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The Deadly Gamble: A Post-Mortem of the World Trade Center Collapse
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, and yet most people still don't know the real reason the towers fell.
The Twin Towers should have remained standing. On September 11, 2001, our nation experienced a horrific tragedy. More than 2,700 lives were lost as the World Trade Centers collapsed into rubble, making it the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. But did the Twin Towers have to fail? Weren’t they designed to withstand the impact of a jet airliner? Why did the fires ignited by the jet engines burn hot enough to soften the structural steel beams, causing the upper floors to buckle inward and drop onto the lower floors, shattering them into dust? This book exposes the deadly conflict of interest that led to shortcuts in fire safety features during the construction of the World Trade Center. Motivated by greed and hubris, someone took a deadly gamble—and lost. Dr. Richard E. Klein, Associate Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois, shares the compelling story of his personal experience with the World Trade Center and its structural engineers. He explains technical concepts in a clear way, using analogies and simple sketches. In a logical progression of engineering concepts such as aerodynamic drag, wind-induced sway, and feedback systems, he lays the groundwork for understanding how a chain reaction of arrogant decisions led to a shocking and indisputable conclusion. Through The Deadly Gamble , Professor Klein delivers a powerful historical lesson for our the danger of trusting people in positions of responsibility to make responsible decisions.
The Twin Towers should have remained standing. On September 11, 2001, our nation experienced a horrific tragedy. More than 2,700 lives were lost as the World Trade Centers collapsed into rubble, making it the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. But did the Twin Towers have to fail? Weren’t they designed to withstand the impact of a jet airliner? Why did the fires ignited by the jet engines burn hot enough to soften the structural steel beams, causing the upper floors to buckle inward and drop onto the lower floors, shattering them into dust? This book exposes the deadly conflict of interest that led to shortcuts in fire safety features during the construction of the World Trade Center. Motivated by greed and hubris, someone took a deadly gamble—and lost. Dr. Richard E. Klein, Associate Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois, shares the compelling story of his personal experience with the World Trade Center and its structural engineers. He explains technical concepts in a clear way, using analogies and simple sketches. In a logical progression of engineering concepts such as aerodynamic drag, wind-induced sway, and feedback systems, he lays the groundwork for understanding how a chain reaction of arrogant decisions led to a shocking and indisputable conclusion. Through The Deadly Gamble , Professor Klein delivers a powerful historical lesson for our the danger of trusting people in positions of responsibility to make responsible decisions.
188 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 4, 2020
Apparently the TSA was at fault before it even existed.
"The hijacked airliners were subject to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening of passengers. The policies and practices of the TSA obviously failed. Passengers who could have otherwise intervened were disarmed, rendered impotent, and under behavioral protocols to remain passive and certainly nonconfrontational. "
Did the author experience an alternate 9/11? The TSA didn't exist until November of 2001. And did he not hear of Flight 93? With these examples at the very beginning of the book at the introduction, it becomes very distracting to continue to read. What else is so very factually incorrect. Very sloppy writing and editing.
"The hijacked airliners were subject to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening of passengers. The policies and practices of the TSA obviously failed. Passengers who could have otherwise intervened were disarmed, rendered impotent, and under behavioral protocols to remain passive and certainly nonconfrontational. "
Did the author experience an alternate 9/11? The TSA didn't exist until November of 2001. And did he not hear of Flight 93? With these examples at the very beginning of the book at the introduction, it becomes very distracting to continue to read. What else is so very factually incorrect. Very sloppy writing and editing.
November 11, 2019
This book is a must read for anyone concerned about the causes of the Twin Tower collapse on 9/11. This author, a PhD Mechanical Engineer, visited the Towers after they were constructed but before the interiors were finished out. He discovered things that lawyers told him at the time not to share with authorities. Now he is retired and has decided to share this knowledge with world before he moves on to the next life..
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews