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Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic
The education of a New York City EMS worker, whose tales of tragedy and transcendence over a single year culminate in the greatest challenge the city's medical first responders have ever faced: COVID-19.
As a seasoned medical technician and union leader, Anthony Almojera thought he understood the toll of the job on first responders. They carried the traumas of the city, but also its triumphs, whenever a baby was born on a subway platform or an elderly man in cardiac arrest was brought back from the brink of death. So when a strange new virus began spreading in New York, Anthony thought that his life and training had prepared him for this new challenge. The months ahead would prove him wrong, and would test the strength of the entire EMS system: a critical thread in the fabric of the city, but one that quickly found itself at the breaking point.
Following one paramedic into hell and back, Riding the Lightning tells the story of New York City's darkest days through the eyes of one extraordinary medic and the New Yorkers he serves—and serves with: ordinary people who will continue to make New York an extraordinary place long after it has been reborn from the ashes of 2020.
As a seasoned medical technician and union leader, Anthony Almojera thought he understood the toll of the job on first responders. They carried the traumas of the city, but also its triumphs, whenever a baby was born on a subway platform or an elderly man in cardiac arrest was brought back from the brink of death. So when a strange new virus began spreading in New York, Anthony thought that his life and training had prepared him for this new challenge. The months ahead would prove him wrong, and would test the strength of the entire EMS system: a critical thread in the fabric of the city, but one that quickly found itself at the breaking point.
Following one paramedic into hell and back, Riding the Lightning tells the story of New York City's darkest days through the eyes of one extraordinary medic and the New Yorkers he serves—and serves with: ordinary people who will continue to make New York an extraordinary place long after it has been reborn from the ashes of 2020.
243 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2022
About the author
Anthony Almojera
1 book20 followersAnthony Almojera is an FDNY EMS lieutenant and vice president of AFSCME DC37 Local 3621, the New York City Fire Department's EMS officers' union.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
July 1, 2023
"On a normal day in a normal year, the volume of medical calls to 911 in New York City is around 4,000. On September 11, 2001 that number rose to 6,500. During the last week of March 2020, the volume of daily calls rose to 5,200 and then to over 7,000. [But] March 30, 2020 was the busiest day in the history of the Fire Department of New York City's Emergency Medical Services. We received 7,253 calls. That's one call every twelve seconds." -- a paramedic's life during the pandemic, on page 125
Author Almojera signed on with New York City's EMS (the professionally-staffed ambulance service arm of the fire department) in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks - although he explains it more so coincidental and wasn't actually because of that unprecedented disaster - and rose through the positions (EMT to paramedic) and ranks (mere worker drone to supervisory lieutenant) within the agency. After seventeen years on the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx he was one of the more seasoned and veteran members -as continual low pay and/or physical and mental burnout often lead to early exits - when the COVID-19 pandemic severely pummeled the U.S. Owing to a number of obvious factors the densely packed mega-metropolis was particularly and understandably hit hard, and Almojera and his dedicated co-workers found themselves temporarily facing a crisis that was frankly incomparable to anything else experienced in their 21st century careers. In his work memoir Riding the Lightning - the striking title referencing the AED-induced shocking of a victim in cardiac arrest - Almojera mainly recounts the upheavals in their shifts and professional lives during the first half of 2020. Other than the author's political opinions increasingly and distractingly on display during the latter half of the narrative (other than his criticisms about the mayor and governor - those felt warranted and understandable), this was an involving and revealing book about a first responder.
