This book is inaccurate and just plain wrong. The author stated that an American Airlines flight attendant onboard doomed flight 11 called in to report the hijacking. That was the only correct fact he had. He goes on to say the flight attendant, Ms. Betty Ong, was speaking in "terrified tones, gasping for air". As we all heard a few years later when the tape of Ms. Ong final minutes were played at a congressional hearing, she was calm, composed, articulate and professional. Sadly, this rag was out for a few years before the truth came out. Mr. Langewiesche caused undue pain and heartache to Ms. Ong's family by his grossly inaccurate portrayal. Irresponsible and reprehensible "journalism". Shame on him.

This is a beautifully written and utterly compelling book about the fall of the Twin Towers and their subsequent removal. Langewiesche captures the characters involved well, and he fills the book with fascinating details (like the guy who swims towards the towers when others are frantically catching ferries and boats to escape). A very fast read, this terrific work is part journalism and part history, and it's one of the best two or three books related to 9/11 that I've read.

In this world, people become personally invested in the way their character is viewed; and as we all know very, very well, when they dislike certain things about the way they've been portrayed, a sense of "ownership of self" emerges to one degree or another: Sometimes they will simply disagree with a portrayal; sometimes they will savagely attack the source. Only in this book's afterword was I made aware that a controversy had erupted over Langewiesche's portrayal of various ongoing events which occurred in the aftermath of the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

I am tending to side with Langewiesche for two reasons: (a) His account is overwhelmingly *not* mean-spirited, but desirous of presenting a detached, reasonably objective chronology of events and characterization of various groups and individuals; (b) He attempts, at every turn, to draw positivity even from the basest of motives, by allowing those motives to characterize Americans ingeniously, and with as much respect as possible.

I wish more sources were like him. I know that I am not the only one tired of the media telling us who we "should" admire, "should" decry, "should" hold on pedestals, "should" hold in contempt, etc.; as a uniquely American product of the very country which seems to enjoy lauding its own attributes on an extremely selective basis, I would much prefer to do what *America itself* has taught me to do, and draw my own conclusions. When America ever decides to unite *for real* and throw away its myriad prejudices against various groups, then you can get back to me.

Langewiesche is a Hemingway of sorts, with a simple, eloquent and observant account of what he witnessed or what, he makes clear, he heard from sources he trusts. Because, by the purest and basest logic itself, human beings tend *not* to pick apart the accounts of those with whom they side in idealized terms, *I* tend to take many accounts I cannot verify for what they are worth in terms of their tone, ostensible objective, and cumulative sense of veracity.

I've long felt that something was being made of September 11 which tended to victimize the very people who should be receiving our empathy and compassion, such that the empathy and compassion themselves became "sticking points" which mired us in controversy, accusations and jingoism counterproductive to moving forward. It seemed, at times, that just *saying such things* prompted accusations of coldness or non-caring, or the resoundingly famous, "You just don't understand." No one has a monopoly on the World Trade Center tragedy or its effect on their individual lives; very ironically, any actions or reactions which claim as much *actually diminish the tragedy and its aftermath to caricature or meaninglessness*, since logic also dictates that as soon as any individual claims their tragedy was "greater," their unilateral stance automatically opens the door for their "opposition" *to make the very same claim of them*, and further, to claim the same coldness and lack of feeling for individual responses to a tragedy that all of America endured.

I applaud Langewiesche's narrative and effort, as a piece of work and as a whole.

In this world, people become personally invested in the way their character is viewed; and as we all know very, very well, when they dislike certain things about the way they've been portrayed, a sense of "ownership of self" emerges to one degree or another: Sometimes they will simply disagree with a portrayal; sometimes they will savagely attack the source. Only in this book's afterword was I made aware that a controversy had erupted over Langewiesche's portrayal of various ongoing events which occurred in the aftermath of the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

I am tending to side with Langewiesche for two reasons: (a) His account is overwhelmingly *not* mean-spirited, but desirous of presenting a detached, reasonably objective chronology of events and characterization of various groups and individuals; (b) He attempts, at every turn, to draw positivity even from the basest of motives, by allowing those motives to characterize Americans ingeniously, and with as much respect as possible.

