THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE by Stephen Crane

This book is REQUIRED READING for any young man or woman looking to enter a life of action, especially on in the fire service or police department or the military.   The story of a young man who goes off to war with a head full of ideas about courage, fear, life, and death....most of which prove to be wrong.   He must un-learn ridiculous ideas about what it means to be a man and a soldier in order to become one.  Very much like what cops and firemen of every age must do.  Paperback, Dover Thrift Editions.