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Pulse: A Paramedic's Walk Along the Lines of Life and Death
In this debut collection of essays, Pace tells of his years as a career paramedic—wandering through the highs and the lows, the saves and the losses, the patients he remembers, and the ones he tries to forget. In 1997, Pace began his career as an EMT because he wanted to do something exciting. He wanted to help people too. And he thought those two things—excitement and helping people—would exist hand in hand. With a little sprinkle of glory thrown in for good measure. Twenty-three years and thousands of calls later—as an EMT, then paramedic, working in a helicopter and on the ground—he still hasn’t stumbled onto any glory, and he’s tired of the excitement. But some nights, even now, he finds scraps of humanity—beautiful pieces in the broken-up mosaic of the world.
***
Praise from Kevin Hazzard, author of A Thousand Naked A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back
Hilarious, tragic, and absolutely unforgettable—just like the job itself. Pulse thrums with a kinetic blast, yet chooses all the right moments to slow it down and let us feel the gravity of the situation. And while it’s said the best couples finish each other’s sentences, James and JK write them. I’ve read harrowing and comic stories of life in an ambulance, but never one where the spouse interjects to scoop up lost details or flip the perspective. The effect is magic.
***
Praise from Kevin Hazzard, author of A Thousand Naked A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back
Hilarious, tragic, and absolutely unforgettable—just like the job itself. Pulse thrums with a kinetic blast, yet chooses all the right moments to slow it down and let us feel the gravity of the situation. And while it’s said the best couples finish each other’s sentences, James and JK write them. I’ve read harrowing and comic stories of life in an ambulance, but never one where the spouse interjects to scoop up lost details or flip the perspective. The effect is magic.
- GenresNonfictionMemoirMedicine
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2022
386 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Jean Knight Pace
25 books79 followersJean Knight Pace is the author of the young adult novels Grey Stone and Grey Lore. She has had work published in Puerto del Sol, The Lakeview Review, and other literary magazines. She’s also written for Dollar Stretcher and Authors Publish. She has a BA in music and an MFA in creative writing. She lives in southern Indiana with her husband, four children, ten ducks, and a cat. She blogs at jeanknightpace.com and tastycheapskate.blogspot.com.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 23, 2022
I don't normally read non-fiction, or memoirs. Now and again. A few years back I read, and enjoyed, 1,000 Naked Strangers, by Kevin Hazzard. I am a 911 Dispatcher. I rarely find out what happens after a call is dispatched. Books like 1,000 Naked Strangers and PULSE, by James and J.K. Pace are a perfect fit / fill.
The Paces write with a clean, crisp voice recounting James' time as an EMT and then a Paramedic. Some of the routine calls strike familiar chords with me, whether taking the call or dispatching the ambulance crew and fire department. Other essays show the impact of seeing with one's own eyes -- some of the horror and inhumanity-- almost makes me thankful I work on this side of the radio.
Near the end of the book, an essay, Fetus, broke my heart. I don't know that I would be able to do what needed to get done.
And only people in this field will ever understand the end of an essay -- where after a dead patient was dropped --that in the clouds above the spirit is also giggling. LOL
The only thing wrong with this book, is I wanted more. More stories, more detail about James and J.K. and their relationship. An easy to pick-up book, but a hard one to forget after setting it down. The stories, the images, will stay with me.
Phillip Tomasso
The Paces write with a clean, crisp voice recounting James' time as an EMT and then a Paramedic. Some of the routine calls strike familiar chords with me, whether taking the call or dispatching the ambulance crew and fire department. Other essays show the impact of seeing with one's own eyes -- some of the horror and inhumanity-- almost makes me thankful I work on this side of the radio.
Near the end of the book, an essay, Fetus, broke my heart. I don't know that I would be able to do what needed to get done.
And only people in this field will ever understand the end of an essay -- where after a dead patient was dropped --that in the clouds above the spirit is also giggling. LOL
The only thing wrong with this book, is I wanted more. More stories, more detail about James and J.K. and their relationship. An easy to pick-up book, but a hard one to forget after setting it down. The stories, the images, will stay with me.
