Comprehensive account of a preventable tragedy
592039
Very well written account concerning a chain of events that might never have happened had the courts, probation offices and law enforcement done their job properly to begin with. This woman slipped through the cracks and the agencies that should have been there to prevent it, fell completely short.
Smith wrote a comprehensive account of the tragedy that befell those who were unfortunate enough to remain in the site of this selfish and greedy woman.
2178719
Mr. Gordon's book is a highly-detailed and fascinating recap of this tragic incident.  I hope he continues to update it should new information appear! The book is a well-written investigative analysis, although not  void of the human element, especially the sad plight of the grieving  parents. I might recommend one read it with a good novel on the subject:  Silent Bell, by Gary Drake, which deals heavily with the human element as  its a story about a couple who broke up the day of the shootings and meet  up again at the 25th Anniveray. Both books complement each other.
386854
The book is a great read, as both the story of a man's life's passion and the story of how so much more could be done to prevent loss of life near railroad crossings. The culprits are what they could be expected to be: negligence, apathy, corruption, and 'the bottom line'.

As much as this is the story of what has gone wrong, it is also the story of what could be corrected. Solutions are proposed for the common problems faced by railroads and the people who live and work around them.

Ultimately, it is up to us, the readers, to do with this information as we will. Let us remember that the victims of rail collisions are real people - the book contains stories of just few of the many - and that it is our duty as citizens to follow the example set by Mr. Swimmer. We must do what we can, for one, and for all.
26024
A good account of how things can go dangerously wrong with little warning, and lives hang in the balance.  It was only a fluke that 2 of the 4 survivors were spotted by the captain on the passing freighter, after bobbing in the water for close to a full day.  Many others have never been found in those waters.  Several years ago 5 fishing or pleasure vessels sank in one year, with drownings, leading the Coast Guard to convene a court of inquiry.  It's also revealing that 2 of the survivors, drifting apart from the other 2, drank the last can of soda they'd earlier promised the 4 would share together.  As if their word no longer mattered, so sure they were of their pending demise.  The book is solidly bound, also, with sketches.  All fishermen and -women and their loved ones should read it.
1063263
a breathtaking edge-of-the-seat account of one of the most horrendous terrorist attacks India had ever seen. it exposes the chinks in India's own security set up and functioning of the police and other agencies. In sharp contrast it also show the extent to which India's enemy were ready to go to target it. Lots of lessons to learn to prevent such failures in future. At the same time this is also a moving account of a human tragedy in a most touching way, as if it was unfolding before your eyes.
2250710
Must read account of  an almost disastrous invasion.
1014043
Thoroughly researched and engagingly written. A needed exploration of a tragic event.
2125572
As a community college prof, I am always deeply affected by school shootings. At the beginning of each semester, I examine my classrooms to determine the answer to "What if . . .? How can I protect my students if . . ." I'm also interested in learning if there's anything I can do to spot people like Dylan who is in deep pain and at risk.

I was very impressed by this study. Dave Cullen does everything possible to objectively relate the actions, reactions, feelings, and attitudes of all parties involved. By presenting a balanced report of evidence and the opinions of those involved as well as experts in the field, Cullen unfolds a picture of a complex situation that is not what most Americans believe.

As I read, I realized that with the possible exception of Eric Harris, all we have is victims. Dylan himself was a victim of depression and of Eric's manipulation. From even the brief excerpts from the boys' journals included, it becomes clear that Dylan wasn't a boy who wanted to hurt anyone. Without Eric, this massacre wouldn't have happened. The parents of these two boys certainly are not to blame. Yes, in the beginning, Mr. Harris was a little defensive about Eric, but once Eric was arrested, he immediately began researching how to help his son, whom he recognized was suffering from a psych problem.

Even Eric was actually a victim. As this book so clearly explains, he had a mental illness that evidence is now indicating is tied to physical causes. He didn't choose to be what he was.

The epilogue to this book really impressed me. Although it is very moving in many ways, the study itself is not an emotional account. It's not cold by any means, but Cullen successfully adopts a tone of objective observer, which increases the credibility of his study. It's in the epilogue that we learn about Cullen's emotional reaction to the events. This study was difficult for him, as it was for everyone involved in the tragedy. We all owe him for sticking with this story for more than 10 years and setting straight perceptions based on very early accounts, which are almost always in error.

