Those who believe that firefighters are fearless heroes, tough guys who confront every blazing inferno to rescue people threatened by death from the flames, will find that this is all true in this book. The author knows this firsthand, having served for 35 years with the Düsseldorf professional fire department. His 112 reasons for being a firefighter, however, show that the men in helmets are by no means film-worthy lone warriors, but rather team players whose everyday life consists of much more than just spectacular heroic deeds. Their missions are certainly dangerous, but they are often also quirky and can bring a smile. All of this is vividly and entertainingly depicted in this book through real-life missions. At the same time, readers will learn all sorts of interesting things about their 24-hour watch routine, where they cook, eat, clean, learn, train, sleep, and respond immediately to alarms together.