The Only Plane in the Sky

 Synopsis

Over the past eighteen years, monumental literature has been published about 9/11 . . . but one perspective has been missing up to this point-- a 360 degree account of the day told through the voices of the people who experienced it.

Now, award-winning journalist and bestselling historian Garrett Graff tells the story of the day as it was lived- in the words of those who lived it. Drawing on never-before-published transcripts, recently declassified documents, original interviews, and oral histories from nearly five hundred government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends and family members, Graff paints the most vivid and human portrait of the September 11 attacks yet.

Loved

• The first-hand experiences. This book is unique in that it's a compilation of interviews, documents, and oral histories comprised of accounts from the people and loved ones who experienced the September 11 events first-hand. Each chapter contains a few lines of narration, but otherwise the story is told from direct quotations from these people. This format makes the events more real and raw- hearing the stories from those who actually witnessed the horror and devastation of the day.

• The history. Just like every other American born after 2001, I remember watching the events on TV that day. I've always felt so sorry for the people it affected and known it was a very scary day for our country, but until now I've never understood the magnitude of people it affected- not only the people who were killed, but the people who saw it all, responded, lost friends, were injured, and had to make devastating decisions for the country. Reading this history gave me such a better appreciation for what these events really meant for our country and how they still affect thousands and thousands of lives today. 

• The heroes. Hearing the first-hand accounts of people who experienced these events gives us insight into what the chaos and terror was like that day for those who experienced it. However, amidst the chaos and terror, it captures the many heroes who sacrificed their bodies, time, resources, and lives to help, rescue, and save others. I've never appreciated what it would be like to be a first responder that day and helping rescue, even while friends and loved ones are being killed all around you. This story also highlights regular citizens who saved countless people by sacrificing their own lives and helping others escape, while they themselves ran back into the fires and danger zones. We also hear a few very touching stories of people who knew they were going to perish, and stayed with those they were rescuing anyway. Hearing these accounts is so inspiring and I felt in awe of these people- many just regular accountants or waiters or security guards- stepping up to the plate amidst trauma and devastation to save others.

• The narration. This book is meant to be listened to, with a 45-person cast of professional narrators, and even some live recordings of hijackers. Although the narrators hadn't experienced the accounts themselves, hearing them told was very powerful and moving, and gave the events a raw sense of humanity that made the events much more real.

Didn't Love

• At times the format of the book was a little tricky to follow since there were so many people's stories to keep track of. But this is a small complaint, and I wouldn't change the format because it was so poignant and gripping!

Content

• Language: 
• Strong language: multiple uses of "F***."
• Frequent uses of "Sh**," and "A**hole."

• Sexual content: 
• None.

• Violence
• Obviously there is a major theme of violence and terrorism. 
• There are some pretty graphic descriptions:
• People describing body parts found at the sites.
• People describing the remains of people they found in the buildings- some very disturbing (decapitated heads, etc.)
• People describing people jumping out the windows of the Twin Towers and what their bodies looked and sounded like as they hit the ground- some bodies killing first responders.
• Descriptions of the airplanes being hijacked: pilots' throats were slit, flight attendants stabbed. Transcriptions of the fight on Flight 93 where passengers fought the hijackers.
• Descriptions of people being incinerated, burned, crushed, and suffocated.
• Lots of injuries described, as well as dead bodies.


• Other themes:
• Theme of terrorism- speculation as to who was behind the attacks, their motivation for the attacks, and how they were responsible for killing thousands of people.
• Theme of death throughout the book- family members talking about grieving, children realizing parents had died, people watching loved ones die on TV, people trying to find missing loved ones, recovering bodies of loved ones, etc.

Overall Thoughts

This book definitely changed me. Reading these accounts forever changed the way I will remember these events, and it has given me so much more appreciation and gratitude for what the people directly affected by these events experienced and sacrificed. I think this is a story every American should read to be able to understand the magnitude of this day and its devastation, horror, and also the heroes it created. I ugly cried at least three times listening to this because I was so moved by these ordinary people who, on a regular work day at the office, stepped forward and gave everything to save those around them- not even friends and family, but coworkers, acquaintances, and even strangers. This account is not easy to read, and left me feeling sick at times, but it truly made me proud of our country and the people who are still pushing through after years of heartache from these events. This book has inspired me to live life to the fullest and carry the legacy forward of those who, some willingly and others unwittingly, suffered or died to protect their fellow Americans.