Wildfire: A Reader

This is an edited collection of essays on wildfire. Pieces were selected to show the literary and aesthetic aspects of wildfire, and the evolution of our understanding of it. These essays focus on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1559639075
• ISBN13: 9781559639071
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Island Press
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

well worth the read

An outstanding collection of essays on wildfire and fire ecology, this book put many of my own ill-formed ideas and smoky musing into clear, engaging words. I recommend reading the latter essays first, which vividly bring the out magic of firefighting and fire use in modern life and conservation. The essay by the editor (True) is a wonderful description of how being a firefighter changed her perceptions of nature (as it did for me and so many others as well); the essay on "pride and glory" reveals what many in fire feel but are often reluctant to reveal; the essay on Cerro Grande taught me a few things I didn't know about that fire; the contributions from the two MacLeans (father and son) are excellent excerpts from their respective books on wildland firefighting (both MUST READS in their own right); and of course good ole Ed Abbey--always ready with a sweet one-liner or two--has some wonderful sections from his life as a fire lookout. Some of the early essays are not nearly as engaging, and might be of limited interest; this is the only reason I gave it four instead of five stars. If you are fascinated at all with the world of wildland fire, get this book.