I’m a fairly avid reader, seldom without at least one book to read. In fact I have two I’m working through right now. And by working through, I mean, working. Both of these A Beautiful Math and The Visual Display of Quantitative Information are pretty technical in nature, so they are not a typical casual evening read.
Digressing, while fighting off a nasty cold, I took in a little television time on Saturday, the 9th Anniversary of that terrible day in New York City. Obviously there was little on the national broadcast crap-fest, nor the typical brain-dead cable fare to tide me over. But, I flipped onto CSPAN (a guilty pleasure, I’ll admit) and caught most of the 3 hour panel hosted by Lynn Spencer, a commercial airline pilot, whom wrote the book Touching History, The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies Over America on 9/11.
I was a fascinating panel discussion. The first panel was comprised of FAA and ATC personnel that were on the front line that morning, trying to sort out disaster, land nearly 5000 planes, and re-route the remaining International flights to other countries. The second panel was comprised of commercial pilots flying when the attack happened, and Air Force pilots that had to intercept countless commercial jets, with orders to shoot if they did not comply.
Stories of a airport in Canada that was stacked 30 planes deep, fighter squadrons recalled from a training mission to be re-armed and then briefed on the rules of engagement for shooting down passenger aircraft, pilots that saw the planes hit the buildings while they were trying to land, others simple told to ‘get out of the area, just leave’.
It was a moving 3 hours of television. I felt compelled to go find this book, but sadly, our local book store (I’m not even sure why I waste my time at Barnes and Noble) did not carry it. I know I can get it online, but I’d like to spend my money local, and support stores that carry books such as this.
When I do get the book in my hands, I will be sure to read, and post my thoughts. In the mean time, you might look into it as well. If the book is anything like the articulate author I watched on TV, I’m pretty confident that I will not be disappointed.
UPDATE: 23-SEP-2010
Try as I might, absolutely no luck in finding the book in a brick-and-mortar store. Too many ‘Vampire Stories’ filling the shelves. A rather sad commentary on America’s literary tastes. Not all is lost, the book is in transit as I speak from an online e-tailer. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be sure to blog when I’ve started to read.
Looks like it will be here sooner than estimated!
Lynn Spencer "Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies Over America on 9/11"
Previous estimated arrival date: October 07 2010 - October 15 2010
New estimated arrival date: September 29 2010 - October 02 2010
Thank you for your kind comments, and I am delighted that you enjoyed the panel. It was a privilege to be able to bring these people together so that they could share their perspectives with the public. They are just a sampling of the men and women who made decisions that day which saved lives. So many of these people put not only their careers, but their lives, on the line on September 11. I will look forward to hearing your thoughts on the book. I worked very hard to do justice to their stories, which remain, to my chagrin, far too unknown to the vast majority of Americans. I am sorry that your local bookseller does not carry the book. I imagine your library does. Warm regards, Lynn Spencer
Lynn,
The book was fantastic, educational riveting, and eye opening. I’ve recommended it to everyone I know.
Thanks for doing all that research, it really painted a picture of that day, that I was completely obvivous too. So many heroes stood up that day and did what need to be done, regardless of the costs, personal, professional or physical. Thanks.