The Only Plane in the Sky

An Oral History of September 11, 2001

By: Garrett M. Graff

Narrated by: full cast

A 2020 Audiobook of the Year Audie Award Winner!

A 2020 Multi-Voiced Performance Audie Award Winner!

Audio bonus! The audio edition includes an exclusive interview with Garrett Graff and Holter Graham as well as archival audio from United States presidential addresses, in-flight communications, and air traffic control.

Now with a new afterword, Garrett M. Graff’s instant New York Times best seller The Only Plane in the Sky, the comprehensive oral history of September 11, 2001 called “history as its most immediate and moving” (Jon Meacham) and “remarkable...a priceless civic gift” (The Wall Street Journal).

Hailed as “remarkable...incredibly evocative and compelling” (The Washington Post) and “oral history at its finest” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Garrett M. Graff’s The Only Plane in the Sky is the most vivid and human portrait of the September 11 attacks yet, comprised of never-before-published transcripts, recently declassified documents, and original interviews and stories from nearly 500 government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members. Here is a vivid, profound, and searing portrait of humanity on a day that changed the course of history and all of our lives.

©2019 Garrett M. Graff (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 is a book exquisitely suited to audio format, a detailed cataloging of hundreds of personal stories, read by actors and culled from 5,000 oral histories conducted and archived around the country.... We hear from first responders, office workers in the twin towers, people traumatized by witnessing falling bodies.... Unlike many works of history, The Only Plane in the Sky, a mountain of indelible anecdotes, does not feel like a novel. It feels, instead, like dozens that ought to be written." (The New York Times Book Review)

This should be required listening

This book should be required listening for all high school and college students and politicians.
It is one of the hardest books I have listened to, due to the emotions of the people telling in their own voices the events of that day. The book itself is extremely well done. It flows very well. I have learned much from this book. I also have used many Kleenex during it.
I watched this event happen via computer video and TV. I am in awe of the bravery of those that experienced it in person.
Thank you for this book.
After listening, no one will ever forget 9-11-01.

Riveting and Emotional!

As I listened to the recounts of these personal experiences, I was brought back to the emotions surrounding that day. It brought back tears, angst, and respect for the heroic actions by so many. I will never forget the day and now, will have an even greater understanding and empathy for the many impacted by the events of that day.

Truly mesmerizing

This book in Audio format is truly mesmerizing in its realism of watch of the memories being shared here

amazing book

amazing book about what people experienced on 9/11. I highly recommend reading this book as a historical reference.

Absolutely incredible

The reviews are honestly all true, it's an incredible telling of one of the most important days of our history from every single angle you could imagine. It's worth it.

A difficult yet necessary book to experience...

My choice of the book “The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001” was prompted by the fact that I always thought that I didn’t know enough about the tragedies of that day and I wanted to not only hear but also to feel more about what September 11, 2001 was for us. Through this book, the reader/listener is transformed and transplanted back to that terrible day through the voices of those who lived through the tragic event. I would add a proviso: if you decide to read this book, be ready for all kinds of emotions that will accompany it. The content is excellent and so is the writing style. But the subject is very difficult to comprehend. Yet in this day and age, it is necessary to hear and learn what happened on 9/11.

Powerful oral history

Beautifully narrated and curated stories of lives on that horrible day and afterwards with many insights that most of us had no understanding or memory of well worth the listen

Great listen

Powerful stories. Amazing research. A lot of really sad parts. A lot of interesting parts and stories. Feel more connected to 9/11 now.

9/11 Tradition

I listen to this every year. This year I completed it at 9:11 pm on September 11. Good timing.

Riveting

Gripping perspectives from the "inside." Such powerful tear-inducing recollections. Well done! Thank you, Garrrett for ensuring they will be remembered forever.