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Summary: A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO A TRAGIC TIME
Review: Life Magazine, for as long as it has been in existence, has been known for its vivid portrayal in words and photographs of life's events, both joyous and tragic. This book is no exception. How could anyone read about the devastating events of September 11, 2001 and not be moved. Throughout "One Nation" the reader will recapture the events as they unfolded, meet both survivors and courageous rescuers, and still be left with that plaguing question, "in this century, in a time of peace and prosperity, how could this horrific event possibly have happened?"One need not be an American to appreciate this book, for the tragic events pictured here could happen anywhere. Where, is only a matter of geography. It is not appropriate to say it is an enjoyable book to read, for it is not. The events revealed here defy description and are so horrific they will stay with you forever. However, the book is a compelling one to read. For those who do not live near New York, it puts the reader in touch with the reality of the events. Life Magazine has produced a moving and impressive account, both in words and photographs, of what will become an unforgettable time in history. "One Nation" shows through the eyes of endless rescue workers, from all walks of life, that the world with all its tragedy, unpredictability and despair is also still a world filled with tremendous compassion and love for one's fellow man.
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Summary: an amazing book
Review: From the moment I opened this book, I was riveted. Every page was filled with pictures, personal accounts and memories. It was hard to look at the pictures and not cry. That old addage is true...a picture really is worth a thousand words. Every picture put in this book tells a story...From the firefighters, police and EMS personnel who are now being called heroes, to the picture that unfortunately captured a person jumping from one of the towers. I would say definitely pick up a copy of this book. I know that every time I look through the pages of the book I will always remember the events of that day and the days following. I will also remember how proud I feel to not only be an American, but to be one who as an EMT assisted at Ground Zero.
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Summary: Amazing pictoral look at 9-11
Review: I bought this as a gift to my sister, but before I wrapped it, I ended up looking through the photos that told the haunting story of 9-11. Now, granted, I have not seen the other books by other publishers, but I was amazed at the vividness captured on film. My wife is a photographer, and I know how hard she works to capture images that are "worth a 1,000 words." The photographers who sold their images to Life have done their job. If you want a keep-sake to remember one of the greatest tragedies in American history, I recommend this book. It helps give perspective as to the true tragedy of the events taking place that day.
Rating: 
Summary: This Is Why It's Called "Life"
Review: I've never been a big fan of Life magazine; it's just a little maudlin for my taste. However, I have always given credit where it is due, and recognized that some of the very best photojournalism to be found is in the pages of Life. As a New Yorker in body and soul, who is currently displaced, I started flipping through this book just to look at the change in the skyline without the World Trade Center Towers. I was hooked. I had to look at every picture, and also read the text. The writers are all of one mind, which I suppose is the point of the book; the book doesn't quite challenge itself, though. Nonetheless, the writers come from many perspectives, and many places: Maya Angelou, James Bradley, Andrei Codrescu, Bob Greene, Melissa Fay Greene, Thomas Keneally, David McCullough, Gordon Parks, and Doug Stanton, to name some. Maya Angelou's piece was especially moving. I was pleased that the contributors weren't all of one political bent, because this tragedy belongs not just to the political coalition that can best exploit it. The pictures are Life magazine in its finest moment. Life magazine contributors and editors excel in photodocumentation, and this is a shining example of their skills. The photos will both move you and fascinate you. Although this book does stir up the painful reality of what New York went through that day, I think New Yorkers will bear up under it, because this book makes what happened not just something that happened in New York, but something that happened in The United States of America. And so the book earns its title.
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Summary: More powerful as time goes on
Review: I picked this book up to read now, 9 months after the attacks of September 11th and found myself becoming choked up all over again. The photos are of course of the highest quality of composition and emotion, as you would expect from Life Magazine. The illustrated timeline brings the day back into focus, and now that time has given some distance, allows us to look anew at how the day unfolded. But of course, in any kind of tragedy, it is the human elements that have the most impact - and this book presents that excellently. Stories of heroism, tragedy, chance, determination and sadness brought tears to my eyes. The overwhelming shock of the events have worn off for the most part, but these stories remind us of what the day meant to people. The section of photographs of individuals against a stark white background drives home the smallest human element of an overwhelming tableau. The people focused upon are there for a reason, and even though just being there and taking part in the aftermath should be reason enough, most of the subjects have additional connections that ties them all together in a web of tragedy and redemption. This is a book to treasure and to use to show those that come after us what this day meant to America.
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Summary: A portrayal of any kind... is the truth of 9/11/01...
