter myself this book reaffirmed my pride in the profession as well as serving to remind me as to why I also took that step forward in the first place.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Terrific, Moving, Insightful
4 Oct 2002
Format:Hardcover
At first glance, Golway's book might appear to be a "buff" book - one aimed at firefighting enthusiasts. The truth - evident from the first pages - is that it's a book about much more than fires and firefighting. For in addition to telling the fascinating story of the FDNY's evolution from colonial times to the present, Golway relates many more -- the stories of New York City's growth and development, of technological change (both architectural and firefighting), of municipal politics, of labor disputes, of struggles by women and minorities for equal opportunity. Ultimately, it's a book about the stories of generations of firefighters and their day to day struggle, often overlooked before 9/11, to put their lives on the line in protecting the lives and property of the city's residents. Best of all, the book is beautifully written, reflecting the author's emotional attachment to his subject (he's the son of a firefighter), as well as experience as a journalist. You'll find this book an engaging read from the start - long before it tells the tragic story of the FDNY's darkest day, September 11.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Simply Breath Taking
13 Mar 2006
Format:Hardcover
This book is an amazing book and essential for firefighters, as well as enthusiasts or people who just wants to learn something. From start to finish, this book is packed full of facts, based on the history of FDNY and exploring the truth behind the brotherhood involved in the fire house. I have yet to place this book aside, it is an utmost favorite of mine.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
If you like the FDNY, if you want to know its History, this is the book!
30 Jan 2006
Format:Paperback
This book from start to finish is packed with information that you would otherwise never have heard about. The history of one of the most famous Fire Depts in the US is more than I ever imagined, naming some of the early firefighters who would have otherwise slipped into the sandglass of time. The accounts of fires and incidents in the citys history do more credit than you will ever hear about anywhere else. It shows why today Firefighters of the modern day FDNY fight so hard to keep hold of their history and tradition. Before you make judgement on these guys read this book. This is what they are all about.
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