Author Almojera signed on with New York City's EMS (the professionally-staffed ambulance service arm of the fire department) in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks - although he explains it more so coincidental and wasn't actually because of that unprecedented disaster - and rose through the positions (EMT to paramedic) and ranks (mere worker drone to supervisory lieutenant) within the agency. After seventeen years on the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx he was one of the more seasoned and veteran members -as continual low pay and/or physical and mental burnout often lead to early exits - when the COVID-19 pandemic severely pummeled the U.S. Owing to a number of obvious factors the densely packed mega-metropolis was particularly and understandably hit hard, and Almojera and his dedicated co-workers found themselves temporarily facing a crisis that was frankly incomparable to anything else experienced in their 21st century careers. In his work memoir Riding the Lightning - the striking title referencing the AED-induced shocking of a victim in cardiac arrest - Almojera mainly recounts the upheavals in their shifts and professional lives during the first half of 2020. Other than the author's political opinions increasingly and distractingly on display during the latter half of the narrative (other than his criticisms about the mayor and governor - those felt warranted and understandable), this was an involving and revealing book about a first responder.
August 30, 2022
I don't normally write comments/reviews or give ratings, but this book holds a special place in my heart, pun intended. If you've read this book, which I recommend everyone does, I'm the person mentioned in it named Nick. Anthony wrote my story into several pages of his memoir. I am the one who suffered a thoracic aneurysm with an aortic dissection, who now works as a registered nurse and is happily married with children. I consider myself on borrowed time and I owe everything to Anthony, my surgeon, and the entire team of healthcare workers who made it possible for me to write this now. This book is a testament that shows the true heroic efforts that front line workers face everyday and how they put others before themselves. It is worth reading to know what those of us sacrifice for the well being of others.
February 7, 2022
Wow--this was an exceptional book! Almojera is a Lieutenant Paramedic with the FDNY's EMS. He takes you through a paramedic's life before and during the pandemic in NYC, when NYC was a hotbed of COVID and there was no way that ambulances and hospitals could keep up. They were working like crazy just to keep their heads above water. I loved reading about the calls they go on. This is one seriously tough job. Almojera is also a higher up in the Lieutenant Paramedic's Union and he makes an extremely compelling case for the importance of raising wages (which are way too low, especially considering the cost of living in NYC) and benefits (they don't get unlimited sick leave like firefighters do). The EMS was underfunded even before the pandemic. Many of the EMTs and Paramedics were new to the job, because wages and benefits weren't good, so staff doesn't stay long. This robs the city of experienced emergency services. Even when we're not in a pandemic, it's important to have experienced emergency personnel who can respond to 911 calls. I hope this improves, although after the pandemic, NYC threatened to cut 400 EMS positions, so it sounds like they still don't get it. A compelling, honest, raw, well-written and easy to read memoir. Highly recommended.
May 27, 2022
The author if this book has a larger than life personality that seems to shine through the book. You get a sense of who he is almost immediately.
However, this book was a difficult read for me, not because of the heartbreaking tragedies of covid but because the story did not flow well. For the first 100 pages or is all backstory. Stories about his family life, numerous overseas trips with friends, a few calls that were responded to and stories about co-workers. There are even a few places where the author makes very clear his political views which I thought was unnecessary. There's a lot of jumping around from one story to the next, and back, and a few rabbit trails too.
I did like the fact that medical procedures and terminology was explained so you understood what the paramedics were doing. His crusade for better equipment and adequate supplies, better pay and more equality definitely shows that EMS workers are often overlooked in the most dire of circumstances.
Overall it was a good read, but not what I had expected.
However, this book was a difficult read for me, not because of the heartbreaking tragedies of covid but because the story did not flow well. For the first 100 pages or is all backstory. Stories about his family life, numerous overseas trips with friends, a few calls that were responded to and stories about co-workers. There are even a few places where the author makes very clear his political views which I thought was unnecessary. There's a lot of jumping around from one story to the next, and back, and a few rabbit trails too.
I did like the fact that medical procedures and terminology was explained so you understood what the paramedics were doing. His crusade for better equipment and adequate supplies, better pay and more equality definitely shows that EMS workers are often overlooked in the most dire of circumstances.
Overall it was a good read, but not what I had expected.
