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Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama that Unfolded in the Skies Over America on 9/11
by
Lynn Spencer
A nonfiction thriller chronicling moment to moment the riveting untold story of the drama that unfolded in the skies over America on 9/11 as the FAA, the military, and thousands of commercial pilots called on all of their rigorous training and their reserves of patriotism and courage to improvise a heroic response to the first attacks on American soil since Pearl Harbor an
...moreHardcover, 320 pages
Published
June 3rd 2008
by Free Press
(first published 2008)
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Oh, my - I guess this is what happens when you check out books without looking at the subtitle.
I thought this was going to be something about history, but it's actually a very dry, fairly technical book about aviation on September 11. The author is herself a pilot, and reading the book almost gives you the sensation of being a flight controller - she throws out about eight billion events and facts, and you just run out of time for any "drama in the skies." This was dreadfully boring.
I thought this was going to be something about history, but it's actually a very dry, fairly technical book about aviation on September 11. The author is herself a pilot, and reading the book almost gives you the sensation of being a flight controller - she throws out about eight billion events and facts, and you just run out of time for any "drama in the skies." This was dreadfully boring.
A behind the seens look at the pilots and ground control that dealt with the events of 9/11. The most interesting section was the plane that was grounded after the first two planes hit the towers. The airport closed and no planes were allowed to take off. It was supposed to have taken off, but was 30 minutes late. There were 4 young Arab men in first class. When the plane was not allowed to take off they disappeared and we don't know what happened to them.
The military was not in place to stop an...more
The military was not in place to stop an...more
This is a pretty good book with one of the worst titles ever--which may be why the book, published in 2008, is already out of print.
The book recounts the events of 9/11 from the perspective of people in the aviation industry (pilots, etc.), air-traffic controllers, and air-defense responders. It's a taut account filled with great details, quite a few of which I had not seen reported before. I came away somewhat appalled at the level of confusion that initially existed that day, but also impress...more
The book recounts the events of 9/11 from the perspective of people in the aviation industry (pilots, etc.), air-traffic controllers, and air-defense responders. It's a taut account filled with great details, quite a few of which I had not seen reported before. I came away somewhat appalled at the level of confusion that initially existed that day, but also impress...more
How the aviation industry/military handled the 9/11 crisis. Stories of many commercial pilots and military pilots on that fateful day, and how they reacted to the unprecedented situation. Confusion reigns.
Purchased from audible.com. I enjoyed most of this book. It is a gripping telling of the confusion of the air traffic controllers, pilots, and airlines on the morning of 9/11/01. Unfortunately, the stories of those involved are not completely accurate. Here is an article in the NY Times from members of the 9/11 commission. They contend that the descriptions of the military response are inaccurate and that the falsehoods were known when the book was written.
Nevertheless, Fascinating view into how...more
Nevertheless, Fascinating view into how...more
A nonfiction thriller chronicling moment to moment the riveting untold story of the drama that unfolded in the skies over America on 9/11 as the FAA, the military, and thousands of commercial pilots called on all of their rigorous training and their reserves of patriotism and courage to improvise a heroic response to the first attacks on American soil since Pearl Harbor and contend with a whole new kind of war in the skies.
Listen to Touching History on your smartphone, notebook or desktop comput...more
Listen to Touching History on your smartphone, notebook or desktop comput...more
I picked up this book after I heard the author do a reading from it at Barnes & Noble a couple of months ago. She wanted to share how 9/11 was experienced by combat and commercial pilots.
The beginning of the book is full of procedures and acronyms. While she does explain everything in layman's terms, it comes across as a bit clinical. Of course, once the attacks actually start, things get more "exciting" (if you could call it that).
Even though I watched the events of that day unfolding on CN...more
The beginning of the book is full of procedures and acronyms. While she does explain everything in layman's terms, it comes across as a bit clinical. Of course, once the attacks actually start, things get more "exciting" (if you could call it that).
Even though I watched the events of that day unfolding on CN...more
Unique perspective on 9/11 -- not the story of the burning buildings, rescues on the ground, politics, or the passengers taking matters into their own hands on the flight that went down in PA. Instead, it's all about air traffic control and the effort to rapidly (a) assess what was happening and (b) regain control of the skies.
The book reads very quickly and gives an appreciation for what a confusing, overwhelming set of events it was in real time. People had to make instant, consequential decis...more
The book reads very quickly and gives an appreciation for what a confusing, overwhelming set of events it was in real time. People had to make instant, consequential decis...more
I read this book because I've been fascinated with the way that the air traffic control system in the United States managed, in about three hours, to entirely clear its airspace of all non-military or non-essential airtraffic, a function never contemplated for the ATC system. The improvisation and professionalism required to do this is pretty amazing, and, while one cannot say it went really smoothly, it worked about as well as anyone could possibly expect, with no serious mishaps despite the nu...more
As a certified news-a-holic I thought I had read everything, seen every documentary and Discovery Channel special on 9/11. I didn't think there were any storylines that I wouldn't have at least heard of. Boy was I wrong.
This book is amazing. A true inside look at the minute to minute happenings between the military and civilian leadership, the airlines, the airports, and dozens of actual pilots who were in the skies on the morning of Sept 11th.
This is a must-read book.
This book is amazing. A true inside look at the minute to minute happenings between the military and civilian leadership, the airlines, the airports, and dozens of actual pilots who were in the skies on the morning of Sept 11th.
