Langewiesche, William

Examines factors that contributed to the successful, emergency landing of a U.S. Airways Airbus A320 on January 15, 2009, discussing the design of the aircraft and bird strikes throughout aviation history, along with the financial problems of the airlines, the competition between Airbus and Boeing, and more.

Tells the story of the removal of debris following the destruction of the World Trade Center by terrorists on September 11, 2001 along with the removal of the dead, and the volunteers who assisted.

The author, granted unrestricted access to the World Trade Center site in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, describes the physical details of the collapse of the towers and the deconstruction of the ruins, and shares the stories of the workers who responded to the tragedy.

Discusses the danger that exists due to the production of nuclear weapons in poor countries that are potentially hostile to the West, and considers the likelihood of terrorists obtaining nuclear weapons, leaving the U.S. and other Western countries without a clear target for retaliation.