February 18, 2022
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This book is just the kind of thing that I like to read. I am very interested in medicine and medical stories, both fiction and non fiction. I used to live in NYC and still live in NY but on Long Island so this book had particular interest to me. As soon as I got it I dove in as I lived the pandemic here in NY so I very much wanted to hear the take from someone that was on the front lines of everything.. While we were in the heart of the pandemic I would often think to myself, how are EMS handling working in such a scary environment? This was my chance to find out.
So to start off, I really liked the book. The author is very likeable through his writing. He goes beyond just using the slang that EMS uses and explained to the reader just what codes and different types of medical issues actually are. He gave great stories and anecdotes of experiences that he had throughout his career.
There were a few criticisms that I had. He does not get to really the meat of the point of the book, working through the pandemic until about 49% of the book. He mentions it here and there before that but ends up going off on tangents of either other scenarios he's had or a reflection of a time in his younger life. I felt the strongest part of the book actually started when he was talking about his experience during the pandemic. Another part that was difficult was all the jumping around. He would start on a story and then it would almost be a steam of consciousness where he would veer off onto another story. It made the timeline of the book very disjointed and at times confusing.
Aside from that, as I said when you get to the part when he is talking about his experiences during the pandemic the book took off and was very interesting. If you can wade through all the other parts I mentioned, the book is definitely worth a read to know just how it was for EMS during that very scary time and how much they endured. I'm very glad that I got to read this.
So to start off, I really liked the book. The author is very likeable through his writing. He goes beyond just using the slang that EMS uses and explained to the reader just what codes and different types of medical issues actually are. He gave great stories and anecdotes of experiences that he had throughout his career.
There were a few criticisms that I had. He does not get to really the meat of the point of the book, working through the pandemic until about 49% of the book. He mentions it here and there before that but ends up going off on tangents of either other scenarios he's had or a reflection of a time in his younger life. I felt the strongest part of the book actually started when he was talking about his experience during the pandemic. Another part that was difficult was all the jumping around. He would start on a story and then it would almost be a steam of consciousness where he would veer off onto another story. It made the timeline of the book very disjointed and at times confusing.
Aside from that, as I said when you get to the part when he is talking about his experiences during the pandemic the book took off and was very interesting. If you can wade through all the other parts I mentioned, the book is definitely worth a read to know just how it was for EMS during that very scary time and how much they endured. I'm very glad that I got to read this.
March 26, 2022
Riding The Lightning
Anthony Almojera
A look at Covid-19 from a NYC EMS worker who experienced it firsthand. The stories describe the confusion, stress and overwhelming nature of a new virus slamming the biggest city in the US.
This is a must read for everyone. The average person should understood the long hours, low pay & high stress that paramedics face each day. They help us on the worst days of our lives.
Accolades aren’t enough. They should be given fair compensation for the hard work they do everyday.
Anthony Almojera
A look at Covid-19 from a NYC EMS worker who experienced it firsthand. The stories describe the confusion, stress and overwhelming nature of a new virus slamming the biggest city in the US.
This is a must read for everyone. The average person should understood the long hours, low pay & high stress that paramedics face each day. They help us on the worst days of our lives.
Accolades aren’t enough. They should be given fair compensation for the hard work they do everyday.
August 11, 2022
I picked up this book expecting to learn about the 'other' side of the pandemic. Earlier this year an article caught my attention about how it would take 20-30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive on call in my area at the time. Somehow after all that coverage about hospitals being overrun no one mentioned the EMTs. This book did not provide that 'other' side.
Most of the book is about Almojera family drama, involving a lot of extended family and ex-wives/girlfriends. The other drama is about the unfair treatment of the 'grunts' by the higher-ups especially when compared to the Fire Department. The next big chunk of the book is about the author traveling and friends and taking breaks between calls to enjoy nature and acting and giving interviews. Also, him frequenting prostitutes and how he was so good at sex they did not charge him for it. The actual part that is about being an EMT as the pandemic raged around him is maybe 10% of the book. I kept listening only because I was hoping that any second now we would really get into the meat of matter, but we never did.
