Fall and Rise audiobook

History comes alive through the stories of those who lived it. Most of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on 9/11. It’s forever burned into our memories. But my memories and the hours and hours of TV coverage didn’t prepare me for hearing the stories within these pages, stories that often brought me to tears.There’s an entire generation who has come of age since then, a generation that has no memory of that day. Thankfully, for them, and for us, this book serves as a record of memories. The author doesn’t look into the why of 9/11 but tells us the stories of those who lived through that day, and, sadly, those that didn’t. This is a unique and intimate perspective that is often difficult to read, but it’s important that we do so, so we never forget.The narrative begins the night of Sept 10, an ordinary day, the last ordinary day for all of them. The individual stories of the passengers, the crew, the people who worked in the towers, the residents of Shanksville, PA, the Pentagon staff, as well as the first responders are told within these pages. This is narrative non-fiction at it’s best and the suspense builds because, although we know the fate of the airplane passengers and crew, we don’t learn the fate of all the others until the story unfolds. The result is a vivid account of history, putting human faces and personal stories to a tragedy before it simply becomes an event relegated to the history books.A powerful must read. I highly recommend the audio. It’s riveting.

This is a powerful, comprehensive account of the horrific terrorist attack on that fateful day almost 19 years ago. This may be the definitive, historical portrayal of the events of September 11, 2001. Those of us who were devastated and saddened by what they witnessed on live TV, will get a deeper understanding of events which will remain always seared into our minds. Those who were too young to comprehend or not yet born at the time should find this a book of historical importance. Years of meticulous research and interviews by author, Mitchell Zuckoff, provide us with gripping, heart wrenching personal accounts of some victims and survivors as well as a vivid, disturbing overall picture. As a journalist and historian, he remains objective, but for the reader, it is a horrifying, moving and highly emotional experience. He writes a coherent and comprehensive description of clusters of events occurring almost simultaneously at the World Trade Centre twin towers, the Pentagon, and Shanksville Pennsylvania. We get a well written and organized portrayal of people and events in this finely structured narrative. Through hindsight, much can be said about mistakes leading up to and during this unprecedented disaster. From the design of the Twin Towers structure, to failure to apprehend the terrorists before they boarded the planes, to lack of communication and coordination on the ground, and the fact that people were ordered to stay where they were in the buildings until it was too late for a rescue, which sadly lead to many more deaths. Of course, a threat of this nature had never occurred before in history and was not predicted. No one was prepared for an attack of this magnitude. It is also an account of amazing heroism, self-sacrifice, and the long road to recovery for those who survived, and the unbearable loss for the families of the victims. The world has changed in many ways since 911 which was a pivotal day in modern history. Recommended for anyone interested in a good objective book detailing a most tragic day which will be long remembered.

An overwhelming read for obvious reasons. Zuckoff accomplishes exactly what he set out to do with this book on 9/11: to preserve the emotions, images, and terror felt by survivors and onlookers, to remember the last moments of loved ones who did not return home, and to provide younger generations and future readers an understanding of the emotional impact of that day. One book cannot tackle every aspect of 9/11, however. The Pulitzer Prize winning 'The Looming Tower' details the geopolitical path that led to the rise of Osama Bin Laden and his group of extremists. But to expect an all encompassing book on 9/11 is not realistic. Enjoy Zuckoff's book for what it is; a well constructed, well written, and well researched narrative on the terrible events of a beautiful September day that changed the world forever. 5 stars. It's an important book.

4.5

The reader will NEVER forget after finishing this gripping account of the day that changed America forever. I was working at home that morning, switched to AOL for news and saw the North Tower in flames. Turned on TV, watched both towers fall, and stayed there essentially ‘til I flew to the shelter of Colorado’s mountains that weekend. The Pearl Harbor of my generation is captured with a journalist’s immediacy through backstory, immersive you-are-there narrative, and sobering aftermath.CINEMATICThe author, Redstone Professor of Narrative at Boston University, penned the Boston Globe’s lead story that day and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting for the effort. Here, he adds the perspective of nearly 20 years, through the cinematic lens of personal stories of victims, survivors, families, first responders, government officials, even the hijackers themselves. A list of those lost is included, and I found myself reading those names reverently as I sat transfixed by what transpired in the planes, the towers, the Pentagon, on the ground, and in the homes of those desperately awaiting word from loved ones. EVERY BOOKSELFFALL AND RISE is the best of the scores of 9/11 books I’ve read, and should be on every classroom, library and home bookshelf. 5/5 Pub date: 30 April 2019. Available on Amazon.

I’ll start by saying it is a big book, which kind of explains exactly how in depth the writer goes with each individuals lead up and happening of the worlds most detrimental terrorist attack. Fall & Rise is how the book is sectioned: FALL meaning the fall of the events which is also separated in two sections - the people in the air (on the flights) and the people on the ground (world trade centre & pentagon). RISE meaning the aftermath of the event - going through survivors stories and what happened afterward.It leaves you angry, sad and heartbroken. An incredible read.

Miałam momenty, kiedy myślałam, że już nie dam rady przeczytać ani jednej strony więcej. Jeden z najtrudniejszych do przejścia psychicznie reportaży, jakie czytałam.

The attacks of September 11, 2001 are one of those events that people never forget the details. It's one of those seminal moments in our lives; we never forget where we were, what we were doing. MSNBC replays their broadcast moment by moment on the succeeding years. (Or, at least they did til last year. I certainly hope they go back to broadcasting it this year and going forward.) The fascinating thing about watching the rebroadcast is that you can tell how scared...and professional, the news people were, despite the knowing that tens of thousands of people could have been killed that day, if the buildings hadn't been evacuated so well.There have been many books - both fiction and non-fiction - written about 9/11. Now Boston Globe journalist, Mitchell Zukoff, has written one of the definitive books about the attacks and the people behind it, affected by it, and horrified by it. His book, "Rise and Fall: The Story of 9/11", uses the lives of pilots, passengers, civil responders, Osama bin Ladin and the hijackers, as well as many others whose lives either ended or were changed irretrievably that day. One of the sadder stories is that of two friends and the young daughter of one from Boston. They traveled separately to Los Angeles; one woman on the American flight...and her friend and child on the United flight. All three were killed that day.In addition to looking at the deed and the people, Zuckoff examines the official response by our government agencies, both the FAA and law enforcement. Agencies didn’t work together and no one officially cared if students at flying academies in the South West and Florida only wanted to know how to fly straight ahead and not know how to take off and land. “No Fly” lists were not extensive and the names were routinely ignored.Zukoff does an excellent job of going behind the scenes and asking questions I hadn't heard addressed before. His writing is smooth and the book is a pleasure - despite the topic - to read. By the way, he recommends several other books on the subject, including "102 Minutes: The Unforgettable Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers" by New York Times reporters Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. It explains how the Towers were evacuated and more lives were saved.