How well do you remember the events of 9/11? Are your memories a result of the TV coverage you watched that day and the many days that followed? Perhaps your memories have been shaped by movies, documentaries and conference presentations about the heroic actions of firefighters, police officers, paramedics and citizens who responded to the Twin Towers, Pentagon and field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Maybe you have visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City or countless other museum exhibits and memorials across our great country.
Many books have been written about the events leading up to September 11, 2001, the tragic events of the day and the transition from rescue and recovery into a decades-long global war on terror. But only a few of those books were written by, or primarily about, the firefighters, police officers and paramedics who ran toward the danger. These books will reinforce your memories of heroism and replenish your faith in the willingness of first responders to go above and beyond, even in the face of unprecedented catastrophe.
As you review this list, including several New York Times best sellers, please let us know why one of these books is your favorite or worth rereading. Also, please recommend titles we might have missed.
This article, originally published in September 2024, has been updated.
