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Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 173 ratings

Damon DiMarco's Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11 eternally preserves a monumental tragedy in American history through the voices of the people who were in Lower Manhattan and elsewhere in New York City on that fateful day.

The stories DiMarco has collected come from a diverse group of human beings: individuals who managed to escape from the Towers; the bereaved of 9/11; the policemen, firemen, paramedics, reporters, and volunteers who risked their lives to help others; eyewitnesses who stood in shock on the streets below the Towers; WTC structural engineers, political experts, political dissidents, small business owners, and, of course, children whose lives will be forever impacted by the horror and chaos they witnessed.

In the tradition of Studs Terkel, DiMarco's moving oral history chronicles the stories of everyone from the small group of people who miraculously made it safely down from the 89th floor of Tower 1 to the New York Times reporter trying desperately to fight her way through the fleeing crowds into Lower Manhattan, to the paramedic who set up a triage area 200 yards from the base of the Towers before they collapsed to the ordinary citizens of New York City who tried to get on with their lives in the days following the tragic event.

This expanded second edition of DiMarco's literary time capsule includes follow-up interviews that track contributors' lives in the years since 9/11, as well as dozens of never-before-published photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. The only widely available oral history of 9/11 from the perspective of New Yorkers, this monumental work (originally released by Revolution in 2004) has been updated for the sixth anniversary of the national tragedy. In the weeks following the World Trade Center attack, DiMarco, in the tradition of Studs Terkel, wandered Manhattan collecting the stories of Gothamites who survived the collapse of the towers, came to help or simply bore witness-whether from elsewhere in the city, across the country or overseas. Two major themes emerge, the first concerning the heroism of common decency: Florence Engoran, five months pregnant on the day of the attack, was helped down 55 flights of stairs by near-strangers, "two men who promised that they were gonna stay with me the whole time down, which they did." In the same vein, Jan Demczur relates how he used his window washing tools to save himself and an elevator full of people, and Dr. Walter Gerasimowicz tells of the men who aided him when he was forced to evacuate without his crutches. The rigors of loss and mourning make a second theme: Patrick Charles Welsh, whose wife perished on Flight 93, says, "I was so devastated by this unheard cry of souls... This moan of humanity going straight up to heaven." Though a good idea, the scholarly essays that close the book, concerning the U.S.-Middle East relations, feel off-puttingly distant compared to the stories that precede them. DiMarco's contribution to the memory of that horrific day is enormous; the testimonies collected here form an amazing, one-of-a-kind account. Photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Arguably the most successful attempt at capturing the enormity of the events of 9/11, Damon DiMarco's sprawling oral history [presents] human stories . . .with a raw candor a thousand times more affecting than any cold statistic offered by a commission . . . a riveting and disarmingly emotional read." ―MSNBC Today

". . .heart-breaking reminiscences by New Yorkers who survived the attack and then endured a decade of denial, doubt, and rebuilding."―The New York Times

"This volume defends the understanding, as also the horror, of that day. We are indebted to Mr. DiMarco for the effort and for the editorial acuity."―William F. Buckley, author and commentator

"The only widely available oral history of 9/11 from the perspective of New Yorkers, this monumental work has been updated for the sixth anniversary of the national tragedy. . . . DiMarco’s contribution to the memory of that horrific day is enormous; the testimonies collected here form an amazing, one-of-a-kind account.’―Publishers Weekly

"The material it offers is unique, a multitude of firsthand experiences preserved as few other 9/11 books have done. This second edition is expanded with many more photographs and with updates about a number of the witnesses interviewed. Recommended for all public and undergraduate libraries."― Library Journal

"I hope this book remains in print for a very long time to come because everyone should read it. Our children should read it."―Thomas Kean, Chairman of the 9/11 Commission

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002PY72SW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Santa Monica Press; 2nd edition (August 1, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 173 ratings

About the author

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Damon DiMarco
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Damon DiMarco's books have been featured by The New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, National Geographic Channel, and NPR/PBS.

His oral history work has been compared to that of Studs Terkel and the WPA Narratives. He also writes plays, screenplays, and novels in different genres including science fiction, epic fantasy, and crime.

