The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001

I've read many books on 9/11, but stayed away from the conspiracy books, and I have to say that this new book (just released last night at midnight, 9/10/2019), is probably the best one I've ever read. And I'm only about a third of the way through. I stayed up late last night to read it.One of the things I like most about it is it's format. "Oral History". That format has been around for awhile and is quite popular. If you read the "Oral History of SNL", you know what it's like.It's written in a flowing conversation involving a hundred different people. Each paragraph is a different person (a survivor, a witness, President Bush, a fireman, a deli worker, etc. etc.) adding to the conversation, which is laid out in order of events. So where one person starts to tell about something, it is picked up by the next person in the narrative. So you get multiple viewpoints of the same events.And since it's not written as "just the facts" kind of narrative, it's from people who lost loved ones in the attack, and from survivors, it tends to be an extremely emotional read. It transports you back to the time and places of 9/11/2001."If there's just one book to read....." about 9/11, I highly suggest this one!

This is a powerful, vivid and emotional recounting of 9/11. Garrett seamlessly weaves together a range of voices, ensuring the history of one of America's most powerful days is heard from all perspective.The book is a must read to capture not only the history of the day but to be reminded (or learn, for younger generations) of the emotions woven into these historic and tragic events.

I cried my way through the book, while reliving that terrible day. And I mourned for America, again. Remember and never forget.

I pre ordered this book after I read the Politico story by the same author. The Politico story was tightly focused on the people aboard Air Force One on 9/11. The book is much broader in scope. The author takes you to the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, The White House, Air Force Once, and many other places.The anecdotes from people directly involved in the events of 9/11 are well selected and skillfully edited. They bring you back to what it felt like on that day, and much more, since most of us were not at ground zero. (Thankfully!) The author also skillfully avoids any political polarization, this is a story about the events of the day with no opinions injected.Despite the fact that the major events of the day are already known, you won't want to put this down. People too young to remember that day would do well to read this. Essential reading to get a better understanding of what really happened that day. Not what you call a "fun" read, but there is enough heroism and hope contained between the covers that you still feel better for having read it, despite the scope of the tragedy.BTW, if you have not read the Politico Piece by the same name, you can still find it on the internet, and it is still worth reading. It's tight focus on Air Force One gives it a little different feel, and it contains details that were edited from from the book.

I’m only part way into the book but so far it’s very well done. I’m a fan of the way the material is presented, makes it very relatable and easy to follow. It is difficult to read in that I find myself on the verge of tears. I had to stop reading it at work because it made me so sad. I hope many will read it. It’s important that we don’t forget what happened, and what’s important, in a world that’s become so cynical.

I can't remember another reading experience like this. Whatever your own experience of 9/11 was - and for all of us who lived through it, we remember where we were, what we were doing - Garrett takes that lived experience and makes the day come alive through the stories of hundreds of Americans, and makes you feel like your memories blend with those of the people whose stories are told on these pages.I'd read the original magazine article that formed the basis of the book, and I remember thinking what a revelation it was to hear from those closest to the President what that day was like from their perspective. To take that and turn it into this book - with all the nuance, drama, emotion, loss, love - is an astounding achievement. I feel lucky to have read this on 9/11, and cannot recommend it highly enough.

I was drawn to this book because I have sensed the lessening of feeling in observing the anniversary of September 11 as the years have gone on. This is natural, as I know from my own lack of interest in Pearl Harbor Day which was so long before I was born. However, 9/11 wasn't quite 20 years ago and I still feel vivid remembrance every year. So I was really interested when I read a review in the paper, featuring excerpts of the people's oral stories which make up the text.By presenting people's experiences in chronological order, with no other commentary other than that needed to place a context for orientation, this is that unusual creation - an unbiased history. They are grouped in logical sequences so that a section from people evacuating the North Tower will be followed by a section from firefighters gearing up and then one from air traffic controllers struggling to understand what just happened. In this way, the sequence of events unfolds so that the day begins to make sense in a way it didn't when events were unfolding before our eyes.I was fascinated by the parts behind the scenes such as on Air Force One or the air traffic controllers or inside reporters thoughts, which were new to me. But the entire thing was gripping and conveyed the reality of just what an act of war that terrorist attack was - in a way that I couldn't take in when I was one of those watching in confused horror on that fateful day, struggling to come to grips with what was happening.This book brought back my familiar feelings from that time while stitching together events and giving me the broader understanding through which I could both understand better and honor more fully the incredible losses and heroism we experienced. All through using only these oral testimonies. Extraordinary.

