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I Will Follow You Anywhere: The True Story of the 9/11 Responders Who Took On Congress
The untold story of an American hero who proved that one person can turn trauma into heroic action—from the wounded construction worker who became a relentless champion of the 9/11 responders.
On September 11th, 2001, John Feal rushed to Ground Zero to assist with the recovery and cleanup in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. 96 hours later, his destiny was forged by steel when an 8,000-pound beam crushed his left foot. As he adjusted to a partial amputation and went broke paying medical bills, he watched his fellow responders suffer and die from cancer and other ailments caused by the dust in the air they were told was safe to breathe.
Forgotten by a broken healthcare system and lawmakers who had promised to #NeverForget, Feal knew it was time to fight.
Now, in I Will Follow You Anywhere, he shares his “recipe” for getting things done. Accompanied by stories from his fellow responders in their own words, Feal lays out his rogue approach to the ground game of representative government, empowering readers in all walks of life to take on the system and win.
While working to get the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and healthcare bill passed, Feal caught the attention of comedian Jon Stewart, who joined the cause and became a valuable ally and dear friend. In 2019, Stewart’s testimony before Congress went viral, placing a much-needed spotlight on the frustration and grief of those long abandoned by their government—and the bill was finally signed into law. In the years since, Feal, Stewart, and his team have championed the PACT Act for veterans exposed to burn pits and lent their expertise to other worthy causes.
John is now a “hired gun” for activists fighting to get legislation passed. With I Will Follow You Anywhere, he shares his hard-won wisdom and expert strategies that will enable underdogs everywhere to stand up against a mighty system.
On September 11th, 2001, John Feal rushed to Ground Zero to assist with the recovery and cleanup in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. 96 hours later, his destiny was forged by steel when an 8,000-pound beam crushed his left foot. As he adjusted to a partial amputation and went broke paying medical bills, he watched his fellow responders suffer and die from cancer and other ailments caused by the dust in the air they were told was safe to breathe.
Forgotten by a broken healthcare system and lawmakers who had promised to #NeverForget, Feal knew it was time to fight.
Now, in I Will Follow You Anywhere, he shares his “recipe” for getting things done. Accompanied by stories from his fellow responders in their own words, Feal lays out his rogue approach to the ground game of representative government, empowering readers in all walks of life to take on the system and win.
While working to get the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and healthcare bill passed, Feal caught the attention of comedian Jon Stewart, who joined the cause and became a valuable ally and dear friend. In 2019, Stewart’s testimony before Congress went viral, placing a much-needed spotlight on the frustration and grief of those long abandoned by their government—and the bill was finally signed into law. In the years since, Feal, Stewart, and his team have championed the PACT Act for veterans exposed to burn pits and lent their expertise to other worthy causes.
John is now a “hired gun” for activists fighting to get legislation passed. With I Will Follow You Anywhere, he shares his hard-won wisdom and expert strategies that will enable underdogs everywhere to stand up against a mighty system.
- GenresNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 1, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Remembering What Came After 9/11
I received I’ll Follow You Anywhere by John Feal through NetGalley, and the timing of reading it felt especially meaningful with the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11 approaching. I knew something about the struggles faced by first responders, but this book gave me a much fuller understanding of what happened after the attacks. Feal focuses not only on illness and loss, but also on the years of advocacy required to secure recognition, healthcare, and support for people whose suffering continued long after the public attention moved elsewhere.
The strongest part of the book for me was its personal nature. Feal brings readers into the lives of responders and veterans in a way that makes the larger political and medical issues feel immediate rather than abstract. His anger is evident, but it comes from passion and persistence, and I appreciated how clearly the book functions as a record of activism. I was particularly struck by the resistance these individuals faced from Congress and by how often people who had already sacrificed so much were forced to fight again for basic acknowledgment and care. The role of advocates such as Jon Stewart also stood out as an important part of that larger struggle.
I also learned a great deal from the sections dealing with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. I had heard about unexplained illnesses among veterans and remembered discussions surrounding Gulf War exposure, but I had not fully understood the connection between later illnesses and burn pits. That expanded the book beyond the immediate legacy of 9/11 and helped me see a broader pattern involving sacrifice, government responsibility, neglect, and advocacy. There is some repetition, although it did not bother me much. If anything, I wished the book had included even more perspectives from people outside the most visible groups, such as school communities, nearby workers, doctors, nurses, and others who also lived with the consequences.
