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Liked It “This was an absolutely amazing book. Not just because of the true-life accounts of many who survived (or, in many cases, didn't), but mostly because the authors pull no punches in telling the story of 9/11/01. |
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“A heart breaking book that documents through interviews, transcripts, 911 calls and voice mails what the struggle to survive was like inside the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. Contains documented explanations for why what was thought to be impossible took place. An emotional read. ”
altarasabine wrote this review Saturday, November 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Ingrozitor si haotic”
Irina Luiza B wrote this review Thursday, August 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“ This was an absolutely amazing book. Not just because of the true-life accounts of many who survived (or, in many cases, didn't), but mostly because the authors pull no punches in telling the story of 9/11/01.
Jennifer Wardrip wrote this review Sunday, July 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This isn't a book that bashes the government, both local and national, but it does tell both the good and the bad, the positive and the negative. While I was uplifted and encouraged by so many examples of human kindness, I was devastated to read that so very many deaths could have possibly been avoided, if there had just been better communication between political-minded departments.
Also, the fact that so many shortcuts were taken in building the World Trade Center, simply to create more rentable space, shows just how far people will go to make a buck. It saddens me that so many lives might have been saved if there were more staircases, if they had been spread out more, if they had had proper fireproofing.
If you're interested at all in the story that is 9/11, then this is a must-read. ”
“This book recounts the story of the people within the Twin Towers on 9/11 along with the many other firefighters and policemen who aided the rescue efforts. Most of this book describes the survivors stories as well as those who led the rescue in the towers. Different phone calls and radio transmissions are put into this book as a way of giving the reader a more descriptive and detailed insight of those events. Although the release of these materials were considered controversial, they enhance the book and make it a must read book.”
Craig W wrote this review Wednesday, March 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Ellen R said: 5 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Monday, March 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Even after almost 8 years since this unspeakable act of terrorism I found it very difficult to read this book even though it was obviously well researched and at times very uplifting. Knowing that some of the stories included were of various people's last seconds on earth brought me to tears on more than one occasion. But, I also learned so much about the buildings that I never knew before. There were only 3 staircases per building, none of which were 'fire safe' staircases, mostly because that would cut down on rentable space. Some of the elevator shafts went for 78 floors without an opening (which has since been changed in the fire code to an opening every 3 floors). Police, firemen and the port authority basically had no communication between departments. People standing right next to each other manning the command post gave totally opposite instructions to those unable to escape their offices. Of course, nothing of this magnitude had ever been imagined so a certain amount of miscommunication had to be expected.
The stories of heroism and unbelievable bravery bring the book up from horrific tragedy to wonderment at what human beings are capable of. I am glad that I read it and I highly recommend it. But I cannot get the image out of my head of the man who refused to leave his wheel-chair-bound friend behind and head for safety himself.
”
“An eye-opening account of the terror inside the towers.”
Judi wrote this review Monday, February 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A compelling and harrowing account of what happened inside the Twin Towers on 9/11. Using emails, voice mail messages, and survivor stories, the writers create a riveting look at that day. Although we know the tragic outcome, you can't help but read it. It serves as a dedication to those who survived and those who didn't.”
WodieGirl wrote this review Wednesday, November 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was definitely an interesting book, and I learned a lot about 9/11 that I didn't know before. It took me awhile to get through because some of the content is technical, like about the fireproofing and construction of the building. I liked how the authors used interviews and information from both survivors and non-survivors. Very good read.”
KSUDaniL wrote this review Friday, May 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was a devastating book that leaves you feeling incredibly sad, awed and shaken at what happened on September 11, 2001 when the twin towers fell and changed America forever. Dwyer and Flynn took information that came out for 2 years in the aftermath of the tragedy coming from email, cell phone and voice messages that were sent out as it unfolded as well as from eye witness and survivor accounts, telephone and radio transcripts as well as a lot of history of the construction of the famous towers makes for an incredible account of what it must have felt like on that fateful day for so many. The book does not go into terrorism or politics. It is simply and strikingly the account of what happened from the time frame of when the first plane hit until the second tower fell 102 minutes later. The reader gets to know many of the people personally, many of which live and most of which die. You see the breakdown in communications with the brave firemen and policemen – many of which may have gotten out if they had known their building was imminently going to collapse (most people didn’t even think about the towers falling. It was not even in their sense of reality that they could). You get to know the civilians who helped scores of other people out only to perish themselves. You read of simply incredible survival stories of people who somehow lived at the levels of impact and your heart cries with the hundreds of people in the floors above the impact who never had a chance, but had to wait nearly an hour and a half before dying in a collapsing building. You read of the many who witnessed people who felt they had no choice but to jump from the horrors they had to get away from and fell like rain on the ground below. You read of the design flaws (no outside stairwells in the upper portion of the towers to save space, untested fire protection on the walls, etc.) and how divine luck got some people out and one misstep or the heeding of bad advice (“Go back upstairs, it’s contained in the other building”, “stay where you are, we are coming for you”) led to so many people’s demise. And yet of the 14,000 people in those two towers, it is incredible that all but just over 2,700 (as horrible as that statistic is) lived to tell the story. It is a riveting and an unflinching true account of a tragedy beyond our scope of comprehension. It is one of those events that you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when it took place (in my little apartment, with Ben, sleeping in late, getting an email from Lieveke in Belgium that I didn’t understand regarding it so I turned on the tv, watching in horror, feeling scared, starting to cry, not wanting to go to work at the mall as there was word more attacks could hit public places). I will never forget my reaction to seeing the plane go into the 2nd tower, and then groaning in disbelief as the towers started to crumble within themselves. I was so sure and so horrified that 10,000+ people were still inside and it was unbearable to watch the images yet impossible not to. My heart nearly exploded as I watched it unfold on television and immediately mourned for the loss of so many, and being scared that our country could be under attack in a whole variety of ways that might not stop as the tragedy continued in a field in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. What a horrible day in our country. It was so important that this story be accurately told and both authors did a tremendous job. I had heard this account was one of the best and I do believe the critics were correct. I will never forget it. ”
Autumnseer wrote this review Saturday, March 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