Phillip Tomasso
September 17, 2022
"Pulse: A Paramedic’s Walk Along the Lines of Life and Death" focuses on a paramedic, James Pace, as he recounts his experience responding to medical emergency and non-emergency calls in his 20+ year career in the MidWest. The book is in the form of a diary/journal with his wife, Jean Knight Pace, doing most of the writing and offering commentary.
The population at large isn’t quick to realize that, often, it’s a different world for first responders working the streets, be it police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel or corrections officers (I almost forgot to add dispatchers as well). Jean explains this well in one of the chapters: “...even after I tell them There was a terrible accident and a little kid died, they will not understand and say, How sad, and then squeal about how much Hyrum (her son) has grown,” she writes, referring to her in-laws.
"Pulse" is a short book – less than 200 pages – that may have missed the opportunity to expand a little bit on the topic of street emergency medical care. But it is overall a quick and easy read and deserves the five-stars rating.
The population at large isn’t quick to realize that, often, it’s a different world for first responders working the streets, be it police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel or corrections officers (I almost forgot to add dispatchers as well). Jean explains this well in one of the chapters: “...even after I tell them There was a terrible accident and a little kid died, they will not understand and say, How sad, and then squeal about how much Hyrum (her son) has grown,” she writes, referring to her in-laws.
"Pulse" is a short book – less than 200 pages – that may have missed the opportunity to expand a little bit on the topic of street emergency medical care. But it is overall a quick and easy read and deserves the five-stars rating.
November 14, 2022
More introspective
For some reason I've become fixated on medical memoirs. This is about the 20th I've read. It's more introspective than most, which I appreciated. And renews my decision to keep my DNR close although maybe hold my husband's in reserve just in case he's the 1 in a hundred or less.
It's a good straightforward read with the compassion of the author coming through at the end in full force.
For some reason I've become fixated on medical memoirs. This is about the 20th I've read. It's more introspective than most, which I appreciated. And renews my decision to keep my DNR close although maybe hold my husband's in reserve just in case he's the 1 in a hundred or less.
It's a good straightforward read with the compassion of the author coming through at the end in full force.
June 18, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Raw, reflective, and deeply human—this one lingers long after the last page.”
As someone in EMS myself, I picked up Pulse expecting clinical stories and adrenaline. What I didn’t expect was how tender, philosophical, and human it would be. Michael Graff captures what it feels like to be the one kneeling beside the dying, standing in the chaos, and somehow walking back into normal life carrying the weight of it all.
His writing is honest—sometimes poetic, sometimes painful—and always grounded in reality. There’s no glorifying the job, but there’s a reverence for the sacredness of those moments we often rush past: the final breath, the quiet after CPR, the look in a family member’s eyes when you say, “We did everything we could.”
Reading this as a Christian, I couldn’t help but feel the deeper current running through these stories—the ache for meaning, the longing for justice and mercy, the quiet truth that every heartbeat matters because we’re made in the image of God. Graff doesn’t preach, but he doesn’t hide from the weight of death either. And as someone who believes that every soul matters eternally, I found this book both sobering and strangely comforting.
📌 What hit me personally:
The scene where he sits with a patient after death—not because he has to, but because no one should leave this world alone. That stayed with me.
The honest confessions of emotional detachment, survivor’s guilt, and the need for something solid to stand on in the middle of grief.
The quiet moments—between calls, between heartbeats—where Graff reflects on the “why” behind it all. That’s where the book really breathes.
📌 Who this is for:
First responders, of course—but also anyone who wants to understand what life looks like at the edges.
Readers who don’t mind sitting with uncomfortable truths about death, dignity, and the quiet cost of caregiving.
Christians who long for real, gritty stories where the imago Dei is on full display—even if God’s name isn’t spoken out loud.
Final Thoughts:
Pulse reminded me why this job matters—and why every life, every call, every fragile moment in the back of an ambulance has weight. As a paramedic, it gave language to things I’ve felt but couldn’t always say. As a believer, it reminded me that even in the darkest hours, we’re never alone—and that showing up with compassion, even when it doesn’t fix anything, is still a holy act.
