Peter Leschak's style of writing tales of life up north is both immediate and reflective. He starts out philosophically sounding a bit like a contemporary Calvin Rutstrum, but avoids being "preachy" by moving quickly into interesting but everyday stories of rural life. I am glad he has written other books: I plan to read them all!

Peter is one of the best authors I've read. The reason I address him by his first name is because *know* him.. Lives quite close to me. I've read each of his books several times over...and as for the feeling of "being" in the north woods, I sent a copy of this book to a friend in Texas--and she said she felt as if she were here. I promise--once you read this books, you'll be hooked, and want to go one with each of them...

If you've ever spent a winter in the northwoods, and even if you haven't, you'll enjoy this book. He accurately chronicles living in a small town in northern Minnesota. His writing in excellent, and as you read you will feel that you are standing next to Peter as he sees the wolves and the northern lights

Peter Leschak certainly knows his stuff, and others can learn from his experience. I really enjoy bumming a lot and found this book a rare treat.

As a nature writer, Peter Leschak could very well wind up being to the Minnesota north woods what Edward Abbey is to the desert southwest. He's not quite there yet, but give him time.

This particular book chronicles his time spent fighting wildfires, both in Minnesota and in Wyoming, Oregon, and Idaho. Included here is a first-person account of the 1988 Yellowstone fires. As somebody who has worked on a wildland fire crew myself I read this book with much interest.

It's not a perfect book; the publisher could have used a good spell checker, for one thing. Overall, though, it's a good read. This book actually takes you there and makes you feel like you are there on the fire lines with Leschak.

Have you ever wanted to work a handline on an enormous wilderness fire? Join Leschak as he battles fires in the northwoods of Minnesota and America's great West. You'll enjoy his first-hand accounts of some hilarious, some serious stories about how fire affects us all -- especially those who sweat their butts off to fight them.

The author was more impressed with his being a team leader that doing justs to the historic Peshtigo fire. The mundane radio calls and flash backs didn"t help his effort.

I intended to write a review halfway through this book, but I kept reading expecting it would actually talk about Peshtigo, but as other reviewers have said, it's mostly about Mr. Leschak. I finished it months ago, and just ran across it again lurking in my book pile, and yet I'm compelled to write a review.

I grew up in Wisconsin in the 60-70's well aware of the lore of the Peshtigo fire. I was excited when I heard of this book, as I would love to read an historical account of the fire, ala the genre of real life accounts of trial and survival (Shackleton's "South", Albanov's "In the Land of White Death", Lundy's" Godforsaken Sea", Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", Simpson's "Touching the Void"...). This book was not what I had expected, and not what I would call a riveting book. I think the subtitle describes the book's treatment of the fire somewhat appropriately as "Echoes of the Great Peshtigo Fire...".

That said, if someone wants to read about Mr. Leschak and the life of a firefighter, you may enjoy this book, but even then, it was a bit self absorbed, and brooding. If you want to learn about Peshtigo, look elsewhere. I'm personally looking forward to reading Lutz's "Firestorm at Peshtigo".

I thoroughly enjoyed Leschak's most recent book. I felt that, in some fiery way, the 19th-century priest-protagonist was still ministering directly to the author, and to me.

This is a well-crafted, thoughtful yarn that continues to lay out our struggle with what it means to be human.