Customer Reviews

The Firefighting Buff's Guide To New York City: The Five Borough, Five Alarm Reference To The Second Homes of New York's Bravest

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

This book is excelent, Everyone that checks out this book, will love it. I personally know the author, he sits in front of me in chemistry class, and all i will say is, the kid knows something about firemen. Buy the book and send a kid to college.

This book is Excellent! The author seems to really know the inner workings of FDNY. If you want to learn about FDNY, "BUY THIS BOOK".

This book is Excellent! The author seems to really know the inner workings of FDNY. If you want to learn about FDNY, "BUY THIS BOOK".

Wonderfully researched book. The author's passion for, and knowledge of, the NYFD is evident in every page of this treasure. I highly recommend the book for anyone who is interested in learning something new about the NYFD; you will learn much more than you expect.

The New York City Fire Department is something I take to heart, especially since I have family on the job, and I will soon be doing said job myself. When I hear people take an interest in the job, I'm proud, it gives me the spark I need to continue pursuing my goal. When I read Schneiderman's book, i felt repulsed and almost disgraced. What is presented in this book is nothing more then a short briefing on select firehouses. It is not a comprehensive guide as some may think. The photos in the book are hardly anything worthy of print. The one good thing this book shows is that literally anyone could put garbage on paper and get a publishing deal.

If you want the Joe Schneiderman guide to buffing NYC, than this is it. If you want an in-depth primer for the department or city in general, this is not it. I thought this book would be more of a reference or handbook given the title, but it is not. Mr. Schneiderman gives a heart-felt, personal opinion of his favorite firehouses from a series of personal visits. Personally, I was expecting something different from a title like that and thought it was misleading.

This book was a GREAT help. I went to NYC to fire buff twice & the book helped out a lot. I would recommend this book to anyone who plans on going to NYC to see FDNY ( trucks or houses). Joe GREAT job on the book!

Joseph Schneiderman did his homework in abundance for this extraordinary guidebook. He displayed a deep interest in the New York Fire Department for many years before the tragedy of 9-11 showed the rest of the world what tremendous human beings and professionals the firefighters are.
Consequently, the guidebook pays due attention to the outer boroughs, which in the culture of firefighting and firehouses do not relinquish pride of place to Manhattan. The anecdotes about his particular experiences with individual firefighters enliven each page, as do the abundant and high-quality photographs of a great many of the "houses". He provides a most welcome feature for the interested person--the prospective "buff"--who wants to visit some of the houses: a sense of the context of each within the city, e.g. travel directions, listing of other firehouses nearby that could easily be grouped for a short tour, even mention of where to get snacks in the vicinity.
And the Quiz for readers is one of the funniest things in print.
My advice: run don't walk to buy this book for yourself. If you know anybody who likes firefighting, firehouses, firetrucks, firemen, or any part of New York City, give it as a gift as well.

I was extremely disappointed by this book. I am a New York City buff, yet this book cannot be recommmended to anyone, even if they are a New York buff. This book was so bad that I almost wet myself at the second stop. I actually threw up afterwards because this book was so bad. Joseph Schneiderman should pay for my dry cleaning bills, nevermind the trauma to my cats. I am extremely disappointed. Joe, if you are reading this, please stop writing books and find another interest. I used to love New York City firefighters, especially after September 11, but now I pity them, because you wrote this horrible book about them. God help the New York Fire Department, and my God have mercy on your soul.

Joe Schneiderman is a good friend of mine. He knows everything about Firefighting and New York. He really knows what he is talking about!