Breathing the Fire by Kimberly Dozier
FIND & RESERVE AN IN-STORE COPY
Enter a zip code
(Hardcover)
- Publisher: Meredith Books
- Pub. Date: May 2008
- ISBN-13: 9780696238376
- Sales Rank: 32,459
- 288pp
- Other Formats:
- Compact Disc - Unabridged, 9 CDs, 10 hrs. 30 min.
Synopsis
CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier battled back from critical injuries sustained in a Baghdad bombing, a prominent incident that claimed the lives of her two crew members, an Army officer, and his interpreter. In Breathing the Fire Dozier offers a personal memoir of tenacity as well as dedication and drama. Through her often painful and inspiring account, readers learn what wounded military personnel-along with their families and friends-endure on the long road to recovery. Dozier also recounts her rise to network broadcasting, shares insights into the culture of war-zone reporting, and describes the unique demands and perils of women covering dangerous events.
Dozier is a fighter. She fought to reach her position as a television reporter for CBS News, placing herself on the streets of Baghdad with a military patrol. And she fought to survive after a parked car erupted with deadly shrapnel, shattering her legs, riddling her skull, and killing several in her group. Her book traces the roots of her inner strength, which continues to propel her against daunting obstacles that most people would perceive as insurmountable. In that respect, this book is an inspiring story for women, demonstrating that their dreams and aspirations are limited only by their own resolve-a story that is perfect for its time.
Biography
Kimberly Dozier is a veteran journalist of print, radio and television news-on the local, national, and international level. She pursues stories that are important, not just those that are popular. She has been featured in numerous media outlets including CBS Primetime, People and Glamour magazines. Dozier has consistently immersed herself in the deepest of world events, choosing to live in the Middle East long before the region's current unrest. Dozier chose to live there, anticipating the region's important role in the unfolding of world events. Working for CBS News, Dozier was put on the streets of Baghdad with a military patrol. It was on this mission that Dozier suffered life-threatening injuries from a bomb, lost much of her crew, and began to trace the roots of her inner strength and assess her world.
Customer Reviews
- Reader Rating:
- Ratings: 6Reviews: 6
- See All Reviews
Breathing the Fireby Anonymous
Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings
July 03, 2008: The average American is too far removed from the reality of what the true cost of this war has been in human terms. I recently-retired from the Department of the Army, and when my friends ask me what I think about the war, I tell them about my recent visits to various Army posts (e.g., Fort Hood & Fort Lewis). I describe the newly-added rows and rows of handicapped parking spaces to accommodate returning troops, as well as seeing too many young soldiers waiting in line at the Burger King with missing limbs, horribly scarred faces, etc. I also tell them about this book. It is of critical importance in raising awareness about what thousands of military and civilian personnel have had to endure because of the war -- a war that most Americans find too abstract to maintain any real interest or involvement. I know for a fact the book has already served as a catalyst for young soldiers who struggle with the decision to open up and talk about their own traumatic experiences. Early on she describes the scene on a Baghdad street as she lay bloodied and mutilated from a horrific bomb blast that killed three others and nearly killed her. You feel as if you are an actual bystander as she describes everything from that point on in such detail that the phrase 'sugar-coated' would never spring to mind. She describes her victories, her setbacks, her fears, the mixture of helpful and not-so-helpful advice she received, and much more. She paints a picture most everyone of us can identify with, were we to ever be in her situation. I winced more than once while reading about what she had to endure on the road to recovery. I occasionally began to tear up, but there is humor and inspiration contained in her account as well. Again, her level of detail is amazing. After you read it you cheer for her ultimate success in beating the odds and recovering, but you are also reminded of the staggering numbers of other Americans who have suffered similar trauma. How many? The New York Times recently stated that approximately 30,000 U.S. military personnel have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in the book Kimberly points out that 82% of them are believed to have suffered extremity wounds -- that's over 24,000 men and women, all with their own stories that we will never know. If you read 'Breathing the Fire,' you will have a very good idea of what those stories might be like, and you can then ponder the question: 'What has happened to them?'
Breathing the Fireby Anonymous
Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings
June 25, 2008: I have to disclose at the beginning of this review that I have known Kim since college. At first I was afraid to read the book after looking at the pictures because I was afraid I couldn?t handle the truth ? another one of our college friends had visited Kim during her rehab in Baltimore and had told me how she was doing then, and I was scared of reading the whole story. This book was not an easy read. But, as they say, ?war is hell.? Kim takes us on her all too real journey and out the other side. She not only shows us how she survived covering the war in Iraq, but also how she navigated a medical system in which some professionals don?t always listen to their patients, but also shows us how the best ones do. She exposes a news business in which women journalists are sometimes judged not only by their skills but also on their looks. She reveals her truth, which while not always pretty, is ultimately beautiful. She also admits her fear of failure, something many women of our generation have had to conquer, although perhaps none of us quite so vividly and with the world watching. Kim?s book truly is a tribute to those who were lost that day, those who survived, and all those who help the survivors, including Kim. The truth of this war, indeed of any war, is an ugly one, but this book offers us a glimpse behind the curtain. It is vitally important that we look.
loading...
loading...
loading...