So, if you want to read the personal journal of someone who happens to have been an EMT during the pandemic this is for you. If you want to read about the logistics of keeping the whole system from collapsing under the weight of a medical crisis, skip.
Most of the book is about Almojera family drama, involving a lot of extended family and ex-wives/girlfriends. The other drama is about the unfair treatment of the 'grunts' by the higher-ups especially when compared to the Fire Department. The next big chunk of the book is about the author traveling and friends and taking breaks between calls to enjoy nature and acting and giving interviews. Also, him frequenting prostitutes and how he was so good at sex they did not charge him for it. The actual part that is about being an EMT as the pandemic raged around him is maybe 10% of the book. I kept listening only because I was hoping that any second now we would really get into the meat of matter, but we never did.
So, if you want to read the personal journal of someone who happens to have been an EMT during the pandemic this is for you. If you want to read about the logistics of keeping the whole system from collapsing under the weight of a medical crisis, skip.
June 21, 2022
Already calling it - Riding the Lightning is THE BEST memoir that I will read all year!
In his book, New York paramedic Anthony Almojera shares about his career and the earth-shattering ways the COVID-19 Pandemic changed life for New York City EMS personnel.
More than that, it showed his humor, passion for community and advocacy work to support his fellow first responders.
If I ever have a chance to meet Anthony (we're obvi on a first name basis), I would want to ask him about his tattoos commemorating some of his travels and his experiences exploring both the US and abroad. I'd ask him about his favorite recipes to cook. About the impact Buddhism has on his life. And the in-the-moment mindfulness techniques that keep him centered and grounded. I'd want to shake his hand and thank him for all he has done for others.
We may still be in the pandemic, but this memoir immediately took me back to the devastation and turmoil of 2020.
In his book, New York paramedic Anthony Almojera shares about his career and the earth-shattering ways the COVID-19 Pandemic changed life for New York City EMS personnel.
More than that, it showed his humor, passion for community and advocacy work to support his fellow first responders.
If I ever have a chance to meet Anthony (we're obvi on a first name basis), I would want to ask him about his tattoos commemorating some of his travels and his experiences exploring both the US and abroad. I'd ask him about his favorite recipes to cook. About the impact Buddhism has on his life. And the in-the-moment mindfulness techniques that keep him centered and grounded. I'd want to shake his hand and thank him for all he has done for others.
We may still be in the pandemic, but this memoir immediately took me back to the devastation and turmoil of 2020.
February 18, 2022
Very interesting. I work in health care, so this is up my alley.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.
April 23, 2022
I loved this glimpse into what it's like to work as a paramedic in New York, particularly during the pandemic. Anthony Almojera does a great job explaining medical procedures without being too technical and truly cares about his work and his patients. There was a lot of jumping around, which made it a little difficult to keep track of what was happening in the present but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of this memoir.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
I love medical non-fiction and this book is good. Reading about the pandemic from the perspective of a NYC paramedic was interesting. Some editing would have been helpful but overall, a compelling read.
April 11, 2024
This narrative is very easy to follow and has smooth transitions from his past/the stories he tells present time. The work of paramedics is truly admirable and this book was a good perspective shift to hear about what Covid was like for our first responders.
November 15, 2023
Kind of crazy to read about events you lived through. I thought the author had a really good story and a great narrative. Highly recommend.
April 14, 2022
.
“According to a study, the rate of suicide in EMS is more than double the rate of the general population. That has a lot to do with the trauma they see everyday. And the poor pay. But there’s also the fact that a lot of EMS workers are damaged before they set foot in EMT school.”
.
Anthony Almojera describes what life was like as Lieutenant EMS worker in NYC during the height of the pandemic.
.
Almojera does an amazing job describing what life was like before covid and how things changed curing covid. He is very likable and down to earth in his writing. I love how he uses the medical lingo and then explains exactly what that means for the non medical folk. He has great stories that really pull you in. He also describes his life growing up… explaining the trauma he has and how it lead him to become a EMS worker.
