Everyone wants to make a difference in this life. After the events of 9/11, Kevin Hazzard decided that, for him, the best avenue was becoming a paramedic.
A Thousand Naked Strangers offers a glimpse into the fast-paced, intense world of emergency medicine. Hazzard takes the reader through different scenarios, from shootings, unexpected births, fake calls, and gory scenes.
This book probably isn’t for the faint of heart, as much of it is described in detail. But Hazzard balances it well; while some stories look into what it means to be a mortal human being, others carry a more humorous tone. If you look at reviews on Goodreads, many people who are themselves paramedics and EMTs say that A Thousand Naked Strangers is everything that they’ve experienced but couldn’t say.
“Medics don’t have to be heroic or tough or even good people. They simply have to enjoy the madness.”
Honestly, the book is a great look into humanity itself. Some of the patients he met were on the cusp of death; others called, not out of emergency, but because of loneliness, hypochondria, or some other trial. He helped people in dangerous situations, often putting himself in harm’s way in the process. But his book is humble, if not honest and raw, and a great glimpse into what brave men and women do so that others may spend a few more days on this earth. Check it out.
Thanks for reading! -Autumn
This book is Books & Brew’s May selection.
The O'Fallon Public Library News 