One of the best EMS memoirs I’ve read. Quietly devastating. Quietly beautiful.
“Raw, reflective, and deeply human—this one lingers long after the last page.”
As someone in EMS myself, I picked up Pulse expecting clinical stories and adrenaline. What I didn’t expect was how tender, philosophical, and human it would be. Michael Graff captures what it feels like to be the one kneeling beside the dying, standing in the chaos, and somehow walking back into normal life carrying the weight of it all.
His writing is honest—sometimes poetic, sometimes painful—and always grounded in reality. There’s no glorifying the job, but there’s a reverence for the sacredness of those moments we often rush past: the final breath, the quiet after CPR, the look in a family member’s eyes when you say, “We did everything we could.”
Reading this as a Christian, I couldn’t help but feel the deeper current running through these stories—the ache for meaning, the longing for justice and mercy, the quiet truth that every heartbeat matters because we’re made in the image of God. Graff doesn’t preach, but he doesn’t hide from the weight of death either. And as someone who believes that every soul matters eternally, I found this book both sobering and strangely comforting.
📌 What hit me personally:
The scene where he sits with a patient after death—not because he has to, but because no one should leave this world alone. That stayed with me.
The honest confessions of emotional detachment, survivor’s guilt, and the need for something solid to stand on in the middle of grief.
The quiet moments—between calls, between heartbeats—where Graff reflects on the “why” behind it all. That’s where the book really breathes.
📌 Who this is for:
First responders, of course—but also anyone who wants to understand what life looks like at the edges.
Readers who don’t mind sitting with uncomfortable truths about death, dignity, and the quiet cost of caregiving.
Christians who long for real, gritty stories where the imago Dei is on full display—even if God’s name isn’t spoken out loud.
Final Thoughts:
Pulse reminded me why this job matters—and why every life, every call, every fragile moment in the back of an ambulance has weight. As a paramedic, it gave language to things I’ve felt but couldn’t always say. As a believer, it reminded me that even in the darkest hours, we’re never alone—and that showing up with compassion, even when it doesn’t fix anything, is still a holy act.
One of the best EMS memoirs I’ve read. Quietly devastating. Quietly beautiful.
October 15, 2023
Not Bad, Not Excellent
I find medical true stories by those on the front lines interesting. However, I think a good part of that is because I like most people and hearing their "stories." I like reading about what makes a person who they are, background, career choice, family relationships, etc. This book certainly had a little of that regarding James and Jean. They seem like good people trying to help others and make a difference which is great! I do some of that myself when I can but in different ways than via ambulance!
I can understand it to some degree -- especially given the world today but the cynicism and hardness bothers me. I suppose it's necessary given the job or one would be an emotional mess -- or burn out very quickly. And as a social work major, I'd guess that the rates of depression, anxiety, even ptsd , suicide and alcoholism are "higher than your average bear," lol. But having been in the back of an ambulance several times -- most recently with my dear mom who was terminally ill, please don't lose sight of the value of kindness, offering a hand to hold, sharing a few comforting words or wishing them well. I know it meant the world to my family! And though to you and others, a patient may be a "frequent flier," obese, have an addiction, be mentally ill or homeless with body odor, they are human beings and most (I would hope all but I know that likely isn't reality for everyone) have someone that loves them in spite of the 100 extra lbs, or the pockmarked face, or smelly pits or feet. They have someone who remembers when they blended in and were "normal" -- whatever that is.
Over all, it mostly kept my attention and I don't regret having read it.
I find medical true stories by those on the front lines interesting. However, I think a good part of that is because I like most people and hearing their "stories." I like reading about what makes a person who they are, background, career choice, family relationships, etc. This book certainly had a little of that regarding James and Jean. They seem like good people trying to help others and make a difference which is great! I do some of that myself when I can but in different ways than via ambulance!
