Customer Reviews

Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think that Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's book reads well. Very well, indeed. Were it solely about the five minute flight over New York City in January, 2009, it would have a lot of padding in its 300+ pages - but fortunately, and obviously (to those who know the author), it's not just about the world-famous events of the amazing ditching on the Hudson River - it goes far, far beyond that.

Highest Duty is a portrait of an American life. Sully takes us on a tour encompassing his small-town upbringing, discussing his parents' instillation of strong, consistent values, discussing his early love affair with aviation, telling personal and touching stories of his family and his remarkable wife and partner Lorrie, covering his life-long focus on improving safety and reliability in aviation, and reviewing his observations about our nation's commercial aviation industry.

While one might reasonably wonder whether a formerly anonymous commercial pilot would have a compelling story to tell - a story that goes beyond the brief flight over the Hudson River - the engaging pages of Highest Duty make it clear that Sully's story is engaging, gripping, and filled with lessons for us all.

If you are looking for a long narrative of Chesley "Sully" Sulllenberger's amazing piloting of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, then you will be disappointed, so don't buy this book. On the other hand, if you want to know just what brings a man like Sully Sullenberger to exceptional (maybe even heroic) performance, then read on. The answer is developed over 300 pages of Sullenberger telling the reader the story of his life--from a small community in Texas through the rigors of the Air Force Academy through service to his country as an Air Force fighter pilot and on to his commercial flying career. Were it not for the remarkable challenge of "The Miracle on the Hudson," chances are that we'd never have heard of Sully Sullenberger. Indeed, he estimated that he has flown perhaps a million people--and until January 15 virtually none of whom would recognize him a week after their flight--and that's the way he would want it to be. Yet that doesn't mean the strength and character of the man weren't already there. If there's one thing to derive from this interesting book, that's it. His remarkable qualities were already developed through his life experiences.

As you read this book, you realize that Sullenberger was absolutely prepared to be a pilot. It started back when he learned to fly (at age 16), it continued during his years at the Air Force Academy and in the Air Force, and it kept growing through his commercial pilot career. For example, he made a point of studying aircraft accidents, trying to put himself in the seats of those who had to make split-second decisions. I was surprised to read that he studied an ocean ditching (a flight from Hawaii to San Francisco) that had remarkable similarities to Sullenberger's ditching in the Hudson: that pilot walked up and down the plane, twice, to make sure everyone had left, and the plane stayed afloat for 21 minutes. Sullenberger knew what to do on January 15, 2009, because he had thoroughly thought through the process long before he was called to land in the Hudson.

There is a fair amount of personal story in Highest Duty--the story of his parents, wife and adopted daughters; the sad state of the commercial airline business; his struggling finances and his commitment to helping others. The reader can see that Sullenberger is no Superman, just another one of a long list of committed people who have resolved to be prepared and to do the right thing--whether or not they ever become famous. There are also some fighter pilot stories that you'd expect (and appreciate). You learn that one thing about being a fighter pilot is that one understands how important skill and clear thinking are, but one also realizes that some things aren't necessarily left in your own hands.

In short, this book is an easy to read and enjoyable experience. It is insightful, too. You'll probably read it in just a few sittings, and you will likely develop the feeling that there are many American heroes out there. We just don't know all their names.

Found myself captivated by the book that Capt. Sully Sullenberger wrote in the aftermath of sailing on the Hudson with an Airbus A320. Agree with the couple of other reviewers that this is about much more than just the LGA incident. This book describes the ethos of a very modest, private and self effacing pilot and gives us a window into a career and a calling that saved the lives of some 150 odd people. I found the content on relationships and parenting very readable and poignant. What I found saddening is the dismantling of America that I see in all walks of life extends to even the airline industry. I probably realized it was happening but to have it spelled out by Sully .....the outsourcing of even the airlines: maintenance, machining and the incredibly low wages accorded pilots is STUNNING. I found the book well written and lucid!! On a somewhat separate note I find it beyond belief that we all prop up systems that reward Wall Street and their sinecures while driving the likes of Sully into penury!

At first glance, this is an unspectacular work by a regular guy who takes a lot of pride in and passion for his chosen career.

At a deeper glance, this book has solidified my belief that one's life is defined by the outcome of inflection moments. These moments are rare, they come at unpredictable times and change everything. This is a book about a man who was (a) prepared to manage risks, (b) in the moments that mattered drew from that preparedness with flawless execution, and (c) performed his captain duties by ensuring his passengers' safety after the ditch.

The message to be taken out is two-fold:

1) Time is a dangerous agent that can remove lessons of the key risks, and every professional has a duty in understanding their landscape and drawing from historical perspective, in doing their job and being prepared for the unlikely, yet possible inflection events.

2) Service organizations have a duty to set risk management procedures that encompass known risks, and those they service should be able to define whether they'll pay.

I highly recommend this read, and remain in awe of all the people and events surrounding Flight 1549.

Captain Chesley Sullenberger thinks himself an average citizen just 'doing his job.' He couldn't be more wrong. In an age when most folks do just enough to 'get by' Sullenberger's personal standards of excellence set the bar for the rest of us--and resulted in saving 150+ lives on that fateful January day.

It was not surprising to learn of the people who touched his young life and instilled in him a quest for perfection. His years at the Air Force Academy honed his talent, but his personal desire to be the best put him in a class by himself.

Most of us would like to think that when we put ourselves in the hands of an airline crew that we are being taken care of by the likes of a Captain Sullenberger. And while I'm certain there are many excellent pilots flying today, I'm also certain that he is one of an elete few who cut no corners, take no chances and always remember the lives for which they are responsible daily.

Since this story broke I have been in awe of his humility. The comments he made after the incident on the Hudson were brief and humble. He never neglected to point out the team effort and took no credit for his own skill and experience. If ever there were a real American hero--here he is. His picture should be posted next to the word 'hero' in the dictionary.

This book helped me understand the whole man and beautifully illustrated that what happened on that fateful day was the culmination of a life well lived combined with extraordinary preparedness and depth of knowledge. Perhaps no other pilot had the combination of skill and experience to do the impossible. But that's what he did--winning him the respect of many of his own aviation idols.

If more folks took true pride in their performace--no matter their profession--imagine how great America could be again. I hope the days of our nation desiring to be great are not over. People like Chesley Sullenberger renew my faith that we can be a great country again, filled with people who excel and who care about their personal code of honor and about others. His story humbles us all.

A story of an American hero. Sully aimed at nothing less than being the best airman and person that he could be, nothing less. His story can motivate anyone to be the best at something, anything, and how to best utilize it to serve a purpose higher than oneself. Truly inspiring.

Even without the events of flight 1549, Sullenberger's life is rich with stories that are fascinating to read. Written in a straight forward, almost journalistic manner, you can feel (I think) the touch of the ghost writer, as he refined the stories, but the voice is clearly that of the man we have come to 'know' through the television appearances back in Jan/Feb. 2009. Quiet, confident, soft-spoken, modest. This book is a true memoir that touches on his childhood and dream of flying, the challenges of being a fighter pilot and the many comrades he lost even in a time of peace, his family life and the challenges they faced and how they overcame them (or are still working on them) and also - the suicide death of his elderly father.

I give kudos to Sullenberger for touching (but not exploiting) many of the personal challenges in his life. After reading this book (in two days, it's a fascinating read) one feels as if they know what shaped this man into who he is today.

In reading this book, I couldn't help being reminded over and over again of the wonderful Malcolm Gladwell book - Outliers. If you haven't read it, it would make the perfect companion piece to Highest Duty. One of the premises of Gladwell's book is that one becomes an expert after 10,000 hrs of practice (he did not originate this theory), Sully had almost 20,000 hrs in a plane as did the first officer Skiles. Gladwell writes that other dynamics come into play in any crisis situation and he specifically looks at airline accidents in depth. Almost everything Gladwell wrote about played out in the successful landing of Flight 1549. And the reason is that a lifetime of experiences had prepared Sullenberger for that one 3 minute flight above NYC.

Definitely worth the money!

Wow..this book is not just a story. It is a lesson, many taught through a story of what life should be. Learning the basics. Basics of anything..playing checkers, music, cooking, math...technology, wall street. He didn't just "happen" to know what to do that day. He KNEW. I loved his statement, "I had made deposits across the years of experience and I hoped I had enough to draw on." He did. The book shows preparation. He wasn't a boy scout, but he was one, prepared. The book gave illustration, after illustration of life events, not only his, but now I am talking about specific incidents he had studied intently, reading. I never knew the downsizing and loss pilots were given. I knew beginning pilots made little but no idea senior officers made little more. We need to speak out to the airlines, politicians. They find money for everything else. Lives are involved. His concern about not being able to attract quality people should be a wake up call. This book should be a gift to new college graduates, high school seniors to read about life. The lessons. I expected it to be, his story, yet knowing he was to much a person not given to the accolades he has had. We need to realize he could fly and crash a plane. Maintenance, weather, there are other factors, if it were middle of the night, etc. he could not control but that does not make him less of a heoric person. His sharing facts everyone wasn't standing out there cool, calm and collected as some seemed to indicate. While no dramatic hysteria, there was fear, possibility for loss of life until rescue. His determination that he share any celebrations with the entire crew says a lot about him. I pre-ordered my copy the day I heard it was coming out. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The other book being released about this event, "Miracle on the Hudson", is good but basically individual stories you have heard all over the news already. You do have to admire his openness of conflicts, struggles. One of the people mentioned they were disappointed no mention of a Higher Power, etc. I know where they are coming from and the thought crossed my mind but in this particular book leaving that out, allows many more people opportunity to read and realize life happens. Someone asked him, "were you praying?" He said, "I am sure they were behind me, but I had a job to do and my concentration was to save lives and focus." I hope this book becomes a best seller. Great Christmas gift - business people; students; CEO's;

When I see an audio book with two readers, I expect the first name listed to read more than 50% of the book. Although Michael Mcconnohie, listed as second reader, is talented and has a pleasant voice, he reads most of the tracks on these 8 CDs. I purchased the audio CD version of the book to hear Captain Sullenberger tell the story in his own words and in his own voice, just as I purchased President Obama's audio book to listen to the man himself. I wanted to listen to this not only myself, but also to have my nephew, grandson, grandaughter and wife listen to and be inspired by by the voice of a true hero of modern aviation. The added content on the enhanced CD is really little more than can be obtained from the public record of flight 1549 on the Internet. All things considered, I am disappointed in this audio book and recommend purchasing only the printed version.

I just finished reading Captain Sullenberger's book and I have to say it's the most inspiring book I have read in a long time. I love the way he not only speaks out about his experience on the Hudson, he also speaks out about his personal and family life. I wish everyone could read this and take some lessons. We're living in some tough times right now, but, like Sully..we're all human and deserve to both give and receive respect from our fellow human beings. Thank you, Sully, for writing such an honest and forthright book. My husband is retired military and we have all had our "ups and downs" of separations. I admire you wife's courage and spirit taking care of the homefront while our husband's obligations are met. We have to be tough...and I think she's one tough woman. My best wishes for good health and happiness in your future!