Customer Reviews

The Brave: A Story of New York City's Firefighters

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The Brave takes you right into the Heart of Firefighting in 70's New York. As a fellow Firefighter who loves to put pen to paper I am always keen to read the experiences of other Firefighters in this vastly underrepresented market.

Every book shelf these days seems to be full of Celebrities, Politicians, Soldiers or sports personalities telling us their stories. It make a refreshing change when a Firefighter, Medic or Policemen puts pen to paper, these people are fighting a never ending war every day on the Streets of our Countries.

The Brave tells the story of Life in a Firehouse on the Lower East Side of New York City in the 1970's, a period now remembered by the Veterans of those days as 'The War Years'. Recession, social unrest, poverty and crime were the catalyst for may Fires in many run down cities in the World. Very Few Cites saw the Fires that New York saw in that period and fewer Still Firemen saw the Fire Duty that the Men of the FDNY saw at this time.

George Pickett has an ability to drag the reader down the stinking burning hallways of the tenements. You can feel the heat searing your skin and the smoke choking your lungs. Time and again you follow page after page wondering will the heroes of the FDNY reach the victim before the room erupts all around them, more often than not they do...frequently with seconds to spare.

I finished this book in 24 hours, such was the draw of the story unfolding before me. I found every possible excuse to pick the book up and start reading again. If action is what you want then give the jungles of South America or the Desert of the Middle East a rest..opt instead for the action in the Blazing sweatshops, tenements and flop houses of New York City in the 70's.

During the years that George Pickett so vividly describes in The
Brave, I worked in a neighboring fire company in the "west village." On many shifts, I worked in the Great Jones Street Firehouse that was the quarters of Engine 33 and Ladder 9. I knew most of the men who are mentioned in this action packed story. George Pickett's accounts of what went on in the firehouse, the detailed description of the firehouse and the unrelenting fire activity of the "lower eastside" is so real, that I felt as if I was working another tour there as I read The Brave. Pickett's writing style is superb as he takes the reader
from a harrowing fire then back to the mundane moments in the firehouse. He skillfully weaves the lives of the residents of the east village into this fast paced story that speaks of a changing society, changing fire service and a changing America. This book is worthy of becoming a movie.

Few books have captivated my attention as much as George Pickett's "The Brave: A Story of New York City Firefighters". Both as a native New Yorker growing up in the 60's and 70's in the Bronx, and a volunteer firefighter in Westchester County, NY, I can rerlate to the many references in this action packed book.
Pickett brings the reader into every fire call, every dark smokey hallway and heat searing room. The reader is there, holding the irons, the nozzle or climbing the ladder.
Above all the book is truthful. Clearly, the author;s integrity and honest is eveident during each story-both the flattering and humiliating. George Pickett should be proud of his career, family and work on the compelling effort to document the life of a New York City Firefighter. Bravo!!!
-Michael J. Deegan

I finished "The Brave" this weekend; I closed the book with a tear in my eye and a lump on my throat. I was deeply moved by the story and it was sad to see a 20 year chapter of your life end on such a sour note with the inappropriate accusations from that Chief. The book did a wonderful job of revealing all of the different emotions, triumphs and defeats that you and many others were faced with on a day-to-day basis. It showed the deep compassion that the fire fighters have for those they could and could not save while enduring the jeers and lack of respect from the very people they were charged to protect.

I, and I am sure the public in general, was truly unaware of how little rest these men really get and how often they are hurt, only to rush back into the fight and be chastised at any point when they failed to be absolutely perfect. I can see where you, the fire fighters would truly be a "Band of Brothers".

"The Brave" would make an excellent movie; in fact you could make a movie out 1/3 rd of the material in the book.

Thanks for enlightening me,

Joey Lee

WOW!! The Brave is full of action from start to finish and would make a great movie! The Brave keeps your attention and makes it hard to set the book down. It gives a great picture to how challenging life is as a NYFD firefighter. The storey is compelling and truthful and I'm sure will be around for a long time. Congratulations to George Pickett on this GREAT book!

A page turning account of life as a New York City firefighter. A little slow at the start, but captivating and exciting by the second chapter. George Pickett does a great job of taking you along on the big red trucks, down the burning halls and into the mindset of the men, who New Yorkers call The Brave. Not only a great story but an important history lesson for anyone who wants a better tomorrow for us all. A Great read! 5 Stars!!! Thanks George!!

"The Brave" is a must read for anyone in the fire service or is contemplating or training to become a firefighter such as myself. Mr. Pickett does an exceptional job of telling the history of the FDNY as well as,the fun, the sorrow, and the action he experienced as a firefighter in New York. His book provides a great portrayl of what trainees can expect when they become a firefighter, using his own personal story to tell the storyl. Mr. Pickett's writing style makes you feel as if you are there with him in the fire house or in a burning buliding. Mr. Pickett's book has inspired me to continue in my endeavors to become a firefighter. Thank You Mr. Pickett for writing an incredible account on your experiences as a New York Firefighter.

There are a lot of books about firefighters out there nowadays, and I read many of them. This was by far the best. One man's account of joining the FDNY in New York at the end of the sixties and his rise to battalion chief. Adventures, heartbreak, miracle rescues, heartstopping action, gallows humor... this book has it all, as seen through the eyes of one man who is truly one of "The Brave." George Pickett was friends with many of the men who died on September 11th (which occurred shortly after he retired after many years of distinguished service) which makes this story even more poignant. A great read for anyone who wants to know more about the life of NY firefighters.

I am a 20 year Fire Captain on the West Coast, Ventura Fire Department. I was very impressed with this book. Mr Pickett takes you inside of the life of a Firefighter. Having experienced that myself, I can relate to the stories in this book. Only he has as many fires in a few shifts, an I have in several months. I am very impressed with his attitude in the book, and really believe that it should be required reading for all new or want to be firefighter candidates.
I was reading this book while traveling with my family to New York and we actually spent part of a day walking around and looking for the places mentioned in this book. My wife, and my 8 and 10 year old boys and I actually found the Fire Station on Great Jones St and met the fire fighters. Here I am a Fire Captain of twenty plus years and I was just as excited as anyone to be actually standing at the fire station where it all happened.
This is a 2AM book- once you start reading it, you can't put it down.

I have read many books regarding firefighters, but none better than this one. Mr. Pickett not only takes you down the road of the FDNY, he also takes you down those smokey, hot hallways of his career. He brings you inside the firehouse...and the fire building. A GREAT book for any firefighter or any one with an interest in the job. A one of a kind read.