I wish more sources were like him. I know that I am not the only one tired of the media telling us who we "should" admire, "should" decry, "should" hold on pedestals, "should" hold in contempt, etc.; as a uniquely American product of the very country which seems to enjoy lauding its own attributes on an extremely selective basis, I would much prefer to do what *America itself* has taught me to do, and draw my own conclusions. When America ever decides to unite *for real* and throw away its myriad prejudices against various groups, then you can get back to me.

Langewiesche is a Hemingway of sorts, with a simple, eloquent and observant account of what he witnessed or what, he makes clear, he heard from sources he trusts. Because, by the purest and basest logic itself, human beings tend *not* to pick apart the accounts of those with whom they side in idealized terms, *I* tend to take many accounts I cannot verify for what they are worth in terms of their tone, ostensible objective, and cumulative sense of veracity.

I've long felt that something was being made of September 11 which tended to victimize the very people who should be receiving our empathy and compassion, such that the empathy and compassion themselves became "sticking points" which mired us in controversy, accusations and jingoism counterproductive to moving forward. It seemed, at times, that just *saying such things* prompted accusations of coldness or non-caring, or the resoundingly famous, "You just don't understand." No one has a monopoly on the World Trade Center tragedy or its effect on their individual lives; very ironically, any actions or reactions which claim as much *actually diminish the tragedy and its aftermath to caricature or meaninglessness*, since logic also dictates that as soon as any individual claims their tragedy was "greater," their unilateral stance automatically opens the door for their "opposition" *to make the very same claim of them*, and further, to claim the same coldness and lack of feeling for individual responses to a tragedy that all of America endured.

I applaud Langewiesche's narrative and effort, as a piece of work and as a whole.

This book has been completely discredited piece by piece.
wtclivinghistory.org
Honestly, I don't know how Langewiesche lives with himself.

The "pile" as is came to be known, was the rubble left behind by the collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. A mess. A huge mess. The who's, what's, why's and hows are accurately discussed in this book about that mess--who took control of it, and what was done with it. A different look at Ground Zero and those who were thrust in charge of this unique operation. An insight at the interests of those who really had control of the "pile"--the firemen, the police, and Port Authority police. A fine addition to the real story of 9/11.

The "pile" as is came to be known, was the rubble left behind by the collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. A mess. A huge mess. The who's, what's, why's and hows are accurately discussed in this book about that mess--who took control of it, and what was done with it. A different look at Ground Zero and those who were thrust in charge of this unique operation. An insight at the interests of those who really had control of the "pile"--the firemen, the police, and Port Authority police. A fine addition to the real story of 9/11.

There have been many books published in the last three yers about the building of the WTC, the attack of 9/11, the collapse of the building, the architecture, the decisions, the rebuilding, and so forth, but only one book about what went on at the site immediately following the collapse of the towers.

William Langewiesche is an excellent essayist and reporter, and managed to both situate himself in the middle of the rebuilding- the only writer to do so- and to be a neutral enough observer that he was able to tell the story from all perspectives. The public story- the heroism of the firefighters and police, the harmony on the site- dosn't quite hold up in Langewiesche's telling. We see internecine fighting, looting, distrust, and outright hostilkity between different groups competing for control of the site and for glory in the minds of the public.

But we also see an extraordinary effort by almost all concerned, and an operation in which public and private organizations came together to do an amazing job of cleaning up the site in record time. We also see the City of New York rising to the challange, brushing off Federal attempts to control the site, knowing that the city has more experience as disaster recovery and cleanup in its numerous contractors and building officials than the whole of FEMA. City officials and contractors came together and mapped out strategies and divided up work without waiting for approval from higher up authorities.

An excellent piece of reporting and interpreting. Highly recommended.

