Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic

Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-07-04 20:21:37
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Anthony Almojera
  • ISBN:B09722GR8D
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

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。

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Reviews

Josh

A good story that is at times poignant and moving。 You can feel the catharsis of the author as he was writing this book。 But it had a tendency to jump around, especially early on。 The first 40% of the book felt like a bit of a chore to get through but he really hit his stride once he began talking about the pandemic and the writing became tighter and the story flowed better。 Overall a great story and one that needed to be told, but could have probably been edited better。

Sarah

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。 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。 。。。more

Michael

Excellent book, all about the life of a NYC paramedic before and during the Covid wave of 2020。 Highly recommended。

Katherine Gates

I was intrigued by the premise of this book。 Paramedics during Covid-19 in one of the hardest hit cities during the initial outbreak。 It did not disappoint。 Almojera guides us through the pre-pandemic background and how things were run and then the explosive pandemic。 The book is not an easy read in terms of emotion but it is definitely an important read to understand how some of the most important workers during the pandemic survived and how we as a society treated them。 Highly recommend。 4。5 s I was intrigued by the premise of this book。 Paramedics during Covid-19 in one of the hardest hit cities during the initial outbreak。 It did not disappoint。 Almojera guides us through the pre-pandemic background and how things were run and then the explosive pandemic。 The book is not an easy read in terms of emotion but it is definitely an important read to understand how some of the most important workers during the pandemic survived and how we as a society treated them。 Highly recommend。 4。5 stars, audio。 。。。more

AshleyKantorski

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 t 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。 。。。more

Kristen M。

An EMS Lieutenant recounts the COVID breakout in NYC in Spring 2020 and thereafter。 It is striking how many times I unexpectedly teared up at various points recalling the isolation and strict pressures of the pandemic。 Almojera shares a lot of his own personal experience and various details about specific calls with patients that were memorable or challenging。 I liked the author immensely - Almojera is a loud union rep and strong advocate for EMTs and paramedics who were not ready when the pande An EMS Lieutenant recounts the COVID breakout in NYC in Spring 2020 and thereafter。 It is striking how many times I unexpectedly teared up at various points recalling the isolation and strict pressures of the pandemic。 Almojera shares a lot of his own personal experience and various details about specific calls with patients that were memorable or challenging。 I liked the author immensely - Almojera is a loud union rep and strong advocate for EMTs and paramedics who were not ready when the pandemic hit, through no fault of their own。 I appreciated the tour through the 'dark side' of first responders。。。there is apparently a high rate of suicide in this profession。 Glad Almojera is still here to tell his story。 。。。more

Danny Ritter

This is a memoir of a New York City paramedic who was on the front lines of the terrible first wave of covid 19 in that city。 I’ll start with the bad。 The writing is not great, although I think the author should be cut some slack on this。 The first half is clunky, with multiple storylines chopped up, switching between timelines a little too often。 However, I think the story it tells is accurate and heartfelt。 The way Almojera talks about his training, his mentors, and some of his early cases rem This is a memoir of a New York City paramedic who was on the front lines of the terrible first wave of covid 19 in that city。 I’ll start with the bad。 The writing is not great, although I think the author should be cut some slack on this。 The first half is clunky, with multiple storylines chopped up, switching between timelines a little too often。 However, I think the story it tells is accurate and heartfelt。 The way Almojera talks about his training, his mentors, and some of his early cases reminds me so much of my own medical training, I believed it instantly。 The discussion of the ambulance service’s “frequent flyers” also completely made sense when compared to my own experiences in the emergency department。 So when he got to the real meat of his story, the first wave of COVID 19 in NYC, I was fully prepared to take it all at face value。 The constant calls, the overwhelmed medical system, the toll it took on the healthcare personnel, it all was completely genuine。 。。。more

Linda Chrisman

Not an easy book to read - the pandemic was far to grim to find reading about how overworked and overwhelmed the emergency and essential workers were。 That being said, this is essential reading。 It should be required reading for every person who denied there was a virus, who refused to wear a mask, who whined about their rights as they spread Covid。 Bravo to the writer for his courage and honesty。

