Rating: 
Summary: Intelligent and challenging
Review: Caroline Paul gives not only very interesting and thoughtful insights into the world of firefighting and rescue-work but has also written an intelligent and challenging comment about her difficulties of adapting to a "men's world" without loosing her independance of spirit. I liked especially her well- balanced approach to this problem, the realistic and often gripping tales from her work as a FF and her clear and appealing way of writing.
I've read that book three times ....
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and challenging
Review: Caroline Paul gives not only very interesting and thoughtful insights into the world of firefighting and rescue-work but has also written an intelligent and challenging comment about her difficulties of adapting to a "men's world" without loosing her independance of spirit. I liked especially her well- balanced approach to this problem, the realistic and often gripping tales from her work as a FF and her clear and appealing way of writing.
I've read that book three times ....
Rating:
Summary: The real stuff
Review: Caroline Paul is an excellent writer with a riveting first-person tale to tell. I was involved in the 89 earthquake in San Francisco and later interviewed members of the SF Fire Department about the time she was joining its ranks. What she writes rings absolutely true. I don't usually choke up reading books, but she got me four times. The reason I'm writing this review is because I'm back to buy two more copies for friends.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Caroline Paul shares with us not only the "fighting fires" and "putting people back together", but more important, her most intimate thoughts, feelings and emotions attached to her experiences as a firefighter. She comes across as a beautiful, courageous and compassionate woman who had the guts and the smarts to overcome the prejudice and "good old boy" attitude in the firehouse and gain acceptance into that "family." This book made me laugh and cry; it's awesome!
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL READ FOR EVERYONE
Review: Caroline Paul started life out as a privileged yuppie hopeful. She attended a posh boarding school and then Stanford University. She graduated with the hopes of a distinguished journalism career. Instead, she became a firefighter. FIGHTING FIRE is a riveting story of learning to adapt to a different way of life, with its own rules and traditions. There are burning building and singed bodies - I shed plenty of tears reading this book - but this is not only an adventure book. This is a deeply moving story of how people learn in the end to get along - in the firehouse and on the streets. This book is not a whiny monologue about a Poor Me woman in a man's world. Ms. Paul has a generous, humorous perspective about the people she meets and she is always willing to concede her foibles. It is a thrilling yet insightful read. Both my husband and my local librarian (neither one firefighters!) loved it - Fighting Fire has something for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: "The book is fantastic"!!!!!
Review: Caroline Paull has written an excellent book based on character. This book gave me inspiration to see how women can do manly things. I thought the book was well written. I reecommend it highly!!
Rating: 
Summary: Yes, I'm fascinated, but then ???
Review: Enjoyed the book but ... too many times I wondered what happened next. What did she think about that? And then? We are given only the tips of the iceberg and no hint as to how large it may be underneath. Is this an on-going problem? Was it a one time thing? So many times I wanted to know more, but the details were not given. I hope she writes another book about a narrower part of firefighting, being a woman firefighter, or working in San Francisco as a firefighter and gives us more details.
Rating:
Summary: Truith of every women in the fire service
Review: Every women in the fire service could proablly relate with this story. This book gives the brightest picture of a woman's fight to be accepted in the male dominated occupation of firefighting. I couldn't explain it any better.
Rating: 
Summary: Primal Forces Being Fought -- Only Epic Heroes need apply...
Review: From before written history, stories have been told about (and by) heroes. And, for many generations, children (and adults) have aspired to heroic qualities. In our cynical age, it might be argued that the value of 'being successful' has come to overshadow 'being heroic.' Caroline Paul's essays about her experiences within the SFFD provide a refreshing departure from this position --and from any shallow understanding of what it may mean to be 'a hero.' Honest, serious, sometimes humorous, and often self-questioning, her 'Fire Stories' offer us a glimpse not only into the daily challenges presented to firefighters; but also, into what it feels like to joust with the palpable (yet invisible) monster of prejudice. I sense an apt analogy to the image of a bloated and decaying, once human form we might find just beneath the surface of the mud in SF Bay. Is it really there? Or is it only our imagination? What if we looked at the face and found it was our own? Through all she remains faithful and honest to herself and with her department, courageously exploring unseen facets of complex and highly charged issues. And she is obviously not alone in the struggle to contain (can we really control them?) these primal forces. Only heroes of epic proportion would have the mettle to do battle with these forces and still summon the will to answer that 'bell' day after day. So, thanks to all FF's; but special thanks for sharing, Firefighter Paul.
Rating:
Summary: It made me think
Review: I am a firefighter in a small county in georgia and I read this when I was a firefighter in maryland. The book is wonderful it made me open my eyes to the fact that a female is just as good at fighting fire as me. If not beter. The book is a good insight to what women go through just to do what they love and it made me have more respect for female firefighters it also made me relize that one of the best firefighters I know is a women. I would recomend this book to anyone that is intrested or needs to relize that the new fire dept. is not so bad if not beter
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