So Others Might Live [Paperback]

Terry Golway (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2003

In the first history of the New York Fire Department--FDNY--in over sixty years, journalist Terry Golway weaves together stories of heroic firefighters and extraordinary fires to create a moving and original account of New York as seen through the eyes and actions of the city's firefighters. From the eighteenth century's most ambitious public-works project--the building of aqueducts from upstate to help control fires--to firefighter-turned-politician Boss Tweed's backroom politics, fire and firefighters have played an integral part in the life of New York. So Others Might Live also offers a new view of the building of modern urban America and the social turbulence of New York from the 1700s to the present day.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Writing with humor and passion and an understanding of the firefighter's mindset that comes from deep personal experience (his father, father-in-law, godfather and uncles were all firemen), New York Observer editor-columnist Golway (The Irish in America, etc.) takes readers inside the New York City Fire Department. As Golway's account follows the FDNY going back to its origins in New Amsterdam, points of familiarity emerge from the fine details: the need, even in 1731, to raise money for state-of-the-art equipment; the "respect and awe" felt by little boys for firefighters; the passion of firefighters for their work; the feverish search to recover the bodies of fallen brothers. Golway also provides vivid portraits of the city's worst conflagrations: the "ocean of fire" that destroyed 674 buildings in lower Manhattan in 1835, the tragic 1904 excursion boat fire that left 1,000 dead, the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the 850 alarms reported on April 20, 1963, "the busiest day in FDNY history." Closing chapters are devoted to the 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Centuries of heroism and bravery are documented here, along with profiles of firefighters famed within the organization, and many readers will see this as a compelling volume to shelve alongside Richard Picciotto's Last Man Down, David Halberstam's Firehouse and former Fire Commissioner Thomas von Essen's forthcoming autobiography, Strong of Heart. 70 b&w photos.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Gutsy, emotional and detailed history." -- New York Times Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (October 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465027415
• ISBN-13: 978-0465027415
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Professional & Technical > Civil Service > Firefighting & Prevention

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, Moving, Insightful, October 4, 2002

By 

Edward T. O'Donnell (Holden, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Others Might Live: A History of New York's Bravest--The FDNY from 1700 to the Present (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:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Breath Taking, March 13, 2006

By 

Melissa Parker "res2cue" (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: So Others Might Live: A History of New York's Bravest--The FDNY from 1700 to the Present (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:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like the FDNY, if you want to know its History, this is the book!, January 30, 2006

By 

UK anon (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Others Might Live: A History of New York's Bravest : The Fdny from 1700 to the Present (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.