Thank God for These Guys: Chicago's Firemen on the Job

by Alan Jacobs (Photographer)

This book is about firemen doing their work. It is not a book exclusively for firemen, men and women, at least not directly. It is a book about them, their work and how they do it, their tradition and dedication. It is for all of us who didn't know what they do. It is for all the fascinated people to whom the author has shown these photos who never realized how compelling the work really is. We can honor the memories of those fallen in the line of duty with ceremonies and dedications, not only at the World Trade Center, but all over the country, on average 116 a year. But it isn't enough to just feel badly for them. What they would like but hold out little hope for is to be understood and not taken for granted; the very thing all of us need. In that spirit Alan Jacobs set out to find out as much as he could, never realizing at the time the complexity of the job, how captivating it would become, the tight-knit community he was allowed to enter, the tragedy, and the humor, the honesty and openness, the help he would receive and the friendships. What a bunch they are.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 27, 2007

About the author

Alan Jacobs is a scholar of English literature, literary critic, and distinguished professor of the humanities at Baylor University. Previously, he held the Clyde S. Kilby Chair of English at Wheaton College until 2012. His academic career has been marked by a deep engagement with literature, theology, and intellectual history.
Jacobs has written extensively on reading, thinking, and culture, contributing to publications such as The Atlantic, First Things, and The New Atlantis. His books explore diverse topics, from the intellectual legacy of Christian humanism (The Year of Our Lord 1943) to the challenges of modern discourse (How to Think). He has also examined literary figures like C. S. Lewis (The Narnian) and W. H. Auden. His work often bridges literature and philosophy, with books such as A Theology of Reading: The Hermeneutics of Love reflecting on the ethical dimensions of interpretation.
An evangelical Anglican, Jacobs continues to influence discussions on faith, literature, and the role of reading in contemporary life.