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Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2021)"A lively, unexpected portrait of the jet-age stewardesses serving on iconic Pan Am airways between 1966 and 1975"--
8 pages, Audiobook
First published March 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,041 reviews
August 11, 2024
In 1979 I became a flight attendant for Pan Am, The ten years that I spent traveling the world were perhaps the most exciting of my life, and by far the greatest learning experience I have ever had. The airline's demise was devastating for us and many of us remain connected through Facebook pages. A number of books have been written by flight attendants, (including Pan Am flight attendants), and most of these have been on the frivolous side.
When I saw Come Fly the World on NetGalley, I immediately wanted to read it, as belonging to Pan Am is to belong to a family. The book chronicles the lives of several Pan Am flight attendants as they joined the airline and journeyed around the world. What is different about these women is that their experiences are narrated with the backdrop of American history and the manner in which Pan Am was involved. For instance, Pan Am transported Vietnam Vets to and from their R&Rs in Hong Kong, and also airlifted children out of the country. Pan Am also was on the ground during coups, major conflicts, and other historical events. It was amazing to read about the experiences of these women, and to remember the places that I also traveled to and loved.
Most interesting and meaningful to me was that Tori, my primary flight attendant instructor in my initial training in Honolulu, is one of the women whose lives are chronicled in this book. I had not expected that.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of aviation juxtaposed with historical events over the past 50 years as well as the manner in which the career of flight attendants evolved in its initial years, then I highly recommend this book.
When I saw Come Fly the World on NetGalley, I immediately wanted to read it, as belonging to Pan Am is to belong to a family. The book chronicles the lives of several Pan Am flight attendants as they joined the airline and journeyed around the world. What is different about these women is that their experiences are narrated with the backdrop of American history and the manner in which Pan Am was involved. For instance, Pan Am transported Vietnam Vets to and from their R&Rs in Hong Kong, and also airlifted children out of the country. Pan Am also was on the ground during coups, major conflicts, and other historical events. It was amazing to read about the experiences of these women, and to remember the places that I also traveled to and loved.
Most interesting and meaningful to me was that Tori, my primary flight attendant instructor in my initial training in Honolulu, is one of the women whose lives are chronicled in this book. I had not expected that.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of aviation juxtaposed with historical events over the past 50 years as well as the manner in which the career of flight attendants evolved in its initial years, then I highly recommend this book.
April 13, 2021
3.5 When I was a young girl, my friend had an older sister who was a stewardess. She kept a room in her family home that she returned to sporadically. I remember loving her outfit and all the stories she told us about her travels. That was it! When I grew up I wanted to fly. Life of course, had other plans.
We follow the flying lives of four girls who wanted the same. As did many others, but standards were high and one needed to meet certain height, weight, age and language requirements. Still many applied, wanting a life that included excitement and travel. Their lives though we're not all glamour though and sometimes outright dangerous. Pan Am for years had a contract with the government to fly and return young soldiers to and from Vietnam. African countries were the of danger because of constant could and in Moscow, at the height of the cold war, the women were often followed by spies for the government.
There is also the changing faces, and rising needs of women. They wanted more than the airlines wanted to give. Not having to leave when one married, promotions that only men received, being able to return after having a child and a change of image. This book actually covered quite a bit.
Never realized as my mom always worked how narrow women's roles were defined in the sixties. I'm glad I wasn't adulting at that time.
We follow the flying lives of four girls who wanted the same. As did many others, but standards were high and one needed to meet certain height, weight, age and language requirements. Still many applied, wanting a life that included excitement and travel. Their lives though we're not all glamour though and sometimes outright dangerous. Pan Am for years had a contract with the government to fly and return young soldiers to and from Vietnam. African countries were the of danger because of constant could and in Moscow, at the height of the cold war, the women were often followed by spies for the government.
There is also the changing faces, and rising needs of women. They wanted more than the airlines wanted to give. Not having to leave when one married, promotions that only men received, being able to return after having a child and a change of image. This book actually covered quite a bit.