.
My only complaint of the book was his stories bounce around a lot. He would start a story and then it would stem off to another one so at times the timeline was hard to follow.
“According to a study, the rate of suicide in EMS is more than double the rate of the general population. That has a lot to do with the trauma they see everyday. And the poor pay. But there’s also the fact that a lot of EMS workers are damaged before they set foot in EMT school.”
.
Anthony Almojera describes what life was like as Lieutenant EMS worker in NYC during the height of the pandemic.
.
Almojera does an amazing job describing what life was like before covid and how things changed curing covid. He is very likable and down to earth in his writing. I love how he uses the medical lingo and then explains exactly what that means for the non medical folk. He has great stories that really pull you in. He also describes his life growing up… explaining the trauma he has and how it lead him to become a EMS worker.
.
My only complaint of the book was his stories bounce around a lot. He would start a story and then it would stem off to another one so at times the timeline was hard to follow.
March 7, 2022
I got early access to RIDING THE LIGHTNING by Anthony Almojera and I enjoyed this memoir. I rated it 3.5/5 stars!
Paramedic lieutenant Anthony Almojera recounts a year of his life: the year the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and changed life for everyone. He shares stories about patients, fellow emergency medical services (EMS) professionals, and his family.
Trigger warning for death, medical scenes, suicide, suicidal ideations, and related topics. I thought this book was very readable. Almojera works to make complex medical protocols accessible to the reader and keeps us entertained. I do have some criticisms. This memoir is very stream of conscious: Almojera jumps from a case, to a memory, to a more distant memory, back to the case. I think there also could have been less emphasis on Almojera's life, especially since the subtitle of the book is "A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic," and that the memoir could have focused more on 2020 than his life in total.
Paramedic lieutenant Anthony Almojera recounts a year of his life: the year the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and changed life for everyone. He shares stories about patients, fellow emergency medical services (EMS) professionals, and his family.
Trigger warning for death, medical scenes, suicide, suicidal ideations, and related topics. I thought this book was very readable. Almojera works to make complex medical protocols accessible to the reader and keeps us entertained. I do have some criticisms. This memoir is very stream of conscious: Almojera jumps from a case, to a memory, to a more distant memory, back to the case. I think there also could have been less emphasis on Almojera's life, especially since the subtitle of the book is "A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic," and that the memoir could have focused more on 2020 than his life in total.
May 26, 2022
This is not an unbiased review. I am a retired RN who has worked inner city mission hospital and jails in a COUNTY of over 941,997 people as opposed to the NYC borough of BROOKLYN's 2.6 million residents. But I've worked around the front-line workers and know more about necessities shortages and front office BS than some. Besides, my daughter lives and works in Brooklyn.
The author starts with a lot of personal background as well as background of the EMS service in NYC before moving into the devastating and mind-numbing effects of working and grieving in the horror that came with Corona virus. Along the way he translates medical language into words and explanations suitable for the general English-speaking public. An excellent wake-up call, but don't forget all the souls lost in rural areas that do not have the services expected in cities.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Mariner Books via NetGalley. Thank you
The author starts with a lot of personal background as well as background of the EMS service in NYC before moving into the devastating and mind-numbing effects of working and grieving in the horror that came with Corona virus. Along the way he translates medical language into words and explanations suitable for the general English-speaking public. An excellent wake-up call, but don't forget all the souls lost in rural areas that do not have the services expected in cities.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Mariner Books via NetGalley. Thank you
March 13, 2022
Anthony Almojera is a brave brave man. He has encountered hardship in his upbringing, family, relationships, work, in the places he goes and so on. You cannot help but admire this guy and his book feels so genuine and authentic. It's a little rough around the edges and I will say that it works in this case. If it was a so-called "smooth read" it would not be true to his spirit.
