Categories
Book Reviews

Book by Paramedics: Reader Recommendation

EverydayEMSTips.com reader Gary McLean, knowing my fondness for books by Paramedics and/or about EMS, sent me recommendations for these two books. Gary writes:

I would add two books to your stack of important reads…

[amazon-product text=”Street Dancer” type=”text”]0936174064[/amazon-product] (1990 – JEMS) by one of Oregon’s best paramedics, Keith Neely. I believe this was the first ‘novel’ written about Paramedics by a working Paramedic. Keith worked as a Paramedic in Denver, Colorado and the story is about his experience and learning the ‘EMS dance’ of the street.

[amazon-product text=”The Razors Edge” type=”text”]1400034205[/amazon-product] ( 1942) by W. Somerset Maugham. You can watch two movies made from this novel: 1946 – Staring Tyrone Powers and 1984 –Bill Murray (the comedian – but this isn’t a funny movie). I recommend reading the novel after seeing the movie (I watched the one with Bill Murray) as it helped clarify certain images in my brain. This is by far one of the most powerful stories I have ever read. Although the EMS part is only a small part of the story, it really to me, is the most significant and what we all see everyday. The story starts during the beginning of WWI and involves the ‘star’ taking a position as an ambulance driver/attendant on the battle fields of Europe before US intervention. The impact of death and destruction causes the him to question life, love and the meaning of it all. I highly recommend it.

What are your book recommendations?

Gary is a Paramedic in Sandy Oregon and a member of the Oregon EMS Association.

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.