As an actor, Damon has appeared in daytime and primetime TV shows on major networks, independent films, and regional theater. A founding member of New River Dramatists, he's has helped National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, and OBIE Award winners write the best stories they're capable of producing.

Damon is is also the founder of CreateX3, a consultancy that provides creative assistance to corporations, government agencies, think tanks, media companies, and private individuals. When time allows, he's the creator and host of CreateX3 on YouTube.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
173 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book fascinating and a must-read for Americans. They praise the writing quality as well-written and touching, with stories told from all perspectives. The author's narration is described as sensitive and caring. However, some readers felt the stories were heartbreaking and horrific.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

23 customers mention "Readability"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and enlightening. They say it's one of the best 9/11 books out there and a valuable contribution to literature. Readers also mention that the book is heartbreaking but necessary to read.

"This book is amazing!!! Should be required reading for all Americans!!! So very touching to read what these people went through!!..." Read more

"...This is a book that should be read by all...." Read more

"...The author is a fine writer who has made a valuable contribution to 9/11 literature...." Read more

"...Tower Stories, An oral History of 9/11 by Damon DiMarco is a must read novel and I for one will keep this book on my shelf so the coming..." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find the stories relatable and touching, with the author's sensitive and caring narration.

"...Should be required reading for all Americans!!! So very touching to read what these people went through!! It should stay with me forever!!" Read more

"...The stories read exactly as people talk, although I'm sure a great deal of editing was required...." Read more

"The book is well written and I am enjoying reading it...." Read more

"Well done and just amazing and interesting to read." Read more

6 customers mention "Storytelling"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling from different perspectives. They find the narratives from all aspects of 9/11 to be masterpieces.

"...The stories come from a diverse group of individuals, each with different views and opinions...." Read more

"...One of the great things about this book is how it uses narratives from every aspect of 9/11--from people who were trapped and rescued in the building..." Read more

"Riveting accounts of what really happened! I couldn't put it down yet it was hard to read at times...." Read more

"...The stories in the book mean SO much and gives us a glimpse of how God is in control when things like 9/11 happen." Read more

3 customers mention "Heartbreaking"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book heartbreaking but factual. They mention it's horrific and they don't care about the details.

"...After mourning the endlessly horrific ways people died, I didn't really care about the structural beauty of the Towers as expounded by an engineer,..." Read more

"This was a heartbreaking, but necessary book to read, because the history of the worst day of our generation deserved to be and needed to be told by..." Read more

"Heartbreaking but factual. A lot of information I had never heard before. Some of which I wish I hadn't known about...." Read more

Book is Well Written But....
4 out of 5 stars
Book is Well Written But....
The book is well written and I am enjoying reading it. However, my book is filled with notes written by someone else in pencil, particularly notes about the response of the firefighters that day. I had thought for the price I paid that I was purchasing a new book. I find it somewhat distracting.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
    This book is amazing!!! Should be required reading for all Americans!!! So very touching to read what these people went through!! It should stay with me forever!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2011
    I read this book over the course of two weeks. I found that I could not sleep for several nights. It brought back memories of what I was doing at the time that the news broke (I was at work and puzzled as to how a plane could crash into one of the Twin Towers). I naturally assumed it was a small private plane and maybe the pilot had some type of medical emergency. I finally got up and went into the area where the televisions were located and there among many other employees watched that terrible day unfold. None of us could believe what we were seeing. I had butterflies in my stomach for an entire year as it was one of the most shocking events to happen in my lifetime. Tower stories is an account of what those that were there experienced and the very personal stories about loved ones who perished. This is a book that should be read by all. We must never forget nor let future generations forget what happened that day and the sacrifices that were made to save others. We all know of the compromised health of so many of those who were there sacrificing their time and efforts to find survivors and who worked among so much toxic materials. The long-term effects of that day and the days that followed is ongoing. I have answered questions from my 8- year old grandson who is aware of what happened that day but not the true human stories of loss. That will come later.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2013
    With the opening of the Freedom Tower next year, I thought I should finally read first-hand accounts of the 9/11 attacks. Despite the passage of time, I've been unable to revisit that horrible day. I was close enough to the city to see the columns of black smoke, spent days (and in some cases, weeks) in agonizing worry not knowing whether friends and co-workers in the Towers and World Financial Center were alive, and then months reading the heartbreaking Portraits of Grief series in the New York Times.