Emma

This was a hard book to read, to digest the trauma and difficulties for EMS workers and paramedics during the height of the pandemic。 It exhausted me just to read about it, so I can’t imagine living through it! It did take me right back to March 2020, all the uncertainties and fears we were going through。 I also appreciated his insight as a union leader into the struggles of EMS。The book itself was hard to get into at first because the first several chapters were backstory about the author’s lif This was a hard book to read, to digest the trauma and difficulties for EMS workers and paramedics during the height of the pandemic。 It exhausted me just to read about it, so I can’t imagine living through it! It did take me right back to March 2020, all the uncertainties and fears we were going through。 I also appreciated his insight as a union leader into the struggles of EMS。The book itself was hard to get into at first because the first several chapters were backstory about the author’s life and included details I did not really need to know。 However, he did a really good job explaining medical terms and procedures that the common public would not be familiar with。 。。。more

Liralen

Nothing wildly unexpected here, in content or in writing。 But Almojera is making some important points about the feasibility of working in emergency health services in NYC without being able to afford to live in NYC, so let's leave some quotes here:In the fire department family, EMS workers were the poor cousins。 A firefighter's base pay at the time started just shy of $44,000 per year and rose to $85,292 after five years; an EMT started at a base salary of $35,000 that rose to $50,604 after fiv Nothing wildly unexpected here, in content or in writing。 But Almojera is making some important points about the feasibility of working in emergency health services in NYC without being able to afford to live in NYC, so let's leave some quotes here:In the fire department family, EMS workers were the poor cousins。 A firefighter's base pay at the time started just shy of $44,000 per year and rose to $85,292 after five years; an EMT started at a base salary of $35,000 that rose to $50,604 after five yeas。 A paramedic's base salary peaked at $65,226。 (96)In New York City, the government was hiring hundreds of contact tracers。 The tracers followed up with people who tested positive for COVID-19 and tracked down people an infected person had been in touch with。 They offered support to people who had been infected。 The job required "health-related professional experience" or public health training。 The starting salary was $57,000 with benefits。 More or less the same as a paramedic with several years of ambulance experience and a year of full-time school。 (201–202)I'd receive full pay from the fire department while I was recovering [from surgery], but full pay without overtime—and without the income from my extra gigs at Aqueduct and at the defibrillator company—amounted to half of what I normally earned。 And the only reason that I would be paid at all was that my injury counted as line-of-duty。 If I'd done this to myself outside of work, I would have had to use sick days and vacation days to cover my time off。 And when I ran out of leave, I'd have been taken off payroll。 And once I was off payroll for a month, I'd have lost my health insurance。 (223–224) 。。。more

Luanne Ollivier

I truly enjoy memoirs, but not those of celebrities, politicians etc。 Instead I am drawn to the lives of everyday people going about their work and lives, making a difference, testing limits, exploring our world and more。 Anthony Almojera's memoir Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New Your City Paramedic, is one I knew I wanted to listen to。 Almojera is a Lieutenant Paramedic with the FDNY's EMS。Almojera is brutally honest, detailing his own life and sharing personal stories, thought I truly enjoy memoirs, but not those of celebrities, politicians etc。 Instead I am drawn to the lives of everyday people going about their work and lives, making a difference, testing limits, exploring our world and more。 Anthony Almojera's memoir Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New Your City Paramedic, is one I knew I wanted to listen to。 Almojera is a Lieutenant Paramedic with the FDNY's EMS。Almojera is brutally honest, detailing his own life and sharing personal stories, thoughts and emotions in this memoir。 And I couldn't help but think 'I would like to meet this guy in person'。 His strong opinions have nothing behind them but betterment for the patients and employees of the Emergency Medical Services of the New York Fire Department。 The first half of the book can be seen as a 'before'。 We see what the Paramedics do on a daily basis。 The lives saved and the lives lost。 And at what cost to those who have chosen this job。 Part Two is the 'after' if you will。 After Covid-19 arrived。 And the job got even tougher。 The realities of trying to answer so many calls and only getting there to find yet another body is heartbreaking。 I am truly in awe of those who kept coming to work, trying to save who they can and do their best, even when it seems futile。 The job was tough enough pre Covid, and what they're facing now in these new parameters is simply mind boggling。 I could see why Almojera is crusading for for better equipment, sufficient supplies, higher pay and equality for EMS personnel。 Almojera is Brooklyn born and bred。 His love for his city is evident in his descriptions, actions, service and more。 I chose to listen to Riding the Lighting as the author himself was narrating。 I find I become more immersed in a book when I listen。 And this was most definitely the case with Riding the Lightning Having the author read his own work is a treat。 Almojera has an authentic Brooklyn accent that I enjoyed listening to。 He also has a gravelly tone to his voice that seems to just emphasize the subject matter and underline what's being said。 He reading speed was good。 I was easily drawn into the book and was caught up 'til the last chapters。 You really can't rate someone's life story, but if I had to rate this book, I'd give it a five。 。。。more