This is a must-read book.
Oct 30, 2011
Michael Lucas
marked it as to-read
I discovered this book while working on another assignment for my Library Science class. My older sister is a flight attendant, and was flying for American Airlines on 9/11. Her plane had taken off from LaGuardia airport in the early morning of 9/11 and she was on her way to Houston, Texas. I'm very interested in learning more of that day, and better understanding all aspects of the tragic events that unfolded in those few hours.
This book reminded me of that scene in "Titanic" when the lookouts see the iceberg and they start meneouvering to get away from it. For a few seconds I felt that they may actually not hit it, even though I knew they had. While reading this book I had the same feeling. The author infuses events that we've head of before with such a level of detail and humanity, that for a second you are wishing, almost feeling, that things turn out differently.
Caught Lynn Spencer on C-Span moderating a panel of people spotlighted in this book, and was captivated - so I checked the book out of the library.
Ms. Spencer tells the stories of the commerical pilots, air traffic controllers, FAA, fighter jet pilots, and miltary personnel on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
It was fascinating, gripping - and uplifting to read about the good people who responded to an unforeseen attack.
Ms. Spencer tells the stories of the commerical pilots, air traffic controllers, FAA, fighter jet pilots, and miltary personnel on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
It was fascinating, gripping - and uplifting to read about the good people who responded to an unforeseen attack.
Very interesting book! It was fascinating to re-live the moments of 9/11, and to remember how unusual that event was. After reading the book, I am surprised that there was not a "friendly-fire" accident with all the disconnected communications going on.
There were certainly many acronyms, that were hard to keep straight. Coordinating the agencies certainly was a nightmare. I definitely recommend this book.
There were certainly many acronyms, that were hard to keep straight. Coordinating the agencies certainly was a nightmare. I definitely recommend this book.
Hats off to Spencer for organizing such complicated information and taking entities such as the FAA, NORAD and NEADS beyond the acronyms and spelling out exactly what happened in the air on 9/11. She definitely picks and chooses the "stars" of this story, but she is successful in taking actions and organizations out of the abstract and allowing the "everyday joe" to mentally organize this story.
A must read for every American. We live in a time where someone must be blamed for everything that happens. This book gives a blow by blow account of what happened in our skies on 9-11 will make you realize that "we" meaning all of us were not prepared for what happened. Unfortunately, i don't know if we are prepared for what will come next.
Interesting to see an insiders view of the disorganization initiated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I gave the book 4 stars because of the perspective it was able to share and not 5 because of the writing style which was dryly chronological. The style was nice in that it seemed to avoid a bias, but was, as a result, less engaging.
Aug 11, 2011
Lisa Rathbun
added it
Very interesting story told from the perspective of the air traffic controllers, other pilots, and the National Guard. Sometimes I got a little confused by all the different people and organizations, but it took me right back to 9/11 and the confusion and fear people were feeling.
This book is really great. It paints a very very very dramatic picture about what took place on 9/11. This book is a little hard too follow. It has so many characters that is why I am not giving it a 5. This book is geared for people probably 12 and up. any way I recommend it.
Another insider book, covering the aviation side of 9/11/2001: the story of commercial airline crews, FAA controllers, NORAD commanders and controllers, and USAF fighter pilots who flew that day. Fascinating, even if you don't know a lot about aviation.
A riveting telling of the story of 9/11 that was never reported: what was going on in the FAA and on the airplanes that were in the air when the hijackings happened. The reporting alone is worth the read -- it's all on the record. Great work.
What a great account of 9-11. Instead of focusing on what happened on the ground, Ms. Spencer gives the account of the day from the perspective of pilots and controllers (both military and civilian). An excellent read!
Absolutely fascinating. I highly, highly recommend this book. C-span had a discussion, a couple of years ago, with Ms. Spencer, FAA controllers, and some of the pilots-it was long but so interesting.
Fascinating story but could have been better written. Still, a very compelling read for anyone wanting to know more of what transpired from the pilots', FAA, ATC, and others involved's points of view.
amazing how well different groups were able to communicate considering that the different communication systems didn't work together! Gave me a new feeling of respect for the air traffic controllers.
It is so strange to talk about liking a book that covers the events of 9/11, but this book is riveting. While we watched so much of the day as it happened, the people Ms. Spencer covers in this book not only watched, but had to deal with the situation and ignore the horror/shock they were feeling. In addition to keeping the planes in the air safe, air traffic controllers, civilian & military, had to try to communicate with one another despite systems that didn't synch up, and try to devise p...more
Gives you a good sense of what panic the country was going through on 9/11. I didn't realize what a monumental task it was to clear the skies in the U.S.
A nonfiction thriller chronicling moment to moment the riveting untold story of the drama that unfolded in the skies over America on 9/11 as the FAA, the military, and thousands of commercial pilots called on all of their rigorous training and their reserves of patriotism and courage to improvise a heroic response to the first attacks on American soil since Pearl Harbor and contend with a whole new kind of war in the skies.
Interesting book from a pilot's point of view of what was going on during the 9/11 attacks. I'm hoping our military is better coordinated now.
Couldn't put it down! It was unique perspective on the morning of 9/11 as experienced by pilots, air traffic control, and the military.
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Jul 03, 2012 05:47pm