And you just know he's one of the good guys. And he's working so hard to keep the good guys alive. Okay, you just sort of have to love him and his story is well worth reading. I finished it... and immediately wanted to know, what the heck is Anthony doing now? How do I connect with him? Is he okay? How do I thank him? And please, please, also have him write about his travels.
A good guy, a good book!
And you just know he's one of the good guys. And he's working so hard to keep the good guys alive. Okay, you just sort of have to love him and his story is well worth reading. I finished it... and immediately wanted to know, what the heck is Anthony doing now? How do I connect with him? Is he okay? How do I thank him? And please, please, also have him write about his travels.
A good guy, a good book!
January 17, 2023
Took about halfway through the book before it started actually being about the pandemic, but I enjoyed the backstory.
October 10, 2022
Almojera is an EMS lieutenant for the NYFD EMS. He’s written one of the most compelling and meaningful books I’ve read in a long time.
HIS BOOK IS TEN STARS. Easy.
I’m from the Tristate area and have a grown kid living in NYC. Almojera’s well written book drew me back into the terrifying early days of the pandemic.
The virus hadn’t been identified, there was no vaccine in sight, and people were dying by the hundreds daily.
NYC was a ghost town. Even the financial district looked closed for business. The only places hopping were medical facilities and testing centers.
My daughter lived in what he identifies as the epicenter of the pandemic in the US. Reading that, even 2 years later, was heart stopping.
She was afraid to have her elderly parents visit or even pick her up, despite our feelings we were as tough and healthy as any 28 year old. We weren’t. We were terrified for her, after seeing daily news reports of hospitals near collapse.
Almojera is no plaster saint. He has his failings, but few at work. Like many of us healthcare workers, he came from a difficult family situation with a lifelong need to help.
He and his crew are spectacularly good at it. Despite poor pay and little support, they provide lifesaving skills and compassion even in the most difficult situations.
I was stunned by his ability to condense complex medical terms and procedures into accurate, meaningful brief descriptions. As an RN, BSN, MSN, I’ve read a lot of medical lit.
Never have I seen writing of this caliber.
Almojera’s ability to write about and organize his experiences is equally as impressive as his actual work.
I’ve read hundreds of books during pandemic times often written by authors with imposing credentials, many graduates of top colleges.
Not one wrote as clearly or meaningfully as he does. None of them tackled such difficult and important topics.
He’s not afraid to say what he thinks of those who refused preventive vaccines and social practices. He doesn’t waste time on them, either. Having grown up in a milieu where people often made terrible, fatal life choices, he recognizes the waste in trying to convince people to do what is best.
Anyone who wants to read a coherent, frightening, accurate tale of the pandemic at its most terrifying, READ THIS. Even if you don’t agree, he takes you on a fascinating trip.
Almojera, I bow down to you. Should I ever need lifesaving EMS, I hope you are the responder. Thank you for this book, and many more thanks for all the care and caring you’ve provided.
HIS BOOK IS TEN STARS. Easy.
I’m from the Tristate area and have a grown kid living in NYC. Almojera’s well written book drew me back into the terrifying early days of the pandemic.
The virus hadn’t been identified, there was no vaccine in sight, and people were dying by the hundreds daily.
NYC was a ghost town. Even the financial district looked closed for business. The only places hopping were medical facilities and testing centers.
My daughter lived in what he identifies as the epicenter of the pandemic in the US. Reading that, even 2 years later, was heart stopping.
She was afraid to have her elderly parents visit or even pick her up, despite our feelings we were as tough and healthy as any 28 year old. We weren’t. We were terrified for her, after seeing daily news reports of hospitals near collapse.
Almojera is no plaster saint. He has his failings, but few at work. Like many of us healthcare workers, he came from a difficult family situation with a lifelong need to help.
He and his crew are spectacularly good at it. Despite poor pay and little support, they provide lifesaving skills and compassion even in the most difficult situations.
I was stunned by his ability to condense complex medical terms and procedures into accurate, meaningful brief descriptions. As an RN, BSN, MSN, I’ve read a lot of medical lit.