I was amongst a small group of forensic physicists/archaeologists studying the effects of the Tower collapse along Liberty Street and near Ten House. After a year of balking at FEMA video showing the cab of 4 Truck empty during its discovery and excavation, Mr. L. finally admitted in late 2003 that he was in fact not present in New York City during the December 2001 excavation of 4 Truck. This did not prevent him from presenting, in his book, his firsthand eyewitness account of 4 Truck having been stuffed to the gills with stolen jeans, folded and tagged and, according to mr. L's own forensic archaeological interpretation, forming the basis for a broad accusation of looting, by firefighters, as the Towers burned. Much as FEMA video of 4 Truck, showing a complete absence of Mr.L's observed stolen items, proved no obstacle to his accusation of looting... Nor did the April 2002 discovery of 4 Crew's remains at the South Tower elevator banks, with their Hurst cutting tool... nor the two women survivors cut free by 4 Crew, with their Hurst cutting tool. Mr. L. just had to tell his tall, and controversial, and money-making tale - with no indication whatsoever that he gave even an atom of thought to the pain he inflicted upon the widows and children of 4 Truck. I will add that before the Federal government came in with an acceptable protocol against a "dirty bomb" attack, I worked briefly with the crew most likely to be first responders. At one point these men were told that this was not what they had signed on for; and anyone with small children was practically ordered to transfer to another unit. They all stayed. Every one of them. All of the FDNY, PAPD and NYPD people I have worked with (add to this the "civilians" who ran toward the fires, and assisted in the rescue operation)convince me that this city and this country have more good people than bad, and that whatever challenges lie ahead, it is the good people all around us who virtually assure that we shall prevail. During this very same time period, having observed from within how the publishing industry coddled Mr. L., even after it was revealed beyond all serious dispute that he had lied about 4 truck, I have become equally convinced that the only truth Jayson Blair (of "Burning Down My Master's House" fame)ever told was that he found himself being singled out and punished in public for what was, in his industry, "simply business as usual."

As an Ironworker who was at ground zero, I can attest to this man's uninsightful look at the Ironworkers role at the site. First of all a couple of hundred Ironworkers were at that site within hours of it's fall, my brother included. I got there by the third day and got paid to be there. My brother didn't, he was there when it fell. He volunteered and worked in incredibly harsh and dangerous conditions. He slept on the floor of one of the financial buildings across the street, (does the author know those building)? My brother as well as most Ironworkers at that time were working very steadily and usually getting overtime at dangerous yet safer than Ground Zero jobs but still volunteered to clean up for free. After 3 days then they were paid but not for the first three days, for the rest of the job. My brother does very well as the main guy in his company but stayed there til the end. What was in it for him? Nothing except ironworkers, including our Father and Uncle built them towers. Those two towers were a monument to our hard work that makes so many people money. There were unsavory things going on down there but not with the Ironworkers but, hey, I guess to sell books to the unknowing you need to manipulate the truth huh?

This is witten with passion and intimacy and the writing style is superb. I read this initially in the Atlantic Monthly which suffered only from its serialization. Took the book on a cruise expecting a long slow read but I couldn't put it down. More than any account I've read, this is closest to healing the wounded American psyche. The author juxtaposes background on hijackers, victims on the planes and in the Towers as well as the many incredible stories of heroes and family survivors. Great context even for the dark side of the perps and heroes. A must for your library and future generations to understand the nature of this watershed event in human history.

William Langewiesche's account of the months of clean-up efforts at Ground Zero has been described as an honest, "clear-eyed" account about the nine months after September 11 in downtown Manhattan.

Langewiesche received access at the Trade Center after faxing an inquiry to Kenneth Holden, one of two Department of Design and Construction officials Langewiesche would later turn into the main characters of his book. Holden, according to Atlantic, "was an avid reader of The Atlantic Monthly and a fan of Langewiesche's writing in particular (he had bought and read Langewiesche's books)."

Langewiesche was on the site, as he said, "without anything identifying me as a member of the press. I was given the same credentials as any engineer with full access to every part of the site, as well as full access to the meetings and to the files."

Some people have applauded American Ground because of Langewiesche's untold stories from the "private world," inside the perimeter lines, including one particular story which states that certain firemen were looting the Trade Center shops before the towers fell.

Langewiesche's unconventional and unsteady reporting methods have resulted in many questions and challenges to the veracity of American Ground; As a journalist, I work as part of a group investigating Langewiesche's methods and the results of his work on American Ground.

Regarding probably the most controversial scene describing the looting of blue jeans, at his interview on tour at the South Street Seaport Museum in NYC, Langewiesche said he was 'writing about construction workers reactions, not what actually happened,' and that as for the facts of what did or did not happen, he is 'entirely unsure.'

