Red Adair: An American Hero - the Authorized Biography

by Philip Singerman

Red Adair is now a multimillionaire, but he has worked his way up from a poor childhood in Houston where he spent years on the railways and on bomb-disposal before becoming an expert on oil-well firefighting. This is an account of his heroic life fighting fires all over the world - the 800-foot Devil's Cigarette Lighter in Algeria, fires in the giant wells of the Awaz Field in Iran, the sabotaged wells of Sumatra and Libya, and most recently, the Piper Alpha explosion in the North Sea.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published November 2, 1989

About the author

Philip Singerman is the author of An American Hero: The Red Adair Story and the novel Prancing Tiger. He has worked as a journalist, TV producer, advertising copywriter, housebuilder, and bartender, and holds a black belt in Shorin Ryu Okinawan karate. A native of Vermont, he now lives in Florida.

Reviews

[Jeff Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book, not only did it tell Red Adair's story it also described the technical aspects of oil drilling rigs and the techniques of fighting a wild-well. The book was published in 1990 and written in the late 80's so it did not include the Gulf War. I would really like to see a revised edition that included Mr. Adair's exploits following the Gulf War while fighting wild-wells in Kuwait. I would recommend this book to any one who is interested in firefighting, oil drilling history, or just reading the story of a real American hero.

[brian andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life story of Red Adair, started with nothing and worked his way to the top oil well firefighter in the world. The book details his life story, trials and tribulations that he overcame.
I enjoyed reading the book on fighting fires, racing cars & speedboats, relationships with his family and co-workers and how he made it from staring out with nothing in this world.

Had a loose film made on the world of oil well fire fighting - Hellfighers. For those that think the that some parts of the film Hellfighers were real life, Hollywood struck again, but that Red & John Wayne were real friends.

[Paul Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this decades ago but still remember it clearly. A rollicking adventure tale, with business and oil industry information thrown in.

[Peter Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read about Red Adair and his life as an oil well fire fighter. The technical stuff about oil field development and fire fighting methods is great and many of the pioneers in this field are mentioned and credited with the innovations they created.
Adair comes out of the book as strongly smelling of roses which feels like a censored version of his life.
Either that, or he really is a wholesome and without flaw, American Hero.
It's still a good read.

[Robert Attaway Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing life and career