Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean

The book tells the tragic story of 13 smokejumpers who lost their lives in the 1949 Mann Gulch fire in Montana. The author examines the circumstances leading up to the disaster, the fire's aftermath, and its lasting impact. The narrative combines elements of reportage, biography, and nature writing, and it serves as a meditation on writing, grief, and the human character.

The 8597th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 42

Since this book was first published in 1992, there is a penalty of 28.8%. The age adjusted score is 29.9.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.