I can understand it to some degree -- especially given the world today but the cynicism and hardness bothers me. I suppose it's necessary given the job or one would be an emotional mess -- or burn out very quickly. And as a social work major, I'd guess that the rates of depression, anxiety, even ptsd , suicide and alcoholism are "higher than your average bear," lol. But having been in the back of an ambulance several times -- most recently with my dear mom who was terminally ill, please don't lose sight of the value of kindness, offering a hand to hold, sharing a few comforting words or wishing them well. I know it meant the world to my family! And though to you and others, a patient may be a "frequent flier," obese, have an addiction, be mentally ill or homeless with body odor, they are human beings and most (I would hope all but I know that likely isn't reality for everyone) have someone that loves them in spite of the 100 extra lbs, or the pockmarked face, or smelly pits or feet. They have someone who remembers when they blended in and were "normal" -- whatever that is.
Over all, it mostly kept my attention and I don't regret having read it.
October 8, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Pulse: A Paramedic's Walk Along the Lines of Life and Death, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Pace’s essays take you deep into the life of a career paramedic, showing both the highs and lows, the saves and the losses, and the fleeting moments of humanity he encounters along the way.
The book manages to be sad, funny, and everything in between. Listening to the audiobook was a treat, the narrators, Zac Cash and Jordan Cash, were fantastic. Zac’s voice, in particular, added humor to moments I didn’t expect to laugh at, which is impressive considering the tough subjects covered. It felt like a genuine, human experience, not just a recounting of calls.
What really stood out was the way Pace writes with honesty and insight. He doesn’t sugarcoat the exhaustion, the frustrations, or the grief, but he also finds moments of beauty, tiny scraps of humanity, that make the work meaningful. The dynamic of the couple narrating together adds another layer, filling in details and offering perspective in a way that feels natural and engaging.
If you’re looking for a book that’s raw, heartfelt, and sometimes unexpectedly funny, Pulse is worth diving into. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from these authors.
The book manages to be sad, funny, and everything in between. Listening to the audiobook was a treat, the narrators, Zac Cash and Jordan Cash, were fantastic. Zac’s voice, in particular, added humor to moments I didn’t expect to laugh at, which is impressive considering the tough subjects covered. It felt like a genuine, human experience, not just a recounting of calls.
What really stood out was the way Pace writes with honesty and insight. He doesn’t sugarcoat the exhaustion, the frustrations, or the grief, but he also finds moments of beauty, tiny scraps of humanity, that make the work meaningful. The dynamic of the couple narrating together adds another layer, filling in details and offering perspective in a way that feels natural and engaging.
If you’re looking for a book that’s raw, heartfelt, and sometimes unexpectedly funny, Pulse is worth diving into. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from these authors.
April 11, 2023
This is going to be one of the more difficult reviews I write. First because I know the author from certain writing circles. Second because for the same reason names and places were changed in the essays, I don't want to say anything to reveal too much or provide info that isn't mine to reveal. And third because this book is so far outside the genre of books that I normally read it might as well be written in another language.
I'm typically a sci/fi or fantasy or horror guy. Real life drama, while sometimes horror adjacent, is just not something I enjoy. But I was offered a chance to review this book so I gave it a shot. It was so much better than I anticipated. I listened to the audiobook version which was read by two people. A male reader for stories in James' voice and a female reader for Jean's voice.
I'm not sure if James and Jean could have read it better themselves. I don't know for sure but I'd bet the narrators were either married themselves or at the very least related somehow. Even though their narration isn't intertwined within any particular essay I still felt the closeness of them within the compilation.
I highly recommend for anyone who wants a peek inside the life and mind of a paramedic as well as an outside view from someone close to him.
I'm typically a sci/fi or fantasy or horror guy. Real life drama, while sometimes horror adjacent, is just not something I enjoy. But I was offered a chance to review this book so I gave it a shot. It was so much better than I anticipated. I listened to the audiobook version which was read by two people. A male reader for stories in James' voice and a female reader for Jean's voice.
I'm not sure if James and Jean could have read it better themselves. I don't know for sure but I'd bet the narrators were either married themselves or at the very least related somehow. Even though their narration isn't intertwined within any particular essay I still felt the closeness of them within the compilation.
I highly recommend for anyone who wants a peek inside the life and mind of a paramedic as well as an outside view from someone close to him.
