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102 Minutes : The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
102 Minutes The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
Author: Jim Dwyer, Kevin Flynn
The dramatic and moving account of the struggle for life inside the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, when every minute counted — At 8:46 am on September 11, 2001, 14,000 people were inside the twin towers-reading e-mails, making trades, eating croissants at Windows on the World. Over the next 102 minutes, each would becom...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780805076820
ISBN-10: 0805076824
Publication Date: 1/12/2005
Pages: 352
Rating:
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 59

4.3 stars, based on 59 ratings
Publisher: Times Books
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

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!
GeniusJen avatar 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.
PBSmaven avatar reviewed 102 Minutes : The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 107 more book reviews
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.
Shervivor avatar reviewed 102 Minutes : The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on + 97 more book reviews
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.
MommyJen avatar reviewed 102 Minutes : The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on
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.
Read All 30 Book Reviews of "102 Minutes The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers"

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Froggie avatar 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.
reviewed 102 Minutes : The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers on
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.
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.
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.
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.

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