I’ll Follow You Anywhere will likely appeal most to readers interested in 9/11, first responders, veterans, and the long-term effects of public service. What stayed with me most was how much of the suffering continued after the cameras were gone and the country had moved on. Remembering September 11 should also mean remembering the people who became sick years later and had to keep fighting for the care they were promised.
Thank you to NetGalley, author John Feal, and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
"IWillFollowYouAnywhere #NetGalley
I received I’ll Follow You Anywhere by John Feal through NetGalley, and the timing of reading it felt especially meaningful with the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11 approaching. I knew something about the struggles faced by first responders, but this book gave me a much fuller understanding of what happened after the attacks. Feal focuses not only on illness and loss, but also on the years of advocacy required to secure recognition, healthcare, and support for people whose suffering continued long after the public attention moved elsewhere.
The strongest part of the book for me was its personal nature. Feal brings readers into the lives of responders and veterans in a way that makes the larger political and medical issues feel immediate rather than abstract. His anger is evident, but it comes from passion and persistence, and I appreciated how clearly the book functions as a record of activism. I was particularly struck by the resistance these individuals faced from Congress and by how often people who had already sacrificed so much were forced to fight again for basic acknowledgment and care. The role of advocates such as Jon Stewart also stood out as an important part of that larger struggle.
I also learned a great deal from the sections dealing with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. I had heard about unexplained illnesses among veterans and remembered discussions surrounding Gulf War exposure, but I had not fully understood the connection between later illnesses and burn pits. That expanded the book beyond the immediate legacy of 9/11 and helped me see a broader pattern involving sacrifice, government responsibility, neglect, and advocacy. There is some repetition, although it did not bother me much. If anything, I wished the book had included even more perspectives from people outside the most visible groups, such as school communities, nearby workers, doctors, nurses, and others who also lived with the consequences.
I’ll Follow You Anywhere will likely appeal most to readers interested in 9/11, first responders, veterans, and the long-term effects of public service. What stayed with me most was how much of the suffering continued after the cameras were gone and the country had moved on. Remembering September 11 should also mean remembering the people who became sick years later and had to keep fighting for the care they were promised.
Thank you to NetGalley, author John Feal, and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
"IWillFollowYouAnywhere #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 HUGE Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of those books that I genuinely feel every American should be required to read.
I Will Follow You Anywhere: The True Story of 9/11 Responders Who Took on Congress is a powerful story about hope, resilience, courage, and what it means to fight for what is right—even when the fight is incredibly difficult.
Part memoir and part call to action, this book shines a much-needed light on the men and women who responded to 9/11 and the devastating health consequences many of them experienced because of their exposure. Their stories are heartbreaking, inspiring, and incredibly important.
How often do we really think about the people who were there that day and the years of health struggles they would face afterward? These were people who answered the call to help their fellow Americans during one of our nation’s most devastating moments. Their sacrifice didn’t end that day. For many, another battle was just beginning.
The story then brings that fight for recognition, healthcare, and justice to veterans affected by toxic exposures, showing how the lessons learned from the 9/11 responders’ battle could help others facing similar injustices. It was incredibly moving to see these experiences become a source of hope and encouragement for others to find their voices and fight for what is right.
This book left me feeling heartbroken, frustrated, hopeful, and inspired. It is educational and informative while still keeping the very human stories at its heart. I found myself completely invested in their journey and their fight for justice.
The writing was excellent, and the narrator did an amazing job bringing the emotion and importance of these stories to life.
A powerful reminder that one person can make a difference and that sometimes hope means having the courage to keep fighting for what is right.
5 HUGE stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for my review. #NeverForget 🇺🇸
This is one of those books that I genuinely feel every American should be required to read.
I Will Follow You Anywhere: The True Story of 9/11 Responders Who Took on Congress is a powerful story about hope, resilience, courage, and what it means to fight for what is right—even when the fight is incredibly difficult.
Part memoir and part call to action, this book shines a much-needed light on the men and women who responded to 9/11 and the devastating health consequences many of them experienced because of their exposure. Their stories are heartbreaking, inspiring, and incredibly important.
How often do we really think about the people who were there that day and the years of health struggles they would face afterward? These were people who answered the call to help their fellow Americans during one of our nation’s most devastating moments. Their sacrifice didn’t end that day. For many, another battle was just beginning.