March 17, 2023
James Pace shares his decades' worth of experience as a paramedic, aided by his wife, Jean, who is a writer. His account takes the reader on a ride-a-long, where we see some of the calls that paramedics address.
Of course, I expected to read about blood. But that is not the only bodily fluid encountered by first responders: there are tears, urine, amniotic fluid, and poop. So. Much. Poop.
Some calls are mundane: helping a person with mobility problems to get up off the floor (or to hand them foot items out of reach). Some calls are adrenalin-charged: checking for signs of life for people pulled out of smashed cars or burning buildings.
Most chapters are very short, so this is a book that someone can easily pick up when they have a few minutes. I read it cover-to-cover in one sitting.
Pulse makes me more aware of the fragility of life. That is a valuable reminder for being more careful, being more loving, and being more joyful with the time that I do have. And it makes me more grateful for first responders such as paramedics.
Of course, I expected to read about blood. But that is not the only bodily fluid encountered by first responders: there are tears, urine, amniotic fluid, and poop. So. Much. Poop.
Some calls are mundane: helping a person with mobility problems to get up off the floor (or to hand them foot items out of reach). Some calls are adrenalin-charged: checking for signs of life for people pulled out of smashed cars or burning buildings.
Most chapters are very short, so this is a book that someone can easily pick up when they have a few minutes. I read it cover-to-cover in one sitting.
Pulse makes me more aware of the fragility of life. That is a valuable reminder for being more careful, being more loving, and being more joyful with the time that I do have. And it makes me more grateful for first responders such as paramedics.
March 29, 2023
Audiobook: I found this story to be very poignant. James Pace was seeking excitement and the ability to help people, when he started working as an EMT and later as a paramedic. This story gave to me a brief glimpse into the life and stresses that healthcare workers who respond to emergency calls for medical help outside of a hospital endure. I have a greater appreciation for the people who spend their lives being an EMT or paramedic after listening to this audiobook. Zac Cash's and Jordan Cash's narrations were good and enhanced the story's profundity. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
September 6, 2023
Pulse is a well-crafted collection of short stories that chronologs a paramedic's 20 year career. With the help of his wife, Pace writes of his highs and lows, the funny and the sad. He explores the complicated emotions that come from needing to be a detached responder to someone else's emergency. More importantly, he talks about the banal and uninteresting calls that make up the majority of the job. He further speaks to the industry's problem with education, retention, and mental health. I especially appreciated the times his wife would step in and offer her perspective or share her stories.
January 30, 2024
A realist view of Paramedic life
As a Paramedic for the past 25 years the stores hit home. It is well writen and an honest view of the day to day stuff we see out there. From frequent flyers to lift assists, codes, and everything in between. It shows that EMS is the same we verywhere. If you are thinking of getting into EMS or love someone who is in it, or living the life. It is a good a representation.
As a Paramedic for the past 25 years the stores hit home. It is well writen and an honest view of the day to day stuff we see out there. From frequent flyers to lift assists, codes, and everything in between. It shows that EMS is the same we verywhere. If you are thinking of getting into EMS or love someone who is in it, or living the life. It is a good a representation.
March 13, 2024
This book is NOT for Paramedics and EMT’s. This book is for everyone else. This book is for those that love Paramedics and EMT’s. It’s for anyone who wants to fully understand everything about this business. It’s gritty and truthful and beautiful illustrated about every aspect of an EMS career and spoke in terms that lay personal and the general public can understand. I recommend this book as a 20 year paramedic, EMS educator and dispatcher I certainly identify with every chapter!
April 17, 2024
Couldn't Put It Down
Heart wrenching look into the day to day life of a paramedic. I can't imagine it was easy to write this, as his wife..... or easy to get so many details correct. I'm a mother to 3 paramedics.... now 2 as one switched over to being a police officer only. I don't know where they get it from..... certainly not me, who gets grossed out easily and can't stand the sight of blood. This gave me a lot of insight into what they do, and why!
Heart wrenching look into the day to day life of a paramedic. I can't imagine it was easy to write this, as his wife..... or easy to get so many details correct. I'm a mother to 3 paramedics.... now 2 as one switched over to being a police officer only. I don't know where they get it from..... certainly not me, who gets grossed out easily and can't stand the sight of blood. This gave me a lot of insight into what they do, and why!
