Good

A great and honest story. It was a very interesting perspective but I felt it dragged a little at the end. Also give this guys wife a medal!! She is a diamond of a woman who deserves all the good things in the world and he is one lucky man to still be married to her!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A brilliant honest story about 911 and it’s impact after the fact , essential reading

This is a raw and honest account of 911 and it’s impact on a man who was there , his actions then , his suffering now and it’s impact on generations

Essential reading

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Incredible

This book is filled with so much warmth. whether it is the act on September 11th 2001 or just the faith in the good side of humanity that runs throughout.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

great story

rip all very good we all are interested in everyone who was there do it was sad rip all

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

One Man's Story

Michael Benfante is a hero. He's a man that chose to "do the right" thing." by helping, with the aid of a colleague, a disabled woman down 68 floors of the World Trade Centre one, the north Tower, during those horrific events of September 11th, 2001. His account of what happened in his 81st floor based company paints a terrifying picture of that day and the level of damage that, despite being around 10 floors below the impact point", was caused.

Michael Benfante was an Ivy League educated high flier, a man with goals and ambitions, his entire future already planned out, and then his world is turned upside down starting with the events of that terrible day.

He remains calm, probably something that may have made the difference between survival and dying, and got his office to leave via the staircase. I wonder how many others in the building at the time decided, not unreasonably, to remain where they were until otherwise directed.


What his account tells us, is the confusion about what had actually happened. As we on the outside watched on in horror, many inside the buildings had no idea what had actually happened, other than something bad.

One incident in the book, shortly before the collapse of the north tower and as the south tower lay in ruins, saw a total stranger refer to Benfante by his first name. Michael benfante had no idea who this man was, but he asked Michael to turn around and not go south. A fireman, also there, added that he shouldn't go in that direction because there are things there, once seen, cannot be unseen. However, the odd, long haired, man who seemingly knew who "Mike" was, was never referred to again in the book, so a bit of a mystery.

Ironically, as is so often the case with such traumatic experiences, it's the aftermath, sometimes quite some time after, is where the real problems begin with so many people. Benfante, for all his self confidence, starts to suffer. It occurred to me that perhaps those that have the highest levels of self confidence are the ones who fall farthest in such life changing situations.

The aftermath saw his job evaporate, forcing this highly educated man into construction for a living. Talk about bad luck after surviving one of the world's most tragic events.

However, and I may be unpopular for bringing this up, I do have to say that I feel that Benfante was too eager to accept the publicity offered him. In that regard, I felt the disabled woman Benfante saved had the right attitude. She shied away from the limelight where as Benfante, for the most part initially, seemed happy to go from one TV show/interview to another. To be fair, he did point out that he had turned down some big shows, Larry King being one, but I just get the sense that he aloud himself far to much media exposure and the adulation that goes with if. That's not to say that the man shouldn't have given any interviews, not at all. I just feel he overdid things in that department and I wonder if this postponed his emotional recovery from his traumatic experience. Personally speaking, I relate more to those that have done something heroic, but choose to remain in the background and not talk about it in the media extensively. I also have to state that it left a slightly off taste in my mouth when, as I recall, he even referred to himself as a hero, or having done a heroic thing. Again, perhaps unpalatable, but I got the slight sense that there was a hint at lack of modesty with regard his achievements. he mentioned his prestigious athletic abilities in college, both track and field and football. Personally, I would've mentioned only the athletic ability, as he did, when running from the collapsing north tower.

Michael benfante did a wonderful thing. He undoubtedly saved someone's life, perhaps most of his office by his quick and calm thinking and no one should forget that. My minor niggles aside, I feel for this man who has suffered greatly over the years since and I wish him all the success in putting his life back together.

If I met him, I'd shake his hand.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fantastic book

What an accurate and honest depiction of what 9/11 must have been like. A great read of an incredible story!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Honest and Open

Brutally honest recount of how this traumatic event effected himself and family. Gripping read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

struggled to finish this book .

felt like a sermon at times .Went on far too long and the writer self indulgent.The main story goog Nd gripping at times but not well written

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!