    Damon DiMarco talked with people immediately after the attacks, literally walking the streets and stopping passersby. The accounts he records have the ring of authenticity and immediacy. The author is channeling his inner Studs Terkel here! The stories read exactly as people talk, although I'm sure a great deal of editing was required. The author is a fine writer who has made a valuable contribution to 9/11 literature.

    Although difficult to read, the book is one I am glad to have read. Toward the end of the book, my attention flagged, though, as the accounts widen out to include people whose stories seemed peripheral to me. After mourning the endlessly horrific ways people died, I didn't really care about the structural beauty of the Towers as expounded by an engineer, how Verizon got the stock market back up and running or the viewpoint of someone who was in L.A. at the time. And I really didn't want to read ruminations on the ethics of profiling airline passengers in the days immediately following the attacks.

    I also had hoped for more insightful follow-up interviews. I want to know how the interviewees felt and thought about 9/11 today, not what plays they'd had produced in the intervening years, what shows they'd acted in or how many kids they had. The author may have been limited by who he could locate or what people wanted to say; one conversation with a paramedic who went on to be a skilled search-and-rescue medic is a great follow-up. Perhaps the author is working on updates like that to coincide with the opening of the Freedom Tower. I hope so.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2010
    It has always been a passion of mine to listen to the stories of my fellow man. While watching the horrific events that unfolded on September 11, I felt a need to hear the people's accounts, the voices of the men and woman who were involved personally. Tower Stories, An Oral History of 9/11 has collaborated a collection of reports that tells how the citizens of lower Manhattan coped during the attacks on the Word Trade Centre. It also shows the loyalty of those individuals living in New York City, who stepped up and volunteered their services in any way they could. The stories come from a diverse group of individuals, each with different views and opinions. Tower Stories, An oral History of 9/11 by Damon DiMarco is a must read novel and I for one will keep this book on my shelf so the coming generations in my family will learn and grow from this tragedy.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2021
    This was a heartbreaking, but necessary book to read, because the history of the worst day of our generation deserved to be and needed to be told by those who were there or directly affected.

    Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. God forbid. Maybe future generations will get it right.

    Highly recommended. Five stars.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2014
    Enjoyed the book very much until I neared the end and was faced with chapters regarding "what America has done wrong." I realize our country and society have in the past and continue to behave improperly in many instances. Other countries have added to the upheavals as well. What about "the other side of the coin?"
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015
    I have a first edition that I think is the best on first account stories of what happened at World Trade on 9/11 and the days after. I bought another to give as a gift and the book was "updated" by some of the people that were initially interviewed. Unfortunately, some of these updated comments meandered into political commentary which actually detracts from the premise and purity of the book. I like it because it gives accounts from ordinary people as to what happened to them or their loved ones and it also has accountings by first responders. Truly a historical document. If you can get a copy of the first edition, take that rather than the updated versions.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Debbie Leigh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of new stories from a diverse group of people
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2020
    As someone who avidly reads books on 9/11, it was great to eventually to find a book that told stories from a diverse group of people’s viewpoint. Lots of photos I haven’t seen before, new stories of extraordinary bravery, sadness and resilience
  • mike mclean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2018
    great thank you
  • Francesca
    5.0 out of 5 stars precious memories
    Reviewed in Italy on August 29, 2014
    i found this book very interesting...because in the words of survivors you can actually feel what it felt like been on New York on September 11th. it's a very good book created by the story from who was there,who lived that day.Everyone should read this book. if you want to know more about what happened that morning in Manhattan this is the book for you.
  • BAM
    1.0 out of 5 stars not much actually from the day itself
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2014
    this is nostalgic crap. It pads out the few interviews concerning peoples actions on the day itself with loads of flag waving pish about people affected by the aftermath, and how they coped etc
    I want my 9/11 books to give insights into the events in the towers on the day itself. This is just a feel-good cash-in for vulnerable americans. Avoid

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