A Season of Fire: Four Months on the Firelines in the American West

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Summary: A Wonderful, Thought Provoking Wildfire Book
Review: Years ago I read and greatly enjoyed Norman Maclean's book, Young Men and Fire, about the Mann Gulch fire of 1949. It is a classic work on the study of wildfires and I have re-read it many times. Recently a new book on forest fires was released and based on reviews I purchased it. After reading A Season of Fire by Douglas Gantenbein in one sitting, it is my opinion that a new standard text has been added to the literature. I learned more from this book about the inner workings of the fire fighting teams and what it is like to be on the front line of an inferno than almost any other book. Mr. Gantenbein also covers in great detail the political considerations of fighting wildfires and the many special interests involved. I heartily recommend A Season of Fire to any reader interested in the outdoors. It will challenge you and you will learn from it.

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Summary: Fire: Perspective and Passion, An Intriguing Read
Review: Yell fire and everyone around you will stop and look. And Gantenbein’s A Season of Fire is one way to keep looking, as well as gain an immersion into the fascinatingly complex world of people who fight fires and fire politics. I’d recommend this book highly. From fire fighting history (Mann Gulch in 1949) to the more recent tragic Thirtymile Fire, you’ll find a wonderfully descriptive portrait that provides much needed perspective on firefighting. Well-written research on why people fight fires and what they face invites you into this seldom examined world. Anyone residing in the West or curious about policy and science will find this complex but understandable book a great read.

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Summary: Please spare us...
Review: Yet another hack attempting to cash in on the post Sept. 11th lucrative trade in publications on firefighting and firefighters. That is to say, there are some very fine books out there on firefighters written post 9/11, shedding light on what has been described as one of the last honorable professions. Unfortunately for the reading public, discernment of what is fine journalism and what reads like a high school journalism student just learning to cut and paste on the computer is another. Mr. Gantenbein, to his credit, did undertake this with good intentions, but the end result is a book that reads like a poor cell phone connection - scattered words and phrases popping up out of the ether, that somehow make themselves into a book about firefighting. There is one positive to this book; wait until you see this book in the remainders bin on a cold winter's day, and use it to start your Presto Log.