Cassie H. (Irishcoda) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 88 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This was an emotional book to read not only because of the tales of courage and bravery but also because there were design flaws in the building that probably contributed to the deaths of more people. A very good read!
Ivy (PBSmaven) -
Helpful Score: 4
Although I know all too well the story of what happened on 9/11 this book 102 Minutes really puts it in perspective. The story takes you from beginning to end of the tragedy as well as the inside stories of a lot of the victim and survivors and their families. As you read this book you actually feel as if you're there with them all. I couldn't put this book down. I know most people know the story and have lived through the tragedy but to me this book is a must read for everyone.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
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.
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 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.
Sherry G. (Shervivor) -
Helpful Score: 3
I am fascinated with 9/11 survivor stories so this book was right up my alley. The book describes what happened during the 102 minutes after the first plane hit the North Tower. I think the book also insinuates that more people could have survived if there hadn't been major communication breakdowns between the FDNY and the NYPD. I did not realize that these were dueling agencies with a lot of history of uncommunicative behavior. The book shares the stories of individuals that were inside the towers and made it to safety, devoting a lot of time on the last few survivors that made it out of both buildings. These were the people that were in or near the impact zones. I think the most interesting revelation for me was that there was an open stairway in the South Tower that very few people managed to escape by. Due to communication issues this information was never relayed to the people stuck on the top floors of that tower.
I greatly enjoyed this book because it does not delve into conspiracy theories but gives the details of the human struggle to survive. There is also some history about the towers regarding building codes at the time they were built. I would reccomend this book to anyone that can tolerate reading about that day in sometimes gruesome detail.
I greatly enjoyed this book because it does not delve into conspiracy theories but gives the details of the human struggle to survive. There is also some history about the towers regarding building codes at the time they were built. I would reccomend this book to anyone that can tolerate reading about that day in sometimes gruesome detail.
Jen A. (MommyJen) -
Helpful Score: 3
great accounts of people inside the trade centers that got out and others who didn't. Sad, but well worth the read.
Tish O. (tish) -
Helpful Score: 3
having been a native NY'er and now in NJ for 32 years,the Twin Towers were a part of my lndscape of life.i remember the place i was when i saw the second building was hit...i watched it on TV as many of you did.
this book in no way "cheapens" what happened that day. the heroics of the professionals and regular folks is a highpoint.
you will find out many things that went wrong. communications is what went wrong.please read this book and you will understand.
this book in no way "cheapens" what happened that day. the heroics of the professionals and regular folks is a highpoint.
you will find out many things that went wrong. communications is what went wrong.please read this book and you will understand.
Vicki S. (curledupwithabook) -
Helpful Score: 2
A book that reveals the structural deficiencies that led to the early collapse of the twin towers. Both an historical analysis of the building of the towers and a heart-wrenching account of the human toll that resulted from political and economic decisions made decades before.
The authors do not look to place blame on anyone but the terrorists for the deaths of those innocents killed in the airplanes or the towers' impact zones, but fact by fact they show how early decisions made by politicians, contractors, and Port Authority administrators during the planning and building of the twin towers doomed almost everyone who died after the initial impacts. Through interviews of survivors and witnesses, Dwyer and Flynn reconstruct the routine pre-attack busyness of people planning for meetings, arriving at their desks, going for coffee and making the hundreds of simple daily decisions that, on this day, are of far greater consequence. The authors provide personal histories and more current details of the lives of those connected to the towers through work or rescue, making the outcome all the more poignant to the reader.
While non-fiction, the account reads like the taut human drama that it is and you may well find yourself reading into the night, hoping against hope that different decisions will be made and lives will be saved. In the end, the reader is left with the impact of the realization that this was the wretched reality of 9/11 and nothing he or she or anyone else does from this day forward can change it. While we may never comprehend the disturbed minds of those who would purposely fly airplanes into buildings, Dwyer and Flynn have provided us with information that helps us understand why the buildings collapsed so quickly and why so many were lost who could have been saved. Highly recommended.
The authors do not look to place blame on anyone but the terrorists for the deaths of those innocents killed in the airplanes or the towers' impact zones, but fact by fact they show how early decisions made by politicians, contractors, and Port Authority administrators during the planning and building of the twin towers doomed almost everyone who died after the initial impacts. Through interviews of survivors and witnesses, Dwyer and Flynn reconstruct the routine pre-attack busyness of people planning for meetings, arriving at their desks, going for coffee and making the hundreds of simple daily decisions that, on this day, are of far greater consequence. The authors provide personal histories and more current details of the lives of those connected to the towers through work or rescue, making the outcome all the more poignant to the reader.
While non-fiction, the account reads like the taut human drama that it is and you may well find yourself reading into the night, hoping against hope that different decisions will be made and lives will be saved. In the end, the reader is left with the impact of the realization that this was the wretched reality of 9/11 and nothing he or she or anyone else does from this day forward can change it. While we may never comprehend the disturbed minds of those who would purposely fly airplanes into buildings, Dwyer and Flynn have provided us with information that helps us understand why the buildings collapsed so quickly and why so many were lost who could have been saved. Highly recommended.
Marci S. (MarciNYC) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on
Helpful Score: 2
Incredibly haunting tale of what happened on September 11th, 2001 inside the WTC.
Hard to read at times because you know that many of the invidiuals (such as those at Windows on the World) did not make it out alive. However, for those stories that break your heart, there are stories that buoy your spirits when you think of the courage of those who risked/gave their lives so that some individuals did make it out alive.
As one who lived in NYC on this horrific day, reading this brought back the terror that I felt. I am grateful that my friends who worked in the Twin Towers made it out alive, but for those who lost a loved one, my heart aches.
