Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining and inspirational read!
Review: Ghosts of the Fireground was a gift from a friend and not the kind of book I tend to pick for myself. As often is the case, however, we don't like green eggs and ham until we try them, Sam-I-am.Peter Leschak is a tremendous writer and this book defies easy classification. It certainly is an intriguing memoir; it reads like a good novel; and in parts is as inspirational as any self-help book I have read. I checked the back cover to see how it is "officially" classified: Adventure. Yes, it is that too. As a psychotherapist and author (Embracing Fear, HarperSanFrancisco) who teaches people to face their fears, I have recommended this book to a couple of clients as an example of someone who does not live a life controlled by fear. In saying that, I am not just talking about the courage Leschak shows as a firefighter, but more importantly I see him as a role model for anyone who wants to live their life on their own terms. Read this one ... in a box, or with a fox ... here or there ... anywhere. Thom Rutledge
author of Embracing Fear
Rating: 
Summary: Buyer Beware
Review: I intended to write a review halfway through this book, but I kept reading expecting it would actually talk about Peshtigo, but as other reviewers have said, it's mostly about Mr. Leschak. I finished it months ago, and just ran across it again lurking in my book pile, and yet I'm compelled to write a review. I grew up in Wisconsin in the 60-70's well aware of the lore of the Peshtigo fire. I was excited when I heard of this book, as I would love to read an historical account of the fire, ala the genre of real life accounts of trial and survival (Shackleton's "South", Albanov's "In the Land of White Death", Lundy's" Godforsaken Sea", Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", Simpson's "Touching the Void"...). This book was not what I had expected, and not what I would call a riveting book. I think the subtitle describes the book's treatment of the fire somewhat appropriately as "Echoes of the Great Peshtigo Fire...".
That said, if someone wants to read about Mr. Leschak and the life of a firefighter, you may enjoy this book, but even then, it was a bit self absorbed, and brooding. If you want to learn about Peshtigo, look elsewhere. I'm personally looking forward to reading Lutz's "Firestorm at Peshtigo".
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware
Review: I intended to write a review halfway through this book, but I kept reading expecting it would actually talk about Peshtigo, but as other reviewers have said, it's mostly about Mr. Leschak. I finished it months ago, and just ran across it again lurking in my book pile, and yet I'm compelled to write a review. I grew up in Wisconsin in the 60-70's well aware of the lore of the Peshtigo fire. I was excited when I heard of this book, as I would love to read an historical account of the fire, ala the genre of real life accounts of trial and survival (Shackleton's "South", Albanov's "In the Land of White Death", Lundy's" Godforsaken Sea", Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", Simpson's "Touching the Void"...). This book was not what I had expected, and not what I would call a riveting book. I think the subtitle describes the book's treatment of the fire somewhat appropriately as "Echoes of the Great Peshtigo Fire...".
That said, if someone wants to read about Mr. Leschak and the life of a firefighter, you may enjoy this book, but even then, it was a bit self absorbed, and brooding. If you want to learn about Peshtigo, look elsewhere. I'm personally looking forward to reading Lutz's "Firestorm at Peshtigo".
Rating:
Summary: Just Another Wildland Firefighter
Review: I think that this book was wonderfully written, full of insight to the dangers of fighting fire and the passion and love that firefighters have for this dangerous profession. The spiritual points hit home and provide some explanations as to why any type of emergency responder will in a sense become "obsessed" with their job. It also provided me with quite a few notes that I will use when teaching younger firefighters. While it does not provide a full fledged history of the Peshtigo fire, it does touch on what I thought to be the most important aspects in relation to the authors in depth look at firefighting and those who choose to do it.
Rating:
Summary: A excellent, existential yarn
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Leschak's most recent book. I felt that, in some fiery way, the 19th-century priest-protagonist was still ministering directly to the author, and to me. This is a well-crafted, thoughtful yarn that continues to lay out our struggle with what it means to be human.
Rating:
Summary: A excellent, existential yarn
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Leschak's most recent book. I felt that, in some fiery way, the 19th-century priest-protagonist was still ministering directly to the author, and to me. This is a well-crafted, thoughtful yarn that continues to lay out our struggle with what it means to be human.
Rating: 
Summary: Great writing and excellent story
Review: I want to read about the Great Peshtigo Fire and was draw to this book by reccommendations of others... Thanks. Mr. Leschak does a great job of capturing the spirit and feel of the northwoods and transfering this to the reader with the words, images and overall story. I will be searching for other Leschak books and now I a avid fan... Thanks..
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was VERY disappointed with this book because it was recommended as a good account of the Peshtigo fire; yet, what the author actually had to say about this event could have fit into less than one chapter. I could not, however, justify giving it only one star as what he did say about the fire was interesting. This book would probably be read with great interest by those excited by helicopters and/or fighting wildfires as these are the real focuses of this book. Time after time, when I expected the author to really get into the Peshtigo fire, I was dismayed once again to find he once again goes into a long litany about himself which seems to be his true obsession. I got very tired of his self-praise and importance, his use of "big words" - as though to impress when plain language would have suited better, his over-emphasis on descriptive phrasing, and incomplete sentences! If you want to read about the Peshtigo fire, don't bother with this book.
Rating:
Summary: This book captures the spirit of wildland firefighting
Review: Many people think that wildland firefighters do what we do for the money, or the "glory", or because there is simply something seriously wrong with ourhead. Well, we do it for something else. I can't tell you what it is, exactly, and I couldn't even put it into words myself until I read Leschak's book. I was blown away. This man has somehow figured out a way to put into a few well-phrased paragraphs exactly why we endure the heat, bugs, hills, camp food, injuries, drudgery, monotony, and sheer exhaustion to save a few acres of trees. Why we count down the dreary winter days every year until we can take up our saws and our pulaskis again and hear that sweet sound of that first dispatch. We risk our lives every season not for money or glory but for that "five percent" that Leschak describes so well. The writing is gripping, the prose excellent, the philosophy genuine. Just read this book. Thanks, Pete.
Rating: 
Summary: Complete Drivel
Review: The author was more impressed with his being a team leader that doing justs to the historic Peshtigo fire. The mundane radio calls and flash backs didn"t help his effort.
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