January 5, 2023
A well written introspective look at the profession. And a breath of fresh air in that, unlike many “similar” books written by “experts” who may have had a few month’s experience, this author (Medic & spouse) actually gets it. Though, the title DOES seem a bit melodramatic- still worth the read.
October 11, 2023
As a paramedic, and a mother, I appreciated the in depth look into the thoughts that we have however never voice. “Pulse” was entertaining and fabulously written. Thank you to the author for bringing such a beautifully tragic and under appreciated job, and the people who do the job, to light and sharing James’ experience.
October 17, 2022
Not Worthy of Review
I don’t consider this book worthy of any review; but, I am providing one to prevent others from waisting time reading it as I did. To me, it trivializes the EMT/Paramedic professions.
I don’t consider this book worthy of any review; but, I am providing one to prevent others from waisting time reading it as I did. To me, it trivializes the EMT/Paramedic professions.
April 19, 2023
Not my normal kind of book. This is a real life account of one paramedics experience. Working in the medical field and seeing so many different kinds of patients I found this book very interesting . Good read
June 25, 2023
Powerful
I worked in the medical field, retired now...and boy, did some of this hit me. Strong, powerful words and "stories" that made me smile, growl and yes, laugh. Highly recommended.. Deserves more than five stars.
I worked in the medical field, retired now...and boy, did some of this hit me. Strong, powerful words and "stories" that made me smile, growl and yes, laugh. Highly recommended.. Deserves more than five stars.
July 7, 2023
I am a retired volunteer EMT, so I jumped at the chance to listen to this book. The authors have done an outstanding job in depicting many of the things that workers in pre-hospital emergency medicine face every day. I laughed, I cheered, I cried, but most of all, I could totally relate to these stories.
The way that the paramedic's wife enhanced the "just the facts" remembrances of his job gave the book a wonderful flow. The stories were realistic for the job and as an EMT, I found that I had many of the same memories and stories. I liked the way that the author debunked the Hollywood depiction of a paramedic's job. I have found myself yelling at the TV many times at the unrealistic way that events are shown by movies and TV.
The narrators did a great job and enhanced my enjoyment of this book. I truly appreciate the authors for sharing the humor, the tragedy and the triumphs of this grueling job along with the blood, sweat, and poop!
The way that the paramedic's wife enhanced the "just the facts" remembrances of his job gave the book a wonderful flow. The stories were realistic for the job and as an EMT, I found that I had many of the same memories and stories. I liked the way that the author debunked the Hollywood depiction of a paramedic's job. I have found myself yelling at the TV many times at the unrealistic way that events are shown by movies and TV.
The narrators did a great job and enhanced my enjoyment of this book. I truly appreciate the authors for sharing the humor, the tragedy and the triumphs of this grueling job along with the blood, sweat, and poop!
September 27, 2023
Very well written book. I can't believe people call for such small things that they can call a non emergency person to help with instead of taking up emergency people's time from a more important situation {unless that said person has no one lefted in there lives to help them}
June 3, 2025
Raw and real
As a former dispatcher I've been on the other side of some of these types of calls and some of them make you wanna cry and some you just have to laugh at and they did an excellent job of describing the job the good the bad and the ugly of it
As a former dispatcher I've been on the other side of some of these types of calls and some of them make you wanna cry and some you just have to laugh at and they did an excellent job of describing the job the good the bad and the ugly of it
April 22, 2022
Such as life
A good book maybe for someone that isn’t a first responder. If you are one it’s kinda just a recap on the daily stuff.
A good book maybe for someone that isn’t a first responder. If you are one it’s kinda just a recap on the daily stuff.
May 28, 2024
Not normally what I read but it was very good. It's raw and real. It really brings light to what we go through as paramedics and emts.
January 23, 2025
A collection of short anecdotes and essays about the authors’ experiences as an EMT. No overarching narrative or particular depth, so a quick read.
November 19, 2025
The perfect summation of our field. A short yet incredibly moving read. Will be on repeat.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews