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Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26Publishing for the 25th anniversary of 9/11: A dramatic, never-before-told, minute by minute account of the military, national security, and aviation response to the devastating attacks against the United States
On September 11, 2001, the United States faced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. While the events of that day have been widely reported, Ash and Honor is a masterclass of narrative journalism, putting into a shocking new context what really happened.
Investigative journalist Jeffrey Robinson weaves together the stories of more than 60 eye-witnesses to history, many of whom who have never spoken publicly, taking readers on a unique journey deep inside the most crucial and devastating 368 minutes of our time.
Ash and Honor draws from the voices of people in the air and on—or below—the ground, all making crucial, split-second decisions. From the pilot in the cockpit of what was possibly “the fifth plane”; to the pilots in the cockpits of the fighter jets on a suicide mission to stop the hijacked planes from reaching their targets; to Air Force One, where the pilot, facing a direct threat to the plane, told himself, “Time to be Tom Cruise,” while the Secret Service agent responsible for President Bush’s safety refused his demand to return to Washington.
Robinson reveals what happened in a bunker five stories below the East Wing of the White House, where an illegal order was made to shoot down a civilian passenger jet; in a tense meeting in the National Military Command Center’s top-secret Air Threat Conference; and in NORAD’s underground Cheyenne Mountain, where a direct threat to NORAD was so menacing that the commanding General declared “Battle stations” deep inside and ordered the 30-ton hardened steel blast doors shut.
Meanwhile, the FAA’s national operations manager took it upon himself to order all planes in the air to land; the Canadian Minister of Transport suddenly found himself with 238 planes and 33,000 passengers diverted to Canada; and a three-star general in Alaska stared down Vladimir Putin, who deliberately sent Russian bombers right up to the edge of US airspace as America’s nuclear response was put on a worldwide 15-minute alert.
ASH AND HONOR is the definitive chronicle of the chaos and confusion, the turmoil and pandemonium, told by first-hand sources who guided America through the ash and honor of its darkest day.
On September 11, 2001, the United States faced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. While the events of that day have been widely reported, Ash and Honor is a masterclass of narrative journalism, putting into a shocking new context what really happened.
Investigative journalist Jeffrey Robinson weaves together the stories of more than 60 eye-witnesses to history, many of whom who have never spoken publicly, taking readers on a unique journey deep inside the most crucial and devastating 368 minutes of our time.
Ash and Honor draws from the voices of people in the air and on—or below—the ground, all making crucial, split-second decisions. From the pilot in the cockpit of what was possibly “the fifth plane”; to the pilots in the cockpits of the fighter jets on a suicide mission to stop the hijacked planes from reaching their targets; to Air Force One, where the pilot, facing a direct threat to the plane, told himself, “Time to be Tom Cruise,” while the Secret Service agent responsible for President Bush’s safety refused his demand to return to Washington.
Robinson reveals what happened in a bunker five stories below the East Wing of the White House, where an illegal order was made to shoot down a civilian passenger jet; in a tense meeting in the National Military Command Center’s top-secret Air Threat Conference; and in NORAD’s underground Cheyenne Mountain, where a direct threat to NORAD was so menacing that the commanding General declared “Battle stations” deep inside and ordered the 30-ton hardened steel blast doors shut.
Meanwhile, the FAA’s national operations manager took it upon himself to order all planes in the air to land; the Canadian Minister of Transport suddenly found himself with 238 planes and 33,000 passengers diverted to Canada; and a three-star general in Alaska stared down Vladimir Putin, who deliberately sent Russian bombers right up to the edge of US airspace as America’s nuclear response was put on a worldwide 15-minute alert.
ASH AND HONOR is the definitive chronicle of the chaos and confusion, the turmoil and pandemonium, told by first-hand sources who guided America through the ash and honor of its darkest day.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader copy.
Ash and Honor examines the events of 9/11 from a political perspective, focusing on the critical decisions that had to be made as the attacks unfolded. While many books about September 11 center on the terrorists, the planes, or the heroic first responders, this book explores the leadership and coordination behind the scenes during one of the darkest days in American history.
The book highlights the roles of key figures, including former President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, while also recognizing the contributions of air traffic controllers, military personnel, and members of the Canadian government. Together, these perspectives provide a broader understanding of the immense challenges faced as officials worked to respond to an unprecedented crisis.
Overall, I thought this was a well-researched and compelling piece of journalism. It offers a fascinating and often-overlooked perspective on 9/11, shedding light on the difficult decisions made behind the scenes. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the events of September 11 and the political and logistical response that followed.
August 2, 2026
I assume we will get a hearty barrage of 9/11 books prior to the 25th anniversary, but in my opinion, this is one worth reading. Some of the information and anecdotes are well-tread and have been included in books before, however, I was surprised that there were some new (to me) stories. History should be told and retold, and this book does it well. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, this powerful and eye‑opening account of the first 385 minutes after the attacks sheds new light on what unfolded during those life‑altering hours. This book isn’t about the attack itself, it’s about the decisions made afterward. You won’t find anything about the people who caused the destruction; instead, you’ll follow the choices, confusion, and events that shaped the immediate response. Most of us who lived through that day will never forget where we were, and this book takes you inside the lives of the people who had to act quickly, often with incomplete or incorrect information, and sometimes without the authority they needed.
The narrative also follows other incidents happening at the same time, not directly related to the attacks, but still impacting critical moments in the hours and days that followed. It offers a closer look at how our Canadian neighbors responded, the challenges they faced, and the ways they stepped up to help. The spread of misinformation, the urgency of decision‑making, and the sheer number of moving parts are all laid out clearly.
This isn’t a light read, but it provides tremendous insight into everything happening simultaneously when the country was first attacked. It focuses on the response and the aftermath, the experiences of people on planes, someone inside the Trade Center, and even excerpts from some of the last phone calls made that day. You’ll also follow where President Bush was during those first hours and the decisions his advisors were forced to make. I especially appreciated learning how everyday Canadians welcomed stranded travelers with pride and compassion and how the Canadian government stepped up to help us without hesitation.
This book is an amazing tribute for the 25th anniversary. It highlights the people making decisions, the ones who were unexpectedly affected, and those on other planes who suddenly found themselves part of history. I loved the stories of regular people helping others , parts of the day most of us never knew about. It’s a reflective, thoughtful look at what happened behind the scenes. There are many points made, some positive, and some areas we needed to make some adjustments to better prepare for unexpected disasters, and it becomes clear how much work was done by people whose names we’ve never heard. Canada’s cooperation and generosity were extraordinary, and they probably never received the thanks they deserved. This is a fast‑paced read that I highly recommend. The writing moves quickly, jumping from scene to scene as events unfold. I appreciated the inclusion of Diane Kirschke, Nick Marson, Rabbi Leivi, and Bonnie Harris, their stories were meaningful additions that show how many lives were affected. These stories highlighted some of the positive things and altruistic acts regular citizens did for others. It really shed light on what happened to the president and those around him, the airlines and FAA and other individuals who were responsible for keeping our country safe and strong.
This was a great read. Thank you to Net Galley, St Martins Press and the author for this ARC to read and review. This review reflects my own opinions of this book.
The narrative also follows other incidents happening at the same time, not directly related to the attacks, but still impacting critical moments in the hours and days that followed. It offers a closer look at how our Canadian neighbors responded, the challenges they faced, and the ways they stepped up to help. The spread of misinformation, the urgency of decision‑making, and the sheer number of moving parts are all laid out clearly.
This isn’t a light read, but it provides tremendous insight into everything happening simultaneously when the country was first attacked. It focuses on the response and the aftermath, the experiences of people on planes, someone inside the Trade Center, and even excerpts from some of the last phone calls made that day. You’ll also follow where President Bush was during those first hours and the decisions his advisors were forced to make. I especially appreciated learning how everyday Canadians welcomed stranded travelers with pride and compassion and how the Canadian government stepped up to help us without hesitation.
This book is an amazing tribute for the 25th anniversary. It highlights the people making decisions, the ones who were unexpectedly affected, and those on other planes who suddenly found themselves part of history. I loved the stories of regular people helping others , parts of the day most of us never knew about. It’s a reflective, thoughtful look at what happened behind the scenes. There are many points made, some positive, and some areas we needed to make some adjustments to better prepare for unexpected disasters, and it becomes clear how much work was done by people whose names we’ve never heard. Canada’s cooperation and generosity were extraordinary, and they probably never received the thanks they deserved. This is a fast‑paced read that I highly recommend. The writing moves quickly, jumping from scene to scene as events unfold. I appreciated the inclusion of Diane Kirschke, Nick Marson, Rabbi Leivi, and Bonnie Harris, their stories were meaningful additions that show how many lives were affected. These stories highlighted some of the positive things and altruistic acts regular citizens did for others. It really shed light on what happened to the president and those around him, the airlines and FAA and other individuals who were responsible for keeping our country safe and strong.