Why is he entirely unsure? Because he wasn't there. But when you read the passage, it sure sounds like he was there, even if he is "entirely unsure," if what he wrote was fact or rumor. The book is filled with ambiguity about sourcing (an earlier edition of the story, a published, uncorrected proof of the book names the field superintendent and attributes the quote to him instead of a group of construction workers). The jeans story reveals the sort of problems found throughout the book.

According to New York Newsday, Nov. 19, 2002 'Langewiesche, in a telephone interview before the 20-minute protest, defended his work, saying it accurately reflected the emotions of rescue workers at the time.'

The emotions? Not the facts? He conceded that he had not checked out many of the stories he heard while he working on the book. 'I am not a truth squad as far as 9/11 goes,' he said. 'I am a reporter. I was interested about what people really believed. My readers understand that and have understood it for years.''

And some reviewers have defended Langewiesche, saying that this particular story is only a few paragraphs, and that it's unfair to judge him on just those pages.

This is a spurious argument; what Langewiesche alleges is a criminal charge. Is it really better not to make a fuss and to not bring the book into the spotlight again?

Wrong. Rumors of venality presented as fact do not belong in a book that is being sold as an American History textbook, in addition to being required summer reading in other scholarly institutions, a book written by a man who is being lauded like Journalism's golden boy. Neither does plagiarism belong in such a book, especially since most of these academic institutions which use his text require originality from their own students.

Specific charges of plagiarism in American Ground have remained unanswered by The Atlantic Monthly. Take the story of Betty Ong, for instance. American Ground has made serious allegations about the last moments of not only firefighters, but also Ms. Ong, who was a flight attendant aboard American Flight 11. "In terrified tones, gasping for air, Ong reported the hijacking," Langewiesche wrote, quite a contrast from the absolute calm heard when the tapes with her voice on them were played before the Sept. 11 Commission recently. And without speaking to the Ongs or Craig Marquis, who was quoted in American Ground, where did Langewiesche get this incorrect information? From a Wall Street Journal article, which was never sourced in the book.

Those who have protested Langewiesche's specific factual errors in "American Ground" have been characterized as people who are "upset by plain talk," the kind of people who just want a good, heroic picture to be painted of the firemen, no matter what the facts. This is misleading. The people who protested did so against specific allegations for which there was no proof. Of course there was looting. Take the case of Johnny Dunham. As WNBC reported, "While posing as a firefighter, Dunham -- who was really an unemployed security guard -- took a handful of Tourneau watches and cash. He pleaded guilty to the charges. Another impostor, Roland Abarrategui, was convicted of stealing from another store when the jury saw pictures he'd had real police take of him in an NYPD shirt." People suspected the rescue workers because you had to show credentials to get into these places - and these two looters, at least, dressed up in stolen emergency personnel gear. WNBC goes on, in the same article, to say "So far, no city employee has been charged with committing any crimes while working at ground zero."

People will believe what they want to. It's hard to do so when confronted by the facts. But for some people, it must be harder still to admit that you're wrong and make corrections. And blindly cheering for whatever "heroes," the television media throws at you is just as bad as cheering for whatever "anti-heroes," that the magazine and book publishers counters with.

I found the first half of this book a fascinating and detailed account of the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy and its immediate aftermath. The book takes you many places the news accounts didn't, and reveals some pretty amazing facts (e.g., there were actually people inside the buildings who survived the collapse). The second half, where he delves into the bureaucracy surrounding the demolition and recovery efforts is interesting but less dramatic.

The book has one serious flaw though - other than a crude map of the site inside the cover, there are no photographs or illustrations at all. Even just a ten-page insert with some photos of the key people and places he describes would be a huge improvement. Trying to tell a story of this magnitude with text alone is a noble effort, but it falls short.

This book by William Langewiesche is formidable and engaging telling the story one of the most terrible crimes committed against modern man. He unravels it with fairness and readability.Then going on to tell the story of the aftermath where civilians in heavy machines simply rolled in and took on the unknown. Completing a job dispite fireman, police and construction workers looking out for thier own interest.

Very well done and a must read about 911.