Never realized as my mom always worked how narrow women's roles were defined in the sixties. I'm glad I wasn't adulting at that time.
May 15, 2021
"Stewardesses were always one step ahead, anticipating movements, making them happen, creating a force felt on the ground below." -- page 216
Harkening back to the days - meaning between 1966 and 1975 - when U.S. stewardesses (as they were not yet referred to as 'flight attendants,' and it was then-unthinkable that males would work in such an assignment) had to adhere to certain job requirements (such as strict height and weight limits, single marital status, and a college degree), Cooke's Come Fly the World tells the abbreviated career stories of five women in that industry. Far from being an updated version of Coffee, Tea, or Me? (which is mentioned a handful of times in the text, and NOT in a flattering way), the book presents these women as a dedicated, hard-working group that took pride in their multifaceted job.
At the time Pan-Am was one of the few truly 'global' airlines, flying to 100+ locales on six continents via hubs like New York City and Los Angeles. The book's featured stewardesses were uniformly an intelligent and curious group, usually from small or quiet hometowns, and they saw international air travel as an exciting opportunity to see foreign lands, experience new cultures, and meet different people. And, in those waning days before affordable flights became mainstream, or even the much later debut of the Internet, the position actually was a chance of a lifetime to see the world on the company's dime, so to speak. Thankfully, the narrative is not one lecherous and tipsy businessman after another harassing these ladies, as that would grow tiresome very quickly. (Although I'm sure it did happen to them on occasion, unfortunately.) The powerfully happy or sad moments in Come Fly the World are when the stewardesses were serving on routes, under a special arrangement by Pan-Am and the U.S. military, to ferry the young and often-drafted servicemen to and from the Vietnam War during the especially worst years of the conflict. And just when it seems like the book is getting sort of directionless three of these women voluntarily serve on a special mission flight that was an unforgettable and unique assignment, which resulted in the saving of hundreds of young lives.
Harkening back to the days - meaning between 1966 and 1975 - when U.S. stewardesses (as they were not yet referred to as 'flight attendants,' and it was then-unthinkable that males would work in such an assignment) had to adhere to certain job requirements (such as strict height and weight limits, single marital status, and a college degree), Cooke's Come Fly the World tells the abbreviated career stories of five women in that industry. Far from being an updated version of Coffee, Tea, or Me? (which is mentioned a handful of times in the text, and NOT in a flattering way), the book presents these women as a dedicated, hard-working group that took pride in their multifaceted job.
At the time Pan-Am was one of the few truly 'global' airlines, flying to 100+ locales on six continents via hubs like New York City and Los Angeles. The book's featured stewardesses were uniformly an intelligent and curious group, usually from small or quiet hometowns, and they saw international air travel as an exciting opportunity to see foreign lands, experience new cultures, and meet different people. And, in those waning days before affordable flights became mainstream, or even the much later debut of the Internet, the position actually was a chance of a lifetime to see the world on the company's dime, so to speak. Thankfully, the narrative is not one lecherous and tipsy businessman after another harassing these ladies, as that would grow tiresome very quickly. (Although I'm sure it did happen to them on occasion, unfortunately.) The powerfully happy or sad moments in Come Fly the World are when the stewardesses were serving on routes, under a special arrangement by Pan-Am and the U.S. military, to ferry the young and often-drafted servicemen to and from the Vietnam War during the especially worst years of the conflict. And just when it seems like the book is getting sort of directionless three of these women voluntarily serve on a special mission flight that was an unforgettable and unique assignment, which resulted in the saving of hundreds of young lives.
June 11, 2021
This might be the most boring book I have ever read. The subject in itself isn't very naturally interesting, so it's up to the author to make it so for the reader, and she just plain failed. The author kept steering away from the actual subject of the book to talk about random topics, and I get the feeling that it's because she was unable to actually find enough information to fill a real book (and even with all the erroneous tangents it's a short book).
