Book excerpt: The author of Heat “captured words from the heart” in this collection of stories and firsthand accounts of life in the FDNY from fifteen of New York’s Bravest (Library Journal). In New York City, an average of eleven fires are reported every hour of the day and night, 365 days a year. Now, hear the stories behind the news reports, as America’s courageous fire fighters tell their stories in their own words This is the real story of the men whose lives are dedicated to answering the calls for help. Intense and terrifying, Braving the Flames chronicles the experiences of men who give their blood and sweat to save lives, sometimes at the cost of their own.