Fabulously entertaining and filled with the intriguing trivia of life, Irons in the Fire is another impeccably crafted collection of seven essays by John McPhee. His peerless writing-punctuated with a sharp sense of humor and fascinating detail-has earned him legions of fans across the country. Whether he's riding with a cattle brand inspector in wild and wide-open eastern Nevada, or following Plymouth Rock through its various sizes, shapes and resting places, McPhee provides the listener with an intimate glimpse into ordinary people and the extraordinary interests that shape their lives. These delightful pieces-including Irons in the Fire, Travels of the Rock, Release, In Virgin Forest, The Gravel Page, Duty of Care, and Rinard at Manheim-reveal the fascinating worlds hiding right under our noses. Narrator Nelson Runger's studied voice conveys McPhee's understated and thought-provoking writing. If you have never sampled McPhee's inspired prose, this audiobook will turn you into a lifelong fan.
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"I would read this book just for the cattle markings throughout the pages. The fact that it is provoking, quick and sharp, and discusses a topic that most people have long forgotten even/ ever existed, makes this book a diamond in a sea of bland, overly language-based narratives. "
— Heather (5 out of 5 stars)
" A peaceful, enjoyable book of meditative profiles of interesting scientists and specialists. Some lulls in interest, and really a set of magazine pieces, but McPhee doing McPhee. "
— Ted, 6/13/2013" Absorbing writing by McPhee as usual. "
— Rich, 2/17/2013" I read this book for my AP English Composition class as a study on essay writing. It was delightful. John McPhee writes about science and the environment the way most fiction authors write about love affairs and dreams. "
— Maeve, 8/22/2012" Just another absolutely great collection of essays from McPhee. Whenever we drive up the 5 freeway we think about the tires. And when I hike in the desert, I think about cattle rustlers. "
— peter, 6/8/2012" Typical Mcphee collection - and I intend that as a compliment. <br/> <br/>It's not <em>Hovings</em>, but it's close. "
— James, 2/18/2008" Just another absolutely great collection of essays from McPhee. Whenever we drive up the 5 freeway we think about the tires. And when I hike in the desert, I think about cattle rustlers. "
— peter, 5/16/2007" I read this book for my AP English Composition class as a study on essay writing. It was delightful. John McPhee writes about science and the environment the way most fiction authors write about love affairs and dreams. "
— Maeve, 3/30/2007John McPhee is the award-winning author of thirty books, including Annals of the Former World, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1999. Encounters with the Archdruid and The Curve of Binding Energy were nominated for National Book Award in the category of science. He received the Award in Literature from the Academy of Arts and Letters in 1977. His writing career began at Time magazine and led to his long association with the New Yorker, where he has been a staff writer since 1965.
Nelson Runger’s voice has been recorded in dozens of audio productions and won him two AudioFile Earphones Awards. His ability to convey difficult, scholarly material with eloquence and ease has earned him critical acclaim, including an AudioFile Best Voice in Biography & History for his reading of Nixon and Kissinger.