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62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Images that Haunt, Images that Move, November 17, 2001
Wow. This book will be the definitive collection of first-rate photographs and images of September 11th and its aftermath. "One Nation" is a must have regardless of whether you've been collecting other magazine or newspaper images of September 11th. It's hardbound with thick stock paper, pretty close in design to a coffee-table book. The hundreds of stunning photographs, coupled with the detailed narrative, make it an ideal collector's book and a thoughtful gift. It's sure to be a hand-me-down to children and grandchildren as well. This breathtaking book of pictures is divided into numerous sections, more or less organized by chronology. Let me describe a few highlights, since there are too many images to describe in this short space. One of the first sections, tells (and shows in pictures) the story of how the World Trade Center was designed and built. That section has quotes from the architect and pictures from the Towers' development process. The next major section is devoted exclusively to a minute-by-minute description of the Events of September 11th (what some of us here simply call "ES11"). This section has dozens upon dozens of pages of pictures and text -- all from September 11th. You can't help but be moved by some familiar images from television as well as an array of touching photos that have never been released in this format. The narrative to this incredibly detailed section also includes detailed maps, timelines of key events, and profiles of survivors, those who passed away, and individual heroes. The pictures are powerful, almost all in vivid color, and show the moments of September 11th unfolding in real time. The middle chapters include an essay about the history of New York and the City's importance in our natural and global culture. One of these chapters is a beautiful photo essay of the nation's activities in the month following September 11th. The photos show mourners in various cities, various ways the flag was symbolically displayed, and images of soldiers leaving for battle. One such picture shows a soldier and his wife saying goodbye, while trying to hold back tears and fear. It will move you. Another touching section from the middle of the photo-book
tells the moving stories of a variety of heroes who emerged on September 11th. You'll read about (and see touching pictures of) the passengers on Flight 93, an unsung hero on Flight 11, Father Judge, the chaplain of the NYFD, the "Lucky 6" of the NYFD, even the touching story of the search and rescue dogs who made a difference in the rubble. There's also a lengthy collection of photos and profiles developed by legendary Time photographer Joe McNally, for his Ground Zero Portrait Project. The Portrait Project excerpt has pages of photos and profiles of a variety of people who came together for the rescue and recovery mission. The full page pictures and short biographies remind us that New York is the most diverse city in the United States, and that public service knows no bounds of age or race. Sprinkled throughout the book are poetry and essays written just for this collection, including "Bottomless Tuesday" by Gordon Parks, the wonderful filmmaker and photographer, and "Extravagant Spirits" by our legendary poet Maya Angelou. The last sections of the book focus on life in the weeks and months after September 11th. Here, you'll see touching pictures of a recovering New York, including a beautiful shot of children playing by the East River, against a backdrop of where the Towers were formerly visible. There are also somber images of post-September 11th funerals and the war effort. I live and work in Manhattan, and I'm not afraid to admit that despite feeling and seeing the heavy dose of real-life and news coverage up close, the images in this book still brought me to a moment of true reflection and humility. The book also showed me a side of New York that I've seen on the streets here but that much of the rest of the world hasn't begun to fully appreciate. I have only two small quibbles with the book. First, there aren't enough images or narrative about the events in Pennsylvania and Virginia/D.C. Second, there isn't a whole lot of exploration of the people or issues that caused this tragedy. Maybe, in a book entitled "One Nation", that's how it was meant to be. Taken as a whole, "One Nation" represents a great and triumphant return for LIFE Magazine and its chronicling of the American story. It captures a truly unique and tragic time in American history -- one that made us pause admidst our differences to share a moment of deep reflection about ourselves, our country, and our truly global world.
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