Michelle Pulignani

Very interesting

Corey

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 commemor 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。 。。。more

Catherine H

I opened this book and was immediately drawn into the world of Station 40, which has to be the home of Brooklyn's finest paramedics。 In waning months of 2019, they responded to “usual” emergency medical call: gunshots, overdose, suicide, and family violence。 But the sudden onslaught of calls in March of 2020 with cough/fever and cardiac arrests was unlike anything Anthony Almojera had ever seen before。 He vividly describes teams of paramedics answering call after call after frustrating call, fra I opened this book and was immediately drawn into the world of Station 40, which has to be the home of Brooklyn's finest paramedics。 In waning months of 2019, they responded to “usual” emergency medical call: gunshots, overdose, suicide, and family violence。 But the sudden onslaught of calls in March of 2020 with cough/fever and cardiac arrests was unlike anything Anthony Almojera had ever seen before。 He vividly describes teams of paramedics answering call after call after frustrating call, frantic attempts to save lives as masked family members look on。 Trying to find a hospital who could take those still clinging to life。From my suburban Washington D。C。 home, I watched the daily updates about NYC’s COVID-19 cases in horror: how many cases, how many deaths, how few hospital beds, how little Personal Protection Equipment。 It was a form of “closure” for me to learn on a personal level how these paramedics bravely risked everything to save their city。 。。。more

Dawn

A revealing look at the life of a paramedic during the pandemic in New York。 I'm grateful for the hard work of our first responders。 The book explores the stress and trauma experienced by those who worked the front lines during covd。 A revealing look at the life of a paramedic during the pandemic in New York。 I'm grateful for the hard work of our first responders。 The book explores the stress and trauma experienced by those who worked the front lines during covd。 。。。more

Susan Tunis

4。5 stars。

Adrianna Lamm

Almojera does an amazing job describing what life was like before and how things chance during COVID。 He has a very down to earth and likable writing style。 We used medical lingo but what he made it even better by explaining exactly what they mean。 The personal back story make this an even better read。 The only struggle I had while reading this book was that the author bounces between stories。 But overall this was an amazing read。

Carolyn

While I did not agree with everything he said I really enjoyed this book。 I wish to thank Mr。 Almojera and all the other EMS workers for their hard word in the pandemic。 I appreciated that he explained medical terms in the book as well。 It made it easier to read and very enjoyable。

Eileen

Overall I enjoyed this book, it was more of a memoir about the authors life then I day in the life of a NYC paramedic but interesting。

Jan

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 deva 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 。。。more

Keyni

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 t 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。 。。。more

Karin Neal

This book was a true testament to the hardships and heroism of what the paramedics and EMS go thru on a daily basis。 It gave me much more appreciation for the 1st responders who fight thru the pandemic selflessly。 Anthony told his truth and not just the funny or happy times but his true experiences good bad and ugly。 I would highly recommend this book。

Ann

This book was a raw, honest look into the day-to-day lives of paramedics。 The beginning of the pandemic was so crazy that it was (and still is) easy to overlook the sorts of sacrifices that paramedics and EMTs were making every day to keep people safe。 I truly appreciate what the author has chosen to share with us, both in regards to his work-related traumas and those from his childhood。 I also appreciate the new perspective that I have walked away with。 This book taught me much that I did not k This book was a raw, honest look into the day-to-day lives of paramedics。 The beginning of the pandemic was so crazy that it was (and still is) easy to overlook the sorts of sacrifices that paramedics and EMTs were making every day to keep people safe。 I truly appreciate what the author has chosen to share with us, both in regards to his work-related traumas and those from his childhood。 I also appreciate the new perspective that I have walked away with。 This book taught me much that I did not know in regards to how paramedics are treated and how little they are paid; I will be mindful of that moving forward and look for opportunities to promote change when and where I can。I am very grateful for receiving the ARC of this book。 。。。more

