The final balance of that single day was 2,996 dead and more than 25,000 wounded. the landscape of new york had changed, and the world would never be the same. To this day, people debate what happened and why. Questions and conspiracy theories abound. and there are literally hundreds of books on the subject.
So if you want to know more about the events of 9/11 and the people involved in them, here are seven books to bring you up to speed on the day many say the world changed:
You are reading: Best 9 11 conspiracy books
the 9/11 briefing: a graphic adaptation of sid jacobson and ernie colon
There are many versions of what happened on September 11, 2001, but this is the official version of what happened. yes, the 9/11 commission did present a detailed report of the day’s events and what the commission felt led up to it, naming the key players. The report also looked at possible mistakes made that allowed the hijackers to carry out one of the most audacious attacks in human history. but the report itself is tedious to read and more suitable for investigators. If you’re looking for an accessible take on the official narrative around 9/11, then this slim graphic novel is your best bet. the illustrations are stark and the narration much sharper than the report itself, and while many questions have been raised about how well the 9/11 commission did its job (some insist it filled many cracks), what cannot be deny is that its graphic novel variant is a great starting point for anyone wanting a quick, information-packed recap of the events of that fateful day.
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett Graf
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the only plane in the sky is actually the story of September 11, 2001, told by hundreds of people. This includes the people in the towers, the people on the hijacked plane, the people watching the event on TV, and, well, even the astronauts on the space station orbiting the earth. the result is a large and incredibly moving book, giving the reader snapshots of what happened that day from dozens of perspectives. This is not a book about introspection and analysis or finger pointing: it is simply September 11, 2001 from the eyes of those who saw what happened. there are anecdotes galore and some of them even have happy endings. the only book to read if you really want to “feel” how the day went.
The 11th: The Complete Story of 9/11 and Osama Bin Laden by Anthony Summers and Robby Swann
anthony summers has a knack for being direct and not letting feelings take over his narrative. and this is what makes the 11th perhaps the most balanced account of the events of “the 11th”. Summers and Swann take a look at what happened on September 11, 2001, as well as the events leading up to it and what followed. however, unlike some others, they don’t stray too far from the day itself. US government mistakes, conspiracy theories, the official report and its shortcomings, as well as cover-up allegations, are covered in detail here. Thanks to fluid narration from both authors, this is perhaps one of the most readable books on this list.
102 minutes: the unforgettable story of the struggle to survive inside the twin towers jm dwyer and kevin flynn
No book captures the horror and shock of what happened inside the World Trade Center Twin Towers like Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn’s 102 Minutes. The two New York Times reporters piece together the day’s events and poignantly point out how it wasn’t just terrorists who killed people. poor coordination, poor communication and even the lack of adequate rescue infrastructure in the twin towers (there were not enough stairs) doomed several people. this is a brutally direct book and you can literally smell the fire and hear the screams of the dead and injured as dwyer and flynn walk you through the 102 minutes between the impact of the first tower and the collapse of the second. /p >
falling and rising: the 9/11 story by michael zuckoff
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this is a book about those who were involved in the events of september 11, 2001. and that doesn’t mean the hijackers and the president or rudy guiani. no, falling and rising is the story of a tragedy seen through the eyes of many of its victims and affected by it. Zuckoff conducted several interviews and consulted transcripts and reports to deliver perhaps the most humane account of what happened that day. and how it changed thousands of lives. this is not a book for those looking for controversies or mysteries. it is a story of the people who perished and survived. said by them. a huge book, and a hugely moving one too. very similar to the only plane in the sky. and all equally important.
the looming tower: al-qaeda and the road to 9/11 by lawrence wright
What led up to the events of September 11, 2001? Many books have been written on the subject, but none have dealt with it as well as Lawrence Wright’s bestseller, The Looming Tower. this is a book for those who want to understand why 9/11 happened rather than what happened on that day (although wright also describes the attacks) as wright goes back to the 1940s and 1950s to trace hostility towards september 11 America and why the nation became a target. One of the book’s key characters is FBI agent John O’Neill, who tracks down and follows Osama bin Laden. bin laden’s story is told in some detail, including his involvement in the attacks and the evolution of al-qaeda, the terrorist organization that many say laid the foundation for isis. Ironically, O’Neill himself ended up as one of the security guys at the World Trade Center and died on 9/11. looming tower reads like a thriller at times, but what’s scary is that so much of it is true.
One Nation: America Remembers September 11, 2001 Life Magazine Editors
Does anyone do photographic narratives better than life magazine? This special collection of images of what happened on September 11, 2001 literally takes you back to that day. what makes it special is the fact that the book doesn’t try to surprise or terrify you: many of the images are of people who perished or survived and their stories. the pictures tell most of the stories, but the little text in the book is also great, and readers get a snapshot of the planning behind the attack and the people behind it. yes, there is a slight hint of nationalism when you read between the lines, but it is never overdone. perhaps the best individual book about the event to give to a person who doesn’t like to read much.
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