Never have I seen writing of this caliber.
Almojera’s ability to write about and organize his experiences is equally as impressive as his actual work.
I’ve read hundreds of books during pandemic times often written by authors with imposing credentials, many graduates of top colleges.
Not one wrote as clearly or meaningfully as he does. None of them tackled such difficult and important topics.
He’s not afraid to say what he thinks of those who refused preventive vaccines and social practices. He doesn’t waste time on them, either. Having grown up in a milieu where people often made terrible, fatal life choices, he recognizes the waste in trying to convince people to do what is best.
Anyone who wants to read a coherent, frightening, accurate tale of the pandemic at its most terrifying, READ THIS. Even if you don’t agree, he takes you on a fascinating trip.
Almojera, I bow down to you. Should I ever need lifesaving EMS, I hope you are the responder. Thank you for this book, and many more thanks for all the care and caring you’ve provided.
November 24, 2022
Truly enjoyed reading this. I picked it up thinking it would give me a bit more insight into operations within FDNY EMS. I'm a retired medic, and thought it would be quite interesting to see how a much larger & busier system worked. Turned out that while it did provide that viewpoint, it was also largely about the Covid pandemic and its effect on EMS Operations in general and the author and his coworkers & friends specifically. Mr. Almojera has a great perspective and provides a riveting narrative of life in NYC at the beginning of the Covid years. Great read - I'd recommend it, even if you don't have an fire or EMS background.
November 14, 2023
This book chronicles New York City's harrowing descent into the throes of the Covid pandemic through the eyes of a frontline paramedic.
It's also profoundly autobiographical, taking almost the first half of the book to cover the author's childhood trauma and family background before actually getting to the point where we start talking about Covid.
Overall, it was a middling experience. While the latter half of the book was interesting, the whole thing suffers from the building, unsettling sense that the author is, perhaps, a weirdo.
It's also profoundly autobiographical, taking almost the first half of the book to cover the author's childhood trauma and family background before actually getting to the point where we start talking about Covid.
Overall, it was a middling experience. While the latter half of the book was interesting, the whole thing suffers from the building, unsettling sense that the author is, perhaps, a weirdo.
September 1, 2022
I loved this book. I loved hearing all the stories of Anthony’s patient encounters and how they related to his own life. It was also a first hand reminder of how much worse NYC was hit with COVID than any other US city. Thank you EMS for all that you do every single day.
June 14, 2022
4.5 stars.
June 22, 2022
Very interesting
July 3, 2022
This was such an eye-opening look at the realities of being an EMT, especially during the peak of COVID-19. I love all the real-life anecdotes, and it's truly remarkable what these people do.
January 26, 2024
true rating: 4.75/5⭐️
April 25, 2024
Very good book. I wasn't expecting it to be about the pandemic tho. So well written that I felt again the fear of what was coming as I read about the beginning of the pandemic. Bless you and your company Lt. ALMOJERA!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
This book was a very sad and informative narration of the ENT's lives in NYC during the Covid pandemic. I learned more about the lives of the workers as well as the patients. Very sad, indeed!
August 23, 2023
I enjoyed the book very much; fast-paced, exciting. The explanations throughout about medical situations and the life in EMS were well done. However, I found the epilogue very dark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2022
I won this as a GoodReads giveaway and this was the book I wanted to win the most, and had I not won I definitely would have purchased. As a nurse and EMT this spoke to me. It was so emotional to read this. To hear how he overcame so many obstacles to get where he is today. And it really does show the truth that most people didn’t see during the height of Covid. Being on who was on the front lines I can absolutely relate to this book. I’m so glad someone who worked through this had the courage to put into writing what we had to deal with these past few years. If I could give it more than 5 stars I definitely would. And I also enjoyed how not only did he gear it to those of us who would understand the medical jargon. But he also explained what everything was so someone who isn’t in the medical field can also enjoy and understand this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews