Bottom Of The Barrel

102 Minutes: A Book Review

When I saw this book in the store, I was not sure I was ready to read it but I bought it anyway. 102 Minutes: The Untold Story Of The Fight To Survive Inside The Twin Towers is a book put together by authors Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn which covers the story of those who experienced 9/11 in a way that most of us did not - they were there, in the World Trade Centers.

The two authors draw on hundreds of interviews with rescuers and survivors, thousands of pages of oral histories, and countless phone, e-mail and emergency radio transcripts to tell the story of September 11 from the inside looking out. The book not only captures the confusion within the towers on that day but also highlights historical facts and issues which lead to the devastation that was and is September 11.

We have all heard the stories of the police, firefighters, emts, port authority officers and other public servants responding to the call and for 343 firefighters and 75 police offers, they paid the ultimate price. However in the book, they outline men and women like Frank De Martini, Carlos DeCosta Judith Reese and Esmerlin Salcedo [and many other people you have never heard of] who were amazingly strong and brave during an unimaginable situation. Many of these folks helped others in need, even to survive the day, and all told 130 of the people mentioned in the book did not make it out. For many survivors, there was a fine line between life and death and even in the worst of times the workers and occupants of WTC 1 and 2 responded with incredible bravery.

At times I felt like it would take me 102 days to read this book because of the memories of that day are still very sharp but I am very glad that I have read this book. It gives you a new perspective on what was, in my opinion, the worst day in the history of this great country.

posted by TheWino @ 9:07 AM