I was so excited to have received a copy of this from the publisher. It had been on my radar for sometime and it really did not disappoint.This book is beyond special. The first thing you notice is the structure and layout. I love how different it is. Graff begins the book on the day prior to September 11th 2001, and then continues into the weeks and months following the heartbreaking tragedy. The book was put together so brilliantly. It’s the story of everyone - the victims, the survivors, the families waiting for news, other pilots, the politicians, the emergency services, the American in space and so on. It was not just one person’s experience, it’s the memories of hundreds of Americans. This was not a book I could get through in one sitting. It was incredibly emotional, and heart breaking. I dipped in and out of the book alongside reading another book. There were also photos included from the site, flight plans etc, and the index was really well done - making it easy to look up names of survivors, victims etc mentioned in the book. If I had to try and sum this book up in 3 words, they would be: Powerful, terrifying and heart breaking.

This was a very, very harrowing and shocking read and so it should be, I guess. We shouldn't ever be less than appalled by this day's events. It was horrendous and remains so.....It told me a lot I hadn't already been aware of, either. I had no idea those flight numbers had been retired from service, that 2 key players (a police commissioner and Speaker of the House) would be later imprisoned for unrelated criminal activities, the images firefighters gave us of having to drive across body parts and all the women's shoes that were left behind; also the fact there was part of a federal armoury based in one of the towers so along with fire and building collapse to contend with, there were bullets flying, too !! The perspective from the International Space Station was highly fascinating to read about as well.Reading some of the passages by people as it happened actually made me sweaty as I read.....you KNOW what happens next but they had no idea at the time and you just can't imagine how appalling it had to be. Plus those in the thick of it, whether on Flight 93 or in the Twin Towers or the Pentagon knew less that we all did, even here in the UK, watching it occur on television. For much of the day I knew more about what was going on than Bush did !! And personnel in the Pentagon had no idea their building had been hit by an incoming jet; if they WERE aware at all, it was assumed it was a truck bomb that had driven into it !! I smiled to myself when a Secret Service guy phoned his wife and wouldn't tell her where he was heading with the President but she knew as she'd seen it on television !!Brian Sweeney's voicemail for his wife just broke my heart and had me sobbing, as did Mark Bingham phoning his mum and saying, "Mom, this is Mark Bingham"......Cathy Pavelec thanking every firefighter she encountered on her way to safety, Rick Rescorla's call to his wife, the dreadful first firefighter's death-Danny Suhr, Sean Rooney's words of comfort to his wife. She wrote about not wanting to go to bed and sleep that night because, until she did so, the day was still one she'd shared with him. Just so devastatingly sad. Also gutted to have googled them both only to learn she died in a plane crash in 2009 on her way to award a scholarship in Sean's name in their home town.....you have to wonder at the godawful things that happen to good people. I felt horrible for the poor ticket agent Vaughn Allex, too, who was basically sent to coventry by many coworkers once they realised he'd ushered 2 of the hijackers onto their flight, as they barely made it.....like the poor sod had a clue ? That was spiteful of them.A worker realised the ash all over them was basically part of a building along with human remains......at the time I knew a woman whose hubby worked for the NYPD. When he eventually returned home that night, I recall her telling us he wouldn't let his little dogs get too close cos' he was also covered in the same dreaded dust.I looked up the Pentagon Memorial and it's a lovely tribute and so is The Tower of Voices out in Pennsylvania. This is definitely a book to keep, a real piece of history.

A book on such a devastating day perhaps shouldn't get 5 stars but it was a wonderful testimony to the courage and bravery of the American people. I come from Northern Ireland and we lost 3000 men women and children in 50 yrs. To lose 3000 people in hours is unreal. I cried reading the book because I could feel emotion in every page and even though it's the saddest book you will ever read I felt privileged to read it. Total admiration for the American people . Buy the book you will thank God every day you are alive.

After reading a gripping extract of this book in the Times I ordered it. I rarely buy non fiction books as they can be hard going. As is the subject matter of this book. However this is absolutely fascinating, if a bit harrowing in parts. It’s a time line, beginning as the bombers boarded the planes in the early morning, a gathering of hundreds of accounts from victims, their families, emergency services, Government employers, strangers passing by, etc who were all involved directly or indirectly in the terrible events of this day. It is actually a very positive account that shows above all the kindness and heroism of the people involved.

It seems that everybody remembers where they were when JFK was assassinated, and when the Twin Towers fell in New York. Some events change our perception of our world. 9/11 certainly did. Pointless seeking to pick out "highlights" from such a book as this. Each memory is a highlight and life-changing for the one who experienced it firsthand. For some strange reason, the story recounted of an 11 month old daughter, who lost her mother, stayed with me. Of how the young child became quieter, "obviously missing her mother" as she was still loved, fed and bathed each day afterwards. How does such a child process such a loss, beyond all words?Here we have the words of others, very many, covering the whole day in each and every area, and a big thank you to Garrett M. Gaff and his many associates and friends who gathered all these memories together.