Brenda Tynan

Not my typical read but I really enjoyed this book。 It informed me and entertained。 I highly recommend。

Maria

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 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。 。。。more

Karen R。

Anthony has lived quite the life…seems like someone I would like to have a cup of coffee with, or maybe even save my life in an emergency。A memoir of his life in the life saving business, a fascinating look inside the world of a paramedic in New York City。 I can’t comprehend some of the trauma he has seen, and he describes it with such respect and compassion。

Abbey

。“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 co 。“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。 。。。more

Jennifer Lane

Riding The Lightning Anthony AlmojeraA 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 d Riding The Lightning Anthony AlmojeraA 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。 。。。more

Chet

When someone who isn’t a professional author writes a memoir, it can go one of two ways。 The book can wind up disjointed, boring and self-indulgent。 Conversely, the book can be a wonderful, realistic and often heartbreaking affair。 Riding the Lightning falls into the second category。 Anthony Almojera has been an EMT in New York for a long time and he has plenty of stories to tell from his time saving lives。 Some of these stories are inspiring, some are terribly sad, and some are pretty damn funn When someone who isn’t a professional author writes a memoir, it can go one of two ways。 The book can wind up disjointed, boring and self-indulgent。 Conversely, the book can be a wonderful, realistic and often heartbreaking affair。 Riding the Lightning falls into the second category。 Anthony Almojera has been an EMT in New York for a long time and he has plenty of stories to tell from his time saving lives。 Some of these stories are inspiring, some are terribly sad, and some are pretty damn funny。 Almojera spends most of the first half of the book introducing you to NYC, his friends and himself。 He does a pretty fine job of bringing you along for the ride in his “bus”。 Often, books of this nature are somewhat amateurish in their writing and pacing, but this works in Almojera’s favor here。 It works because he’s a likeable guy with likeable friends and reading Riding the Lightning regularly feels like you’re sitting there with the author, having a beer while he tells you about the crazy things he’s seen。Honestly, it’s pretty surreal reading a book mostly set during the COVID-19 pandemic。 On one hand, it feels like we’ve been living with this virus forever, but on the other hand it feels like it hasn’t been that long (and it really hasn’t)。 March 2020 was when it started to get real in the United States and here we are in March 2022。 It doesn’t seem like it’s been long enough to be having books written about it, yet here we are。 2 years later and there are still people who don’t believe COVID-19 is real。 There are still people who say, “Oh, it’s just the flu。 It’s only got a 1% death rate”。 We developed a vaccine using amazing methods and in record time, yet there are those who refuse to take it。 There are those who say the vaccine is deadly, that it’s part of a government conspiracy…that there are microchips in it to control you。 This book should be required reading for these people and probably for everybody。 A 1% mortality rate sounds pretty good until you or your loved ones are in the 1%。 At what point did we become so callous and uncaring toward our fellow human beings that we start to think in terms of “acceptable losses”? Riding the Lightning shows that people are not expendable and that there is a life attached to that number。 It is heartbreaking to read the effects of our failures to be ready for a pandemic, the failures of our leaders to lead and the failure of people in general to behave like civilized beings。 On the flip side, it’s inspiring to read about people who had to deal with this every day and did the absolute best they could with what they had。 Riding the Lightning probably isn’t going to change people’s minds about the pandemic。 If, at this point, you don’t believe the pandemic is real or you think it was overblown and “not that bad”, I don’t know what would convince you。 Still, I encourage you to read this book so you can see what people had to deal with。 At the very least, you will read an interesting book with a lot of great stories held within it’s 256 pages。 Maybe you will think a little more about people on the front lines of medical and other crises。 Maybe you will say “Thank You” a little more。 Maybe you will find some compassion that they weren’t aware was needed。 I know I will。 Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for providing me with an advance copy of the book。 I really enjoyed it。 。。。more

Sara

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 o 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! 。。。more