The story then brings that fight for recognition, healthcare, and justice to veterans affected by toxic exposures, showing how the lessons learned from the 9/11 responders’ battle could help others facing similar injustices. It was incredibly moving to see these experiences become a source of hope and encouragement for others to find their voices and fight for what is right.
This book left me feeling heartbroken, frustrated, hopeful, and inspired. It is educational and informative while still keeping the very human stories at its heart. I found myself completely invested in their journey and their fight for justice.
The writing was excellent, and the narrator did an amazing job bringing the emotion and importance of these stories to life.
A powerful reminder that one person can make a difference and that sometimes hope means having the courage to keep fighting for what is right.
5 HUGE stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for my review. #NeverForget 🇺🇸
September 2, 2026
I Would Follow You Anywhere by John Feal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book offers a fascinating and sobering look not only at the people who were directly involved in the aftermath of 9/11, but at the months, years, and even decades they have spent dealing with the devastating health consequences—particularly the respiratory illnesses and cancers linked to inhaling the dust from the rubble.
After being injured while working at Ground Zero, John Feal became determined to take action, recognizing how many of these people had been ignored, lied to, demeaned, and forgotten by the very institutions that proudly proclaim #NeverForget. His unique personality, relentless determination, and willingness to fight for others set in motion decades of lobbying and advocacy to ensure that those affected by 9/11 received the care and compensation they deserved.
I greatly appreciated the immense effort that went into this work. It required intelligence, grit, research, creativity, and an incredible amount of perseverance. More than anything, I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the people who were boots-on-the-ground after 9/11—and for the everyday workers who put themselves in harm’s way without knowing when tragedy might strike.
I listened to the audiobook, and with a single narrator portraying so many different people and accounts, I occasionally found it difficult to keep track of who was speaking. I suspect this may be easier to follow in print. I’ll also warn that the language is not for the faint of heart; there are plenty of F-bombs. 😬 But the message was important enough that I was able to overlook that.
Overall, a powerful four-star read that left me with a greater appreciation for the people who showed up when they were needed most—and for the long, often unseen fight that came afterward.
Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with a free audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book offers a fascinating and sobering look not only at the people who were directly involved in the aftermath of 9/11, but at the months, years, and even decades they have spent dealing with the devastating health consequences—particularly the respiratory illnesses and cancers linked to inhaling the dust from the rubble.
After being injured while working at Ground Zero, John Feal became determined to take action, recognizing how many of these people had been ignored, lied to, demeaned, and forgotten by the very institutions that proudly proclaim #NeverForget. His unique personality, relentless determination, and willingness to fight for others set in motion decades of lobbying and advocacy to ensure that those affected by 9/11 received the care and compensation they deserved.
I greatly appreciated the immense effort that went into this work. It required intelligence, grit, research, creativity, and an incredible amount of perseverance. More than anything, I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the people who were boots-on-the-ground after 9/11—and for the everyday workers who put themselves in harm’s way without knowing when tragedy might strike.
I listened to the audiobook, and with a single narrator portraying so many different people and accounts, I occasionally found it difficult to keep track of who was speaking. I suspect this may be easier to follow in print. I’ll also warn that the language is not for the faint of heart; there are plenty of F-bombs. 😬 But the message was important enough that I was able to overlook that.
Overall, a powerful four-star read that left me with a greater appreciation for the people who showed up when they were needed most—and for the long, often unseen fight that came afterward.
Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with a free audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2026
A big thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the early copy.
Medium: Audiobook
My thoughts: Before I get into the details of my thoughts, I need to say that I am coming to this as a total outsider. I am not American and I was too young to remember the horror of 9/11 as it happened. For some reason I was expecting to see more stories of the day of the attack. Don't get me wrong, this is absolutely not a bad thing. I had no idea about what happened to the first responders and survivors after that day. I had assumed that most if not all of them had severe PTSD but I never considered the physical illnesses that may have arisen. It's definitely one of those things that seems obvious in hindsight, but I would have never thought about it independently. It's truly horrendous to think about what people have to go through for basic recognition and help from the people and the government they were trying to help. I'm very glad I read about this and that I now understand something new about this complicated and unfair world.
