by Denis Leary
First published 2003
David Halberstam tells the story of Engine 40, Ladder 35, a Manhattan firehouse stationed near Lincoln Center. On September 11, 2001, thirteen firefighters from this station responded to the World Trade Center attacks aboard two fire trucks. Only one would survive the day. Halberstam traces the morning as it unfolds, following these men as they answer the call to duty while their families wait at home for word of their fate. The book explores firehouse culture and examines why men choose this dangerous profession, often following family traditions spanning generations. Halberstam shows how firefighting represents more than employment for these individuals. The work becomes a mission that defines their identity. Through detailed portraits of the firefighters and their community, the book captures how one small institution experienced an unprecedented tragedy. Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize winner who reported on Vietnam and authored over twenty books, applies his skills as a journalist and historian to document this story of sacrifice and loss.
Genres: biography, history, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Engine 40, Ladder 35, Lincoln Center, Manhattan, World Trade Center
Period: September 11, 2001
208 pages · Paperback · Hyperion
Content warnings: death