I read this in tandem with "The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland." While this book rips you to pieces to think that hated was a motivation behind the attacks, the events in Gander will restore your faith in the goodness of humankind.
Hard to read at times because you know that many of the invidiuals (such as those at Windows on the World) did not make it out alive. However, for those stories that break your heart, there are stories that buoy your spirits when you think of the courage of those who risked/gave their lives so that some individuals did make it out alive.
As one who lived in NYC on this horrific day, reading this brought back the terror that I felt. I am grateful that my friends who worked in the Twin Towers made it out alive, but for those who lost a loved one, my heart aches.
I read this in tandem with "The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland." While this book rips you to pieces to think that hated was a motivation behind the attacks, the events in Gander will restore your faith in the goodness of humankind.
B S. (Bettyjean) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on
Helpful Score: 2
Even though we all know the tragic outcome of that day, this book still manages to grab and hold you rivited to the pages. When you read acts of heroism displayed not just by the firemen or police, but your average office workers, maintenance men and security guards, it shows that a true hero doesn't need special skills or training. And it's quite unsettling to read how the tiniest little impulse, like making one extra call or stopping for a danish could mean the difference between living and dying. I read this in a few nights and many of those stories will stay with me forever.
Sharon D. (booklit) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 473 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
As hard as it is to remember that awful day it is harder to read actual acounts of what that day was like for so many. I am so gald I read this book. be sure to have lots of tissues on hand.
Bobbie L. (nascargal) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 352 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is an amazing account of the people who were trapped in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Some of them made it out, many of them didn't. It was interesting to read this book so many years after the events happened. It makes you remember how you felt that day...the disbelief, the horror, and the terror, but also the realization of how many people risked their own lives to save the lives of total strangers.
Tiffany S. (misstiff) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A hard read, but a fascinating of a tragedy.
Susan F. (whitestix) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on
Helpful Score: 1
Really good - filled in some gaps in my understanding of the event.
Jean C. reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 7 more book reviews
This book was absolutely awesome! It was so good I couldn't put it down. It absolutely captured the chaos. It mentioned the heroics and sacrifices of many and made clear the shoddy shortcuts taken in construction of the buildings that led to so many lives lost. It wasn't centered on the terrorism aspect and was beautifully compelling. i would highly recommend it.
Sandra Z. (ztogar) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 195 more book reviews
what makes this indepth description of the 102 minutes it took for
the world trade towers to collapse is the details of ordinary people
who sacrificed their safety to help each other...well done
the world trade towers to collapse is the details of ordinary people
who sacrificed their safety to help each other...well done
James C. reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 2 more book reviews
It's breathtaking to read this book....so sad too. Gives a great insight into the mayhem that went on inside the towers. Makes you realize how ones person's decision to take the elevator cost them their life etc. Also, it's an interesting perspective on how unsafe the towers were built and the politics surrounding the Port Authority.
Karen A. (KLanton) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 24 more book reviews
It is a heartstopping book that really makes you think. It is written by two reporters
Karen D. (augieandlourock) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 117 more book reviews
I really wanted to read this book since NY was the next state over when 9/11 happened.I wanted to find out as much about that day as I could.I found this book to be very informative and I learned a lot about the towers that I never knew before.I also learned a lot about the brave men and women who helped out on that tragic day.You also learned about the people inside who helped their fellow peers.
Wendy (Froggie) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 55 more book reviews
Just finished this book and it was impossible to put down. It was an emotional book but I was so drawn to it. In the book you met people who you knew were not going to survive due to either their location in the buildings or that they were told to stay put or that the complete chaos that was happening around them.
Many people said to me that they just couldn't read a book such as this. I just couldn't imagine not reading it. Highly recommend this book to EVERYONE.
Many people said to me that they just couldn't read a book such as this. I just couldn't imagine not reading it. Highly recommend this book to EVERYONE.
This book had a lot of technical stuff that I skimmed over, but also had a bunch of information on what the people in the Towers went through on 9/11. I hadn't even thought about most of it and it was quite an eye opener for me.
Cynthia H. (Sweetbeet) - , reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 12 more book reviews
Actual title is "102 Minutes - The Untold Story of the FIGHT to Survive Inside the Twin Towers" (not "Flight" to survive!)
This book gives an interesting "inside" view of what was going on from some individuals' perspectives, while the disaster was unfolding. I enjoyed it, but it's obviously heartbreaking. The detailed endnotes provide almost as much "meat" as the main narrative.
This book gives an interesting "inside" view of what was going on from some individuals' perspectives, while the disaster was unfolding. I enjoyed it, but it's obviously heartbreaking. The detailed endnotes provide almost as much "meat" as the main narrative.
LORI R. (lorichards) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 18 more book reviews
A good account of what happened on 9/11/01 at the World Trade Center. The only downfall is that the book was written based on several accounts and therefore it is hard to keep the characters straight.
Susan F. (susansf) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 5 more book reviews
Amazing, awesome book - heartbreaking,actually. Very detailed reporting!
Claudia F. (Claudia413) -
Riveting, completely held my attention from start to finish...and to think it's all true.
Debbie M. (woodlands) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 25 more book reviews
Very factual account of 102 horrible minutes.
Rachel R. (tcmsteacher) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on
Powerful! Hard to put down!
Ana P. reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 30 more book reviews
Excellent account of 9/11, hard to put down.
Michelle (ShellyD77) -
This is an incredibly heartwrenching account of the 102 minutes, for the men and women inside the two towers, between the first plane struck and when the North Tower fell.
Bren (Breninithaca) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 377 more book reviews
I tried really hard to read this book and got through the first 3 chapters, but it was so painful to read I finally had to stop.
Merisa A. (nvangel) reviewed 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 162 more book reviews
Very good REad
