Take a photo of a barcode or cover
385 reviews for:
A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back
Kevin Hazzard
3.85 AVERAGE
385 reviews for:
A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back
Kevin Hazzard
3.85 AVERAGE
An easy, can't-put-it-down read, but ultimately lacking any real insight for me to take away. Lots of "crazy," fun, you can't make this up, stories but it lacked the deeper reflection I was looking for--how does someone deal with encountering tragedy on a daily basis, how has the job made you view your life and your family differently etc.
Perhaps this is where all the people working in EMS go, "No one who hasn't actually worked the job will ever understand." My biggest takeaway was that being in EMS is just like any other job, you get used to it, you learn it, you mess up a couple times, you clock in, you do your job, you clock out. And perhaps this is what I found to be the most disappointing, and maybe it's more of the reality I'm disappointed in, not so much the book. Or perhaps a better written, more insightful book could have offered more? Who knows.
Perhaps this is where all the people working in EMS go, "No one who hasn't actually worked the job will ever understand." My biggest takeaway was that being in EMS is just like any other job, you get used to it, you learn it, you mess up a couple times, you clock in, you do your job, you clock out. And perhaps this is what I found to be the most disappointing, and maybe it's more of the reality I'm disappointed in, not so much the book. Or perhaps a better written, more insightful book could have offered more? Who knows.
I loved every inch of this book and could not put it down. I confess that I do work in the medical field, in Radiology, and we are part of the trauma team. Suffice to say I've seen death and dying and all that happens in between. But - I've never been taken for a ride alongside an EMT in an ambulance; that is what this book did. It was fascinating, scary, sad, and hilarious. A glimpse into life and all it's craziness. Definitely recommended. Hazzard's writing was beautiful, the pace was perfect, and the story so engrossing.
An incredibly fun, fast, easy read about life in EMS. I was somewhat hesitant to read this as I am an EMT myself and most sane or well-adjusted EMTs don’t want to spend their free time reading about EMS. However, Hazzard’s storytelling is so engrossing and genuine that it was hard to put the book down. It’s funny, thoughtful, revealing and harrowing. Just like EMS can be.
3.5 Stars. At times, the story was very compelling and well-written. At others, it was loosely connected at best.
Interesting, kept me reading. I’m sure he’s probably got adhd, I think the life of an EMT draws them (action). Sometimes he described someone’s death with such disregard for Life that it hurt, but toward the end he seemed more compassionate?
This was a bit more gruesome than I bargained for, but I feel like I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be an EMT or Paramedic now. It was definitely a wild story! I'd recommend it--but if you're squeamish about injuries or illness, proceed with caution.
adventurous
challenging
dark
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
I give this one 4.5 stars.
The book takes its reader (or in my case, listener) along the arc of the 10 year career of an EMT/Medic in Atlanta. Hazzard began training as an EMT almost on a lark-- looking for adventure, something to do, something... INTERESTING. Ten years later, he's writing about how he started afraid, unsure and ended up burned out and jaded by the daily realities of life, death, and everything that happens on an ambulance in between.
I heard Hazzard's interview on Fresh Air and downloaded the audio book almost immediately. I was disappointed in the narrator, who is not Hazzard, and who sounds a bit too polished to read the often gritty text. Had I not heard Hazzard's voice first, I might not have minded so much. There were also times when I found myself irritated with what seemed to be a boys' club kind of environment and tone to the narration-- but then I suspect it really is something of a boys's club.
Despite these two irritations, I found myself listening to the book every free moment, and occasionally considering running away from my job to join EMS. There is a lot of humanity in this memoir... and a lot of shocking inhumanity, too. Highly recommend.
The book takes its reader (or in my case, listener) along the arc of the 10 year career of an EMT/Medic in Atlanta. Hazzard began training as an EMT almost on a lark-- looking for adventure, something to do, something... INTERESTING. Ten years later, he's writing about how he started afraid, unsure and ended up burned out and jaded by the daily realities of life, death, and everything that happens on an ambulance in between.
I heard Hazzard's interview on Fresh Air and downloaded the audio book almost immediately. I was disappointed in the narrator, who is not Hazzard, and who sounds a bit too polished to read the often gritty text. Had I not heard Hazzard's voice first, I might not have minded so much. There were also times when I found myself irritated with what seemed to be a boys' club kind of environment and tone to the narration-- but then I suspect it really is something of a boys's club.
Despite these two irritations, I found myself listening to the book every free moment, and occasionally considering running away from my job to join EMS. There is a lot of humanity in this memoir... and a lot of shocking inhumanity, too. Highly recommend.