I liked the fact that part of the book was giving advice to people who would like to get into activism. It was an interesting part of this book but I have to admit that it wasn't nearly as well done as the rest of it. The steps provided by the authors seem to be: do something and don't overdo it. Even though this part of the book wasn't for me, it didn't take away from the importance of it or how interesting it all was to me.
Medium: Audiobook
My thoughts: Before I get into the details of my thoughts, I need to say that I am coming to this as a total outsider. I am not American and I was too young to remember the horror of 9/11 as it happened. For some reason I was expecting to see more stories of the day of the attack. Don't get me wrong, this is absolutely not a bad thing. I had no idea about what happened to the first responders and survivors after that day. I had assumed that most if not all of them had severe PTSD but I never considered the physical illnesses that may have arisen. It's definitely one of those things that seems obvious in hindsight, but I would have never thought about it independently. It's truly horrendous to think about what people have to go through for basic recognition and help from the people and the government they were trying to help. I'm very glad I read about this and that I now understand something new about this complicated and unfair world.
I liked the fact that part of the book was giving advice to people who would like to get into activism. It was an interesting part of this book but I have to admit that it wasn't nearly as well done as the rest of it. The steps provided by the authors seem to be: do something and don't overdo it. Even though this part of the book wasn't for me, it didn't take away from the importance of it or how interesting it all was to me.
August 29, 2026
ALC provided by NetGalley
5/5⭐️
If I find a topic I'm interested in, I want to know all I can about the topic. As a 9-year-old kid who watched 9/11 happen from a TV screen sitting in a 4th grade classroom. 9/11, specifically the stories of those impacted by the attack, has always been a topic in history that's interested me. I learned SO much new information from 'I Will Follow You Anywhere'.
Some of my all-time favourite books are non-fiction books. However, with that being said it is very easy for a non-fiction book to read as simply an account of an event that's happened or information on a specific topic. When this happens, it's VERY easy for the reader to get lost in the minutiae of the subject and become board.
This is not that. John Feal and Charles Daly did a wonderful job with 'I Will Follow You Anywhere'. I thought it was brilliant to breakup John's story with testimonies from 9/11 and advice for those wanting to get into advocacy.
Jeff Bottoms did a great job narrating this book!
NetGally provided me with an advanced listener copy of this book. However, I will be buying a physical copy of this book when it's released in September.
5/5⭐️
If I find a topic I'm interested in, I want to know all I can about the topic. As a 9-year-old kid who watched 9/11 happen from a TV screen sitting in a 4th grade classroom. 9/11, specifically the stories of those impacted by the attack, has always been a topic in history that's interested me. I learned SO much new information from 'I Will Follow You Anywhere'.
Some of my all-time favourite books are non-fiction books. However, with that being said it is very easy for a non-fiction book to read as simply an account of an event that's happened or information on a specific topic. When this happens, it's VERY easy for the reader to get lost in the minutiae of the subject and become board.
This is not that. John Feal and Charles Daly did a wonderful job with 'I Will Follow You Anywhere'. I thought it was brilliant to breakup John's story with testimonies from 9/11 and advice for those wanting to get into advocacy.
Jeff Bottoms did a great job narrating this book!
NetGally provided me with an advanced listener copy of this book. However, I will be buying a physical copy of this book when it's released in September.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been eagerly anticipating this book and it did not disappoint. It gives a voice to the people who worked so hard behind the scenes as activists and voices to do the hard work of getting bills passed and continuing the 9/11 illness victims funding support. It was so fascinating to read how John pushed so hard and I love his advice on activism because that is what the world needs more of with so many things. It was also interesting to hear from several people that were involved in the recovery and aftermath and what struggles they still have today. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
These stories are so powerful. I knew some of the effects but these stories really make it hit home. Sometimes I had to take a break, especially during parts summing up some of the events. But this book is how individuals were affected and how they learned that they were not given the care deserved after being heroes. It's wild to think that responders were told that breathing the toxic air during recovery was safe. Thanks to NetGalley I got to listen to the audiobook and the narration made it feel personal
August 28, 2026
I have ready many books of different accounts of those directly impacted by 9/11. This book is unlike any others. It is more raw and unfiltered. It follows the long road to recovery for so many. The people in this book are hero's beyond measure for their tireless efforts to protect those who protect us. This is a must read for anyone who doesn't understand the continued trials and stumbling blocks these heroes continue to face today.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews