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Reluctant Hero (2011)

by Michael Benfante(Favorite Author)
3.99 of 5 Votes: 5
ISBN
1616082852 (ISBN13: 9781616082857)
languge
English
genre
publisher
Skyhorse Publishing
review 1: I liked this book a lot, and coincidentally read it a few days before the anniversary of 9/11. The main reason I liked it wasn't because of the details he shared about his actual experience in the Twin Towers, but rather for his sharing his experience after this traumatic event. What he went through was a clear-cut case of PTSD and I think anybody who has ever been around someone who has had to deal with a traumatic event or anyone who has suffered a traumatic event might find this useful. The only complaint I have is that, like many books I've read recently, it lacked a proofreader. Why can't they pay to have this done?? There was one entire section where "firemen" was used rather than the singular "fireman," when he was clearly talking about one single fireman. The... more second annoying thing was where, in one paragraph, the same word was misspelled SEVEN TIMES! Oh, it's enough to drive a person batty. It detracts so much from the quality of the book when this kind of thing happens.
review 2: This book was awesome. I read it in one day. What made it great is not just the way he described what happened on 9/11 and stop there. He went beyond and wrote about the psychological effects it had on him and how he fell into a depression and checked out of his relationships as a result of becoming bitter. He got married, bought a house, and had his first child but everyone knew including him that he was changed. Struggling with alcoholism, unemployment, bankruptcy, and depression, Michael explains how he tried to make sense of what happened and that he didn't feel like a hero. He felt confused and scared and angry. One day several years after 9/11, he is outside playing with his son when he has an epiphany that changed him and brought him out of his depression and bitterness: he realized that despite all the ugliness and politicizing of the terrorist attacks, the core truth that emerged was that all Americans were in the tragedy together, and that many people performed unrecognized heroic acts on that terrible day, and that America can and should focus on the good we can do for each other and not just the tragedy itself or the divisiveness it caused. He ends the book with a proposal to government officials at all levels that 9/11 be officially designated as a National Day of Service in which every American would commit to do anonymous random acts of kindness for others to honor those affected by 9/11. He gives a list of expectations to be clear that it should be something unpolitical and unannounced to others so that it would serve as a uniting force to all Americans. I found Michael's book to be insightful and inspiring and full of hope. I think his proposal is a great idea. less
Reviews (see all)
keith
Inspirational and honest-thank you for sharing your story.
jsingh
This is good. No big revelations.
Russian_Angel232
Great book!
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