Book · 2015 · Science
Between Two Fires
A Fire History of Contemporary America
Why people recommend it
Between Two Fires by Stephen J. Pyne is a comprehensive non-fiction exploration of American fire history, management, and the ecological role of wildfire. On an episode of The Ezra Klein Show titled MAGA’s Big Tech Divide broadcast on January 29, 2025, James Pog mentioned the work during a conversation about modern political discourse and local environmental challenges. Living in Los Angeles, James Pog shared that he had grown deeply disillusioned by the misinformation, emotional rhetoric, and general lack of understanding surrounding contemporary fire policy debates. To counter these superficial narratives, he directed attention to Stephen Pyne's publication, describing it as a massive, exceptionally detailed, and occasionally heavy read, yet ultimately illuminating. Although he characterized the volume as somewhat sprawling and rigorous, he emphasized that its deep dive into the historical realities of fire management offers vital perspective. James Pog pointed listeners toward the book as an antidote to reactionary public debates, suggesting that engaging with its thorough documentation is essential for anyone seeking a grounded, evidence-based understanding of how society interacts with wildfire across different landscapes and eras.
Who recommended it
- James Pog Recommended
James Pog — 1 mention
“and then I guess my last book would be a little disconnected but I do live in Los Angeles and I've been very very disillusioned by some of the ranor and lies and idiocy around the fire policy stuff and there's a great fat really boring way too detailed but really revealing book called between two fires that is like”