Last Man Down: A New York City Fire Chief and the Collapse of the World Trade Center

Rating:
Summary: Major Disappointment
Review: Chief Picciotto's favorite word seems to be "I" and his favorite topics seem to be his very high opinion of himself coupled with his disdain for higher authority at FDNY and City Hall. Taking nothing away from his personal valor on 9/11, the book was a major disappointment. If you are looking for the definitive account of what happened at the Trade Towers that tragic day skip this book and buy "Report from Ground Zero" by Dennis Smith.

Rating:
Summary: What could have been
Review: I got this book beacuse I knew someone who died in the WTC. I wnted to understand. Not to make light of the Firefighters & why they do what they do, but I found this book too full of self praise. To use a story to just pat oneself on the back bothers me. There are always problems with governmental entities and things are never as they should be but I fond more preaching rather what happened during those terrible minutes & seconds. That the fire department leadership needs changes should be subject to
revision should not be here in this book. I will always feel for the loss of life & the dedication these men & women freely and heroicly gave.I applaud what all firemen and rescue people did on this tragic day but I was beginning to expect that the author was Superman in disquise.
I will never forget 9-11 but if you are looking for the story of brave men, well this book needs to be edited. Tell the story, don't contiually repeat & pat yourself on the back I thought this was a keeper but I was wrong

Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING book , a must read
Review: I thought this book was outstanding and shows the true dedication of all firefighters. It is a book that lets the reader understand some of why firemen do what the do. If you want a truthfll insight into there world you have to read this book .

Rating:
Summary: Sickening
Review: In the small isolated Island of New Zealand we are seperated by thousands of miles from the horror that was going on in New York on September 11. This book brought me closer than the horrifing pictures that I saw on tv and I realised the fear and the pain that USA citizens were coming to grips with and I realised how lucky I truely was. It took me less than 6 hours to read this captivating book from cover to cover. I was sickened when Richard described the noise of the collaspe of the towers, the horror he faced when emerging from his tomb and the financial constraints that are placed on all our forces!
Richard has written this book in such an amazing way that you can actually feel (however I am very very lucky that I could not!) the fear, the horror and the drive behind these very brave men. The way Richard describes the noise of the collapse of the towers gutted me to my very core and I shed a tear for the worry for the supportive families.
Even though I am located on the other side of the world I am greatful for people like Richard and the many other brave people that risk their lives every day....we should all be made to read books like this one!!!
I hope in your lifetime you have heard enough 5-5-5-5's and that you never have to hear it again!!!!
Thankyou XXXXX

Rating:
Summary: There is more to this than Sept 11
Review: From the moment I began to read this book,wanting to feel compassion for a "hero" who served my own home state, I was so disappointed. I felt that this book screams out "Hey, what about me?". As a daughter of a war veteran, he makes a comparison to the men returning home from vietnam and the cold reception they had recieved, to his first moments out of the collapsed building, with no one to pat him on the back. Whoa, this was unsettling for me. I also was quite annoyed at the reference made to David Lim, the Port Authority worker, who in his panic called for someone to care for his dog, mans best friend, and Piccitto thought it petty and a waste of batteries on walkie talkies. Who is to make that judgement in a time like that? Being an animal lover myself, it would have been the first thoughts to my head. But it isnt just about small references. I, like the entire country was devastated. I do not want to take anything away from any individual. We each grieve in our own way. Here is the thing, this book was totally geared to the burocracy of the FDNY. He persistantly makes references to how the "higher-ups" take away or dont give enough even in his acknowledgements, he goes on and on which such things as the FDNY have to buy their own toilet paper. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I feared that it kept up with the bad rap that NYers recieve. Hey folks, we are all not like that!!

Rating:
Summary: Courage, Loyalty, Strength
Review: Chief "Pitch" details a riveting, courageous, unbelievable account of his survival of the 9/11 North Tower collapse. What a man. This book is a must read. It is only through the grace of God that this courageous, awesome man survived this disaster and lived to tell about it. I say, "Take a bow Chief, you are awesome." I could not put this bood down. I wish he would write a follow-up.

Rating:
Summary: Egotistical
Review: I would be extremely interested to know what the FDNY thinks of this book. It was fascinating learning what I could about the tragedy, especially from inside the building, but this guy is really full of himself. Sometimes it's hard to get past his ego and get to the experience itself.
My dad is a medic and I have met many firefighters and medics. I have yet to meet one that thinks so highly of him/herself. I don't know how much input this guy put into the book, but unfortunately for him - he comes off as pompous and self-righteous.

Rating:
Summary: last Man Down
Review: A gritty, honest and immersing recount. Not sanitized. Not the "company" line. He called it like he saw it. Smetimes as a Battalion Commander he had to make decisions on the spot. He tells it strictly from his point of view including his own feelings. There is no gloss here. There is a feeling that you are there more than with Smith's "Report From Ground Zero." Dennis Smith writes after the fact and it is interesting to read the memories of others he recounts after you have read "Last Man Down." Somehow I have more faith in a story told by a man who isn't afraid to say that some equipment and even toilet paper is dangerous, worthless or both. Read both. See which you feel is best.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I picked up this book and couldn't put it down until I had read it all. I highly recommend this book to get a firsthand perspective from someone that was there as this attack unfolded.

Rating:
Summary: Not "cashing in"
Review: If every account of history was just "cashing in" we would have no first-hand accounts to pass on to the next generation. Maybe to the jealous-hearted this is "cashing in" whatever that really means. Many people don't see it that way at all. Thank God this man lived to tell about it. Pich did all he could with the highest professionalism and used whatever means he had at his disposal, putting others before him in an effort to save lives. I don't know how well any of us would have done in the life or death situations he faced. Can you walk up 35 flights of stairs with 60 to 100 lbs. of gear? This book is first-rate. No fear. Only guts.

Next time, go after the rip-off scam-artists who have nothing to contribute in their books but "cash in" anyway. Maybe that's your speed.