This was a great read. Thank you to Net Galley, St Martins Press and the author for this ARC to read and review. This review reflects my own opinions of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I try to read most everything that is written about 9/11 and a lot of what is written centers around the many victims and the courageous first responders and rightly so.
What makes this book different is that it goes into great detail about some of the lesser known details behind the scenes of that day. Over 100 people were interviewed to help piece together the intricate events and decisions that were made when, in many cases, there was very little to go on.
How many planes were possibly hijacked? Was Camp David hit? Was Canada aware of one of the hijackers beforehand? Do we have fighter jets scrambled? Where is the President? How close did we come to shooting down Flight 93 over Shanksville PA? Who is in charge? What did we know and when did we know it?
The extensive research that went into this book is admirable and I learned quite a few things about that day that I did not know.
One thing to be aware of going in is that there are a LOT of people mentioned in this book and significant detail about types of aircraft and what they do.
What makes this book different is that it goes into great detail about some of the lesser known details behind the scenes of that day. Over 100 people were interviewed to help piece together the intricate events and decisions that were made when, in many cases, there was very little to go on.
How many planes were possibly hijacked? Was Camp David hit? Was Canada aware of one of the hijackers beforehand? Do we have fighter jets scrambled? Where is the President? How close did we come to shooting down Flight 93 over Shanksville PA? Who is in charge? What did we know and when did we know it?
The extensive research that went into this book is admirable and I learned quite a few things about that day that I did not know.
One thing to be aware of going in is that there are a LOT of people mentioned in this book and significant detail about types of aircraft and what they do.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I have heard and read so many things about 9/11, but always from the point of view of the first responders and the victims, I thought this was a great idea for a book.
This is a compelling read, but be ready to really focus because there are A LOT of people in this story, and all of them have alphabet crudentials and occupy positions in alphabet departments such as Norad, etc.
This book is very well researched and the fact that the author can take all this info and turn it into a compelling read is admirable.
I found myself quite fascinated with all the "misunderstandings," and it's a miracle that more innocent victims, sitting on these planes, were not targeted.
Being Canadian, I am upset that Bush and his people never officially thanked us, but I do get it....there was a lot going on.
This is a compelling read, but be ready to really focus because there are A LOT of people in this story, and all of them have alphabet crudentials and occupy positions in alphabet departments such as Norad, etc.
This book is very well researched and the fact that the author can take all this info and turn it into a compelling read is admirable.
I found myself quite fascinated with all the "misunderstandings," and it's a miracle that more innocent victims, sitting on these planes, were not targeted.
Being Canadian, I am upset that Bush and his people never officially thanked us, but I do get it....there was a lot going on.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a very detailed and informative book that detailed everything that happened on 9/11 from the military and aviation side of things. I’ve read every book on this topic and still found new information and a new perspective in this book. The eye witness accounts were stunning and I was still able to follow and comprehend even the most technical terminology. It’s a tribute on this 25th anniversary to everything that happened behind the scenes that many of us never even knew about. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was fantastic and filled with many, many things I didn’t know. Of course, I know exactly where I was when it happened, but didn’t understand what was happening behind the scenes. It’s filled with so many prospectives, so many behind the scenes actions and clearly illustrates how so many actions could have gone so wrong. Above all, it was human and pulled in key perspectives from both military and non military people. So thankful to read this and reflect on so many heroes among us. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fascinating, quick look at the military, aviation, and national security side of 9/11. Had no idea there was a probable 5th plane on the hijack list, as it was not reported in any of the other 8 million books I have read on 9/11, so now I have something new to read up on. Overall, a fascinating read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A powerful well-researched account, timed for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, of never-before-told military and aviation stories from the fateful day when the U.S. was attacked. An absorbing, important book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A slightly different perspective on the few hours after the attacks on September 11. In this book, we learn of the military, national security, and airline response to the attacks. This was a really interesting, relatively short account.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews