When It All Burns Audiobook By Jordan Thomas cover art

When It All Burns

Fighting Fire in a Transformed World

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When It All Burns

By: Jordan Thomas
Narrated by: Jordan Thomas
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A hotshot firefighter’s gripping firsthand account of a record-setting fire season

Eighteen of California’s largest wildfires on record have burned in the past two decades. Scientists recently invented the term “megafire” to describe wildfires that behave in ways that would have been nearly impossible just a generation ago, burning through winter, exploding in the night, and devastating landscapes historically impervious to incendiary destruction.

In When It All Burns, wildland firefighter and anthropologist Jordan Thomas recounts a single, brutal six-month fire season with the Los Padres Hotshots—the special forces of America’s firefighters. Being a hotshot is among the most difficult jobs on earth. Thomas viscerally renders his crew’s attempts to battle flames that are often too destructive to contain. He uncovers the hidden cultural history of megafires, revealing how humanity’s symbiotic relationship with wildfire became a war—and what can be done to change it back.

Thomas weaves ecology and the history of Indigenous peoples' oppression, federal forestry, and the growth of the fire industrial complex into a riveting narrative about a new phase in the climate crisis. It's an immersive story of community in the most perilous of circumstances, told with humor, humility, and affection.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing a map of the wildfires fought by Los Padres Hotshot Crew in California in 2001.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Jordan Thomas (P)2025 Penguin Audio Climate Change Disaster Relief Environment Science Social Sciences Witty

Critic reviews

“A riveting story of the costs of climate change and the realities of this terrifying work, as well as an examination of the history that got us here and the very real lives now at risk.”—New York Times

“Thomas brings us to the front lines, deftly pulling the reader to the edge of the fire in evocative writing that reads like a thriller… Thinking about fire has never been more essential—Thomas charts a map toward the future.”—Kirkus (starred review)

“Writing with exceptional verve, Thomas captures the furious intensity of working on the fire line. . . . Narrative nonfiction doesn’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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I listen to every new book related to climate change. So, I started this thinking it was a book I'd really get into from that perspective. And I did...but the way Jordan Thomas writes about his experiences in battle fire was really what grabbed me. Jordan uses his unique abilities for backcountry survival, tolerance for pain, determination and intellect to really inject himself into the subject. So many threads in this book - from the sad history of fire suppression and the specifics of logging practices (replanting trees for harvest, rather than naturally) to the personal toll this takes on fire crews and their situation (spoiler - they need to be paid A LOT more and certainly given the same health benefits as other full time civil servants...at least!). Lots to learn.

And then there is the author's humility and humanity coming through while delivering authentic accounts of fighting fires on the edge of human limits. He weaves the history, insightful commentary and bears more than alittle soul. Very unusual for me to find

Well worth the listen.

Smart, Authentic and Needed

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I came to know Jordan while he was living the story that would eventually become this book. I witnessed, from the sidelines, some of the deep work that went into it—the intense training, the physical, mental, and emotional toll he endured. Yet his story still caught me off guard, taking me on a provocatively thrilling and illuminating journey.

What’s truly special is that Thomas didn’t just observe—he immersed. He earned the coveted role of sawyer and the trust of his crew through sheer grit and discipline, carrying his chainsaw up steep ridgelines to cut fireline. I’ve hiked with him firsthand and struggled to keep up—even when he’s in flip-flops. That kind of physicality runs through the book, grounding the intellectual insight in lived experience. Drawing from that frontline work, he dissects conflicting narratives around climate change, politics, history, and even nature itself. When It All Burns is a hard-to-pause, adrenaline-filled, and intellectually expansive account of fire and the forces and faces that shape it.

It also sharpened my pencil as an observer and citizen scientist. Thomas weaves in practical cues—like how to identify a secondary forest that’s previously been clear-cut—that shift how you notice and interpret the landscape around you.

And while not all authors should narrate their own books, Thomas nailed it. His delivery is crisp and clear, with subtle intonation and emphasis that give the audio version that extra layer.

It’s a must-read/listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of where these fires are coming from, and how we can better fight fire—with fire.

Cutting Line, Carving Truth

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As an ecologist in California, I found Jordan Thomas's When It All Burns incredibly relatable. My experience in agricultural systems, particularly with invasive insects and plant health, has shown me firsthand how certain modern practices have impacted our natural landscapes over time. Much like the forest systems Jordan discusses, I’ve always envisioned transitioning my expertise toward forest resilience, a passion rooted in my master’s research on nutrient transport in forest ecosystems.

One of the key insights Jordan highlights is how Indigenous peoples around the world have long used fire to manage their environments, recognizing that we evolved alongside fire as a natural part of the landscape. Similarly, Indigenous agricultural practices have always viewed the land as a partner rather than a resource to be exploited, and this perspective is crucial as we move toward more sustainable practices. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the intricate connections between human activity and the natural world. Thank you, Jordan, for such an inspiring and insightful contribution.

A fascinating and informative view view into fire ecology, fire culture and, the politics. Surrounding fire.

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I’d like to start by saying I’m a former wildland firefighter which I spent 9 of my 15 years as a hotshot in the central Sierras. The book takes me back to my rookie year as a hotshot and the camaraderie and hardships of being on a hotshot crew. When It All Burns will take you through the life of a hotshot but also the fragile balance of fire within land management.

Life as a Hotshot and impact of fire within our lands.

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