Review: A message to each and every reviewer who takes time to add thoughts to a any media of memorial of 9/11, World Trade Center Towers tragedy... thank you from my heart. My spouse and I resided on the Lower West Side, Battery Park City, Gateway Plaza, So. End Ave. As survivors of the 9/11 World Trade Center Towers tragedy... From our Gateway Plaza apartment, facing the street and 300 yards from the Towers, we helplessly witnessed all from our apartment windows. The closeness of the Towers viewed from our windows - gave an illusion that one could reach out and touch the Towers; their beauty with night lights reaching toward the sky promoted a contemplative emotion. We viewed the planes entering the Towers, the overwhelming inferno, individuals jumping, the collapse of the Towers, the darkness as debris hit our windows with a fury. What occurred over a period of hours, seemed like a much shorter time span. The darkness was darker than an eclipse, darker than the darkest night; and then a momentary hush after the air cleared. Viewing the roof garden one floor below, with the human reaction of looking out to see if someone might be on that roof garden and in need of help. Debris strewn everywhere, recording tape and paper hung from the trees of the garden and oh, so much ash. The momentary hush, whether real or imagined, then the viewing of debris for a second, fantasized that a parade had just passed by on our short street. I now really understand the expression a "feeling of helplessness", I couldn't fix what had just happened. We vacated our apartment finally at 5:15 p.m. that day, waiting for someone to knock on our door, with only a battery radio to keep us abreast of happenings. "In a New York minute", we evacuated via the stairwell touched with ash, the result of a first floor door left open. With a few belongings, gathered with a tad of thought of what was being left behind, we stepped out of the door onto the pavement, seeing and standing in ever so much ash & debris, I wanted to turn around and go back to our home. It was one moment of reality in time, I carry to this day. We planned to walk up the East Side, glimpsed the tired fire, police, volunteers, and med techs in our immediate driveway and street, so instead opted to pass through the building in back of the apartment complex. We gained access to the Esplanade walking the short distance to reach the Hudson River North Cove dock. We were escorted to the New Jersey shore via New York Police boat. From the boat deck, we viewed even more damage to the Manhattan skyline, especially noting the zigzag shape of the side of the American Express building, housed in one of the World Financial Center buildings along with the glorious Winter Garden, as well as the fall of World Trade Center Building 7. We were taken to the Jersey City Hospital, attended to by compassionate staff. Then traveled by National Guard truck to Hoboken, NJ where we were housed by a wonderful family who with great trust welcomed strangers to their home. On Friday 9/14, our eldest son & daughter-in-law drove from New Hampshire via New Jersey routes to Hoboken for transport us to New Hampshire for temporary residence with our daughter, who along with her friend and our youngest son, greeted us with open arms & the overwhelming feeling of not wanting to let go with each hug that followed. Our daughter and son had spent that Friday in New Hampshire collecting items of clothing and necessities which the Concord community generously opened their hearts and donated by churches, stores, individuals, employers, American Red Cross, et al. One of our grandchildren -- he was 8 at that time - arrived home from a few days with his Dad. He hugged us so tight, understanding the depth of 9/11 events for someone so young and yet so wise. He told Grandpa & Babcia that he had something for them... his Mom was not even aware of his gift. He had spoken to his classmates about his grandparents' closeness in location of the World Trade Center Towers. Presented to us was a large envelope full of hand-made cards from each of his classmates. And if that isn't love and caring, I don't know what is - from the hearts and minds of children! Residing now in New Hampshire, not because of 9/11 drove us away, but circumstances just went that way as we continue to put our lives into perspective. We Miss - New York City deeply; events found nowhere else in the USA, the introduction to & interaction with so many wonderful cultures. There isn't a day or night over these years that we do not think of 9/11... the Lady of Liberty & Ellis Island both on the merge of the East and Hudson Rivers. And that Lady of Liberty wept, I just know it, & still stands with pride that the USA is a democracy that will prevail. We Remember - the victims, the survivors, their friends and families, the workers from the public and private sector, the volunteers, our neighbors in Gateway Plaza and staff in the small group of stores on South End Avenue, Battery Park City. We Remember - the places we visited, the book signings attended, the celebrities we met, the concerts and theater plays, the movies, the arts, the parks, the strangers we talked with, on streets, on subway and those while standing in line for an event... We Remember - Always In Our Hearts, Forever In Our Souls, Heroes, Victims, Survivors One and All... We Were There. Painfully, the lump in my throat and the twist in my stomach, the tears in my eyes and the pain in my heart, to the depth of my soul, forever reside.
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Summary: Remember 9/11
Review: LIFE has done a first class job of putting together a book covering this horrific act by such a cowardly enemy.Rather than to make the Americans cower as these fanatics probably thought and probably thought and hoped for;it showed what a good and strong nation it is.History will remember both 9/11 and Pearl Harbor for the terrible and misguided acts of hatred they were.
This act conjours up different thoughts for everyone who witnessed it ,in whatever fashion,but no more so than those who had friends and particularly those who lost loved ones.
To those who may turn a little soft on the War on Terror a review of this book should remind one of what we are dealing with.
A great book TIME and thanks.
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Summary: Excellent -- the HARDCOVER of "In the Land of The Free"
Review: As I clicked through the excerpts offered by Amazon.com, I realized I HAVE this book -- but not by this name. The one I have may have come out earlier or later. It is an oversized paperback (coffee-table type) by LIFE entitled, "In the Land of The Free." It is, indeed, an INCREDIBLE book, and one I am extremely grateful to have as a visual and emotional reminder of that day -- and the days following. I HIGHLY recommend either edition. ONE NATION appears to have more pages and a different cover -- due, I'm sure, to the differences in pub dates. The hardcover version, ONE NATION, would/ will last longer than the paperback, as my binder is already showing wear. A must for anyone who wants to teach their children, a friend, a traveler, or remind yourself, what happened this day -- and why it still brings us to tears. As DVD companions, the "IN MEMORIAM -- NEW YORK CITY, 9/11/01" and "9/11 - THE FILMAKERS' COMMEMORATIVE EDITION" come with my HIGHEST recommendations. I grew up in Manhattan, and though have not lived there for many years, that old saying goes -- once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker. We all became New Yorkers that day. And we all became members of a Global Community that day, as we saw when 3,000 trees were planted in Australia on the 2nd Anniversary of 9/11....and with hope & rememberance, perchance we can continue to be so....
Rating:
Summary: One Nation
Review: This book was very good because it has pictures from when both plames crashed into the twin tower it shows people thatt were heroes people that survived It showzs insider tyhe twin towers when every one was trying to get out it shows every thing from september 11 that is why I rated this book a 5.
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Summary: Must Have
Review: This is a timeless book that gives grace to a day that shares so much tragedy. We have it out at all times on our table for people to view....and remember.
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