If you are looking for a thorough, well-researched, documented study of this tragedy that is presented objectively yet makes you feel like you are a witness and a friend of those involved, you'll like this book a great deal.
1918603
This is a fine accounting of the 1986 tragedy that saw a total of 13 lives lost in the summer of '86.  Actually, several tragedies, with the devastating storm that took the lives of several climbers from various teams the real focus of this book.  The writing is better than you would expect from this genre, and I have read the book cover-to-cover 2-3 times over the years.  Detailed descriptions of the setting up of the expedition are given, with fascinating complications along the way.  Dealing with the uneven and unpredictable behavior of the porters hired, for example, is eye opening reading.  The climbers are brought into vivid relief with detailed descriptions of their climbing histories, personalities, actions, words, etc.  Interplay between individuals and between the various expeditions is described in some detail, and the author is not shy about putting to rest any notions of the noble climber who is always selfless, always willing to go out of the way to help another climber in trouble.  This is simply not always the case, and it becomes apparent that if you collapse or are severely injured in the death zone above 8000 meters, you are simply not going to get help, as help is considered to be impossible to give or not worth risking the grave peril it puts the rescuer in.  That being said, it is also true that many acts of heroism were performed during the disastrous storm, or more might have been lost than were.  The expeditions, not surprisingly, are populated by many strong personalities, with strong views on how to go about things, so conflicts are almost inevitable between teams and team members, and some of these are highlighted.  All in all, I felt genuinely interested in the individuals in the expeditions, and always felt remorse when one of them did not make it.  (Of note, several of the climbers who somehow made it through this disaster have died in other high altitude incidents since the book was written.)  I have read a handful of similar books, and I would put this one at the top of the list for its vivid personal sketches, dramatic impact, and quality of writing.
1297870
Romeo Dallaire's recount of the tragedy in Rwanda should be required reading for the entire human race. Reading the accounts of the UN's Commanding Officer during the genocide is not an easy task, but Dallaire's telling is brimming with chilling detail and disturbing images that will have the reader railing against the forces that allowed the worst tragedy of our generation to happen. One cannot help but shake their head that some of the most advanced, richest countries in the world allowed this to happen, and that only after three months and hundreds of thousands dead did the world step in and say "enough is enough".

Lt. General Romeo Dallaire returned from Rwanda with severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This book reveals, first-hand, in stark and unflinching detail how humanity stood face to face with the devil in Rwanda, and broke a promise made 50 years earlier: "never again".
329359
Excellent account of a series of missions to destroy the heavy water plant in south central (Rjukan) Norway. The plant is absolutely essential to the continued development of a sustained fission reaction leading to a possible nuclear bomb by the Germans. Two attempts were by the British (a tragic series of mishaps for the commandos, second by inaccurate attack by heavy bombers) which were far less than successful. Two were by Norwegian agents who were very successful. Many eyewitness accounts are invaluable to the development of the story. Unfortunately, several lengthy segments involve only peripheral understanding for the missions. Four Norwegians survived for 5 months (typical winter) on only caribou and lichens causing approaching starvation. Additional destructive acts were preformed by plant employees as well. The heroism of all involved is carefully developed and understandable. Four stars? Only account I have read but remove the  sections not really relevant and the book is far shorter than the 186 pages provided.
1428133
A fascinating, detailed accounting of the Hudson incident paired with the rarely-told story of fly-by-wire engineering and the continuing effort to keep commercial aviation safe.

I've long been interested in airplane accidents for the inherent human survival drama, for the forensic mystery and for the complex engineering design to keep airplanes up in the sky. I've read many books on these topics, and this one has been the best I've ever read to bring all the best elements together with the skill of a great writer. He surveys the incident from all angles, putting everything into clear perspective. He lets us understand how the professionals on the planes feel about their everyday work. He reviews the history of bird strikes and of harrowing dead-stick landings. The focus on fly-by-wire, and of engineers' design approach to making the plane safer to fly, was new and a key to this great book.

Other author's books focus on the terrors of the passengers and simple worship of the pilot. (However deserving!) Langewiesche tells that story, but so much more. I've read dozens of books about airplane accidents and this is the one I recommend over all others.
773950
James Scott has written a poignant account of the most violent attack on a U.S. Navy ship since World War Two. Scott's thorough research culminates in a vivid picture of the deliberate attack on the USS Liberty by Israeli Defense Forces in the waning hours of the 1967 Six Day War. Having served in the Navy aboard numerous combat vessels, I found the author's knowledge of and familiarity with shipboard life credible and authentic. His ability to extract details from government reports and to obtain comments from high level officials concerning the Liberty incident is unparalleled. Scott has provided an insightful account of an unprovoked assault on a U.S.Navy intelligence ship by an alleged ally. His detailed documentary of the vicious attack and subsequent cover-up by the U.S. government is moving and evokes much emotion. This is an extremely valuable book because there is scant documentation of this tragic incident due to a concerted effort by the governments of both Israel and the United States as well as the news media to bury the details of the attack. An excellent read.

Bob Wilson
Former PH2, USN
USS John F Kennedy CV-67
3507333
Its a difficult task to write about air disasters respectfully, especially when they concern the large loss of children. James R Hedtkes narrative doesnt just tell the story in a cold, clinical fashion in complete detachment, but rather a mixture of personal touches and detachment carry the historical accounts. This balance absolutely carries the book, as erring too far in either direction would do a disservice to the tragedy.

