All Walks of Life (and Death) by John Spicuzz is a provocative and gripping behind the scenes story of a first responder and the scenarios they face. Author John Spicuzz begins by sharing his personal story, detailing how he became a firefighter. He walks the reader through the typical life of a first responder and what they are exposed to. The author covers various topics in the book ranging from the good to the bad, the various uncommon situations he was in, and experiences that are more personal to him.

John Spicuzz has written a fascinating memoir that relays the experiences he faced in the forty-two years being a firefighter and paramedic. The topics the author covers provides an abundance of information to the reader, all of which had me captivated from the first chapter. This memoir helps you view first responders in a different light, especially when you learn of their harrowing personal experiences. One chapter that really touched me was The Brother/Sisterhood because you really get to see the camaraderie that John Spicuzz has built with the people he worked with. I never stopped to think that a firefighter would have to attend one of their friend’s, or coworkers, funerals or in the author’s case, have to attend many funerals.

But even among these bleak events in his life, the author does not just share the ugly side of being a first responder, he also shares the good times that he had. Santa Saves the Day is a chapter that brought a smile to my face. The author’s writing is honest and he shares his experiences candidly and with a passion that can be felt. I appreciated this because that genuine affection gives this memoir much more emotional depth, certainly more than I was expecting. I also appreciated how the author had each chapter broken up into different topics, which helps to make this a very smooth read, with plenty of opportunities to put the book down and easily pick it back up again.

All Walks of Life (and Death) was a shocking, enlightening, and emotionally resonant read. The author holds nothing back, and provides insights into the various things first responders face, and I’m sure any average reader will be stunned by the things that they learn. I recommend this book to any reader who is curious to know what it is like to live a day in the life of a first responder.

Pages: 302 | ASIN: B0979MZD8K