The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

There's a reason why this book is rated so highly, and quite frankly, it deserves every single star.

I've never read a book like this that has such an enveloping, all-encompassing way of conveying the terror and grief and hope of that day. Viewpoints are often only a few sentences (up to a paragraph) long, but it creates a snappy and through 360 degree view of how the events unfolded and how each story intertwined. There's very little author interference; the viewpoints are presented as-is.

I felt raked over and absolutely exhausted when I finally turned the last page and closed this book. It is heavy. It is inspiring. It is a must read.