Too Many Good Men by Captain Michael Donovan Offers a Raw, Firsthand Account of Brotherhood, Survival, and Duty, Dedicated to Preserving the Memory of the Fallen
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. — In solemn commemoration of the upcoming 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, Gatekeeper Press announces the release of Too Many Good Men: A Firefighter’s Memoir of 9/11, Brotherhood, and What Remains by retired Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Captain Michael Donovan.
Opening with forewords by former FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and current FDNY Chief of Department John M. Esposito, Too Many Good Men takes readers directly onto the front lines of Ground Zero. Donovan delivers an unvarnished narrative of survival, loss, and the enduring resilience of the FDNY—from the relentless arson "war years" of the 1970s through the tragic events of 9/11 and its long-term aftermath.
Born and raised on Staten Island, Donovan spent 30 years living in Massapequa Park, Long Island, before moving to his current residences in Ludlow, Vermont, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. His 9/11 experience was shaped by a twist of fate: reassigned to FDNY Headquarters, Donovan was drafted on the morning of September 11 by Chief of Department Peter Ganci to help establish the incident command post at the World Trade Center.
Too Many Good Men captures the harrowing moments of the attack—including Donovan being thrown down a garage ramp by the blast wave of the South Tower's collapse—and details the heart-wrenching loss of close friends and mentors, including Chief Ganci and legendary Captain Timmy Stackpole.
Donovan was driven to write the book by a deep desire to ensure that those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11—and the hundreds who have succumbed to World Trade Center-related illnesses since—are never forgotten.
I wanted to make sure all who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and in the years afterwards are honored. I also wanted my young grandchildren to know who I was, what my brothers in the FDNY stood for, and what we did during and after the World Trade Center disaster.
— Retired FDNY Captain Michael Donovan
Written for history enthusiasts, biography readers, high school and college students, as well as the global first responder community, Too Many Good Men serves as both a vital historical document and a deeply personal legacy.
All author profits from the sale of the book will be donated directly to the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Bravest Scholarship Fund to support the families of firefighters.
Too Many Good Men: A Firefighter’s Memoir of 9/11, Brotherhood, and What Remains is available everywhere books are sold online.
About the Author
Michael Donovan joined the FDNY in 1979, serving through the city’s high-volume arson years and rising through the ranks to become Captain. A veteran of Engine 290 in Brooklyn and key leader in the post-9/11 rebuilding of Squad 18, Donovan spent over two decades serving the people of New York City. Raised on Staten Island, he currently resides in Ludlow, Vermont, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
Michael Donovan joined the FDNY in 1979, serving through the city’s high-volume arson years and rising through the ranks to become Captain. A veteran of Engine 290 in Brooklyn and key leader in the post-9/11 rebuilding of Squad 18, Donovan spent over two decades serving the people of New York City. Raised on Staten Island, he currently resides in Ludlow, Vermont, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