Hedtkes writing never becomes sensational or overly sentimental, maintaining a careful balance while relating the story of the disaster. His writing is deeply-researched, drawing from many sources in many different points in time. His style is gripping, maintaining the readers attention at all times.

This book is full of detail and background galore, providing not just the story of those fatal few minutes, but also the histories of Freckleton and British military air accidents, as well as how the disaster affected those involved years down the line. This book is recommended to enthusiasts of aviation and war history, as it sheds light on a little-known but disastrous accident.
4253277
The Mann Gulch,MT. fire of 1949 was a seminal point in modern wildfires firefighting for the U.S. Forest Service. The deaths of 13 firefighters caused the Forest Service to implement training programs and develop safety equipment and protocols still being refined today.
Not since Norman MacLean's award winning book Young Men and Fire, published in 1992,has there been a real effort to revisit the fire and never has there been such an authoritative treatment of the personal dimensions of the tragedy as provided by the victim's families, close friends, and coworkers.
This is a heart stopping, minute-by-minute personal account of the men who fought, and died, in a wildfire that has forever remained in the nation's consciousness. The reader that has read both Young Men and Fire and this book will have as complete account of the tragedy as we are ever likely to get.
3407225
"Why America Slept" is excellent and vital reporting of the isolated, but mutually contributing failures of management, policy, regulation, politics, will, and luck that culminated in the awful tragedy of 9/11.  It is concisely told in a clean style with energy to spare.  Posner starts the book with a seemingly minor event (the murder of Emir Shalabi) that turns out to have major implications in the power shift among the participants in the extreme elements in the Islamist war against the West.
We also get interesting information about the events around the trial of the Blind Sheikh Omar Rahman, the assassination of Rabbi Meir Kahane, the '93 bombing of the World Trade Center, the embassy bombings, the attack on the Cole, the lessons the terrorists took from our cutting and running from Somalia, and so many more of the preliminary incidents and battles in the War on Terror.  More sad than the events themselves is our collective delusion at the time that these were isolated incidents (such as the shooting on the Empire State Building Observation Deck).  The author reports these events clearly and with just enough intelligent analysis and insight to show us how all these flow into the same river of violence without ever letting the narrative getting bogged down.
Posner doesn't play the easy blame game of trying to make any one person or any one agency or administration THE fall guy.  There are so many failures leading up to the towers crashing to the ground that each and every one of us can take at least a cupful of blame.  Yes, some of our public servants and political leaders deserve barrelfuls or even a lake full of blame, but when you and I paid more attention to the OJ Simpson trial or to the circus around the murder of JonBen&eacute;t Ramsey than the trial of Sheikh Rahman, well;  none of us can really claim innocence because we were telling our leaders we weren't serious about this issue.
We can't hide saying we weren't told.  There were voices in the wilderness warning us, but we at least have to be honest enough to admit that, at the time, we really didn't want to know.  We wanted to continue believing everything would be OK.  We wanted to believe that the first bombing of the WTC was done by some crazy dolts who couldn't get it right.  We wanted to believe everything was somehow under control.  This book helps us understand the consequences of such willful ignornace.
Posner gives us the facts behind the scandals that led to the Congressional attacks on the FBI and CIA that put them on a short leash and gave what amounted to aid-and-comfort to our enemies.  But there were (are) also inter-agency rivalries and deep-seated distrust that kept (keeps) vital information filed away and away from where it would do good.  We learn about Presidential tough talk that carefully avoided tough action because of the possible political fallout.  And when a decision to get real is finally made, the bureaucracy around the President moves too slowly until the horror finally hits home.
The book is a gripping read and culminates in the fascinating interrogation of Abu Zubaydah.  You will never forget this chapter because it reads as if it should be in a novel or a big budget movie.  As this book has been promoted I have heard weaselly denials from certain foreign authorities that the things discussed in this chapter ever took place.  However, when you actually read this book you will believe that this stuff did happened.  Especially when you read what actually followed right on the heels of this interrogation this chapter rings as true as a huge and beautiful church bell.
This is a book I wish everyone would read, but watch your blood pressure.  This book is just right for our times and will help you make better judgments about what we should be focusing on as a country to deal with the very real threats we continue to face.
440175
I found this account to be riveting and extremely thought-provoking regarding the revelations of our government's refusal to support our personnel at the Special Mission compound and the Annex. I found it shameful to realize that none of those people (Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, Glen Doherty) had to die. Their deaths were a result of aid that was prepared to intervene, but was delayed until it was too late to be effective. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the events leading up to this tragic episode, and what happened at the Special Mission compound and later during the battle at the nearby Annex; Also well documented are the heroic exploits of the Annex security team who rushed to the rescue of Stevens, Smith and the other personnel at the Special Mission compound. This is a well-written book by Mitchell Zuckoff and the Annex Security team including Mark "Oz" Geist, John "Tig" Tiegen, and Kris "Tanto" Paronto, 3 of the men who were involved in the fighting and who saved the lives of 25 people during those fateful 13 hours.