Chemistry of Fire

"Gonzales (Flight 232), a former National Geographic feature writer, proves himself a chronicler par excellence of nature—including of the human variety—in this excellent essay collection. The psychological nuance and vivid detail throughout will dazzle readers."—Publishers Weekly starred review, July 2020In 1989, Laurence Gonzales was a young writer with his first book of essays, The Still Point, just published by the University of Arkansas Press. Imagine his surprise, one winter day, to receive a letter from none other than Kurt Vonnegut. "The excellence of your writing and the depth of your reporting saddened me, in a way," Vonnegut wrote, "reminding me yet again what a tiny voice facts and reason have in this era of wrap-around, mega-decibel rock-and-roll."Several books, many articles, and a growing list of awards later, Gonzales — known for taking us to enthralling extremes – is still writing...