August 21, 2021
Describing the evolution of the Pan Am stewardesses primarily in the 1960s and 1970s and of their transformation from a single, educated, uniformity of image and dress stewardess to a liberated, married flight attendant. They loved to travel and to experience the world, to shop, to eat, to meet and learn about people and cultures, and to have fun. They faced chauvinism, image control, weight restrictions, and wardrobe requirements while advocating for fair wages and better labor requirements. They flew into war, social unrest, unruly passengers, hijacking, crashes, and bad weather. They provided a smile and empathy for the U.S. soldiers arriving and leaving Viet Nam. This is not written in a vacuum but in the context of the ever changing times - the Vietnam War, feminism, and equal rights. We learn of how and why Lynne Rawling, Karen Walker Ryan, and Tori Werner became stewardesses and their lives. Operation Babylift to get children, whom many may not have been orphans, out of the waning days of the Vietnam War, was inspirational and controversial. It was heartwarming to learn of a U.S. soldier smuggling twin preemies in a boot box after their mother had died. “Pan Am’s last flight landed in Miami on December 4, 1991." I loved the cover. Well researched. I would have preferred more in depth or connecting stories of Lynne, Karen, and Tori. It felt more of reporting the facts and less of the emotions of the times and the people. The author is part of the Pan Am family. 3.5 stars.
May 24, 2022
I found the cover of this book misleading in what was between the covers. I thought it was going to be a light, gossipy read. A Coffee, Tea, or Me kind of book.
Boy, was I wrong. This is a fascinating dissertation of the real lives of Pan Am stewardesses in a time that was very different for women. I lived during those times so I know them well.
I couldnt get enough of this book. Because I remember those years so vividly, the boys getting their draft notices, dropping them off at the induction center, I found the Vietnam stories hard to read. The stewardess played a big part in our soldiers lives both going but especially their coming back.
I really recommend this book. It is truly fascinating.
Boy, was I wrong. This is a fascinating dissertation of the real lives of Pan Am stewardesses in a time that was very different for women. I lived during those times so I know them well.
I couldnt get enough of this book. Because I remember those years so vividly, the boys getting their draft notices, dropping them off at the induction center, I found the Vietnam stories hard to read. The stewardess played a big part in our soldiers lives both going but especially their coming back.
I really recommend this book. It is truly fascinating.
March 11, 2021
Stewardess Wanted.
Must Want the World.
This book not only takes an interesting look at the lives and lifestyles of Pan Am stewardesses in the 60s and 70s but also at the world at large during that time.
The Vietnam War and the fight for equal female rights are most prominently covered. And, perhaps a little surprisingly, the three stewardesses through whose eyes we mainly see this story unfold had been largely involved in both.
The author, over the span of five years, has conducted several interviews with five Pan Am stewardesses and we get an account of their time working at the company. However, three of them get a lot more coverage than the remaining two and the book almost reads like a biography of Lynne Rawling, Karen Walker and Tori Werner at times. Almost. Cooke chose to tell the history of Pan American World Airways mostly through their stories. Through the stories of three women that wanted to see the world and experience a feeling of independence that was not available to many women at the time. A time when acceptably feminine roles where pretty much limited to nurse, teacher, librarian, secretary.
On the one hand airlines offered them the chance to live a life that was not available to other women, but the flipside of course were the questionable hiring policies.
”Attractive appearance will be foremost in importance,” read a 1963 American Airlines supervisor handbook, the sentence underlined for emphasis and elaborated on in excruciating detail: “We can sometimes pretend a person is attractive, if we admire them for some other reason. [Hiring such people] should be avoided.”
And don’t get me started on regular weigh-ins and the fact that these women actually had to quit their jobs if they got married or reached the age of 32 or 35 (depending on the airline).
But these were confident and educated women (10 percent of Pan Am stewardesses had attended graduate school at a time when only 6 to 8 percent of American women had graduated from college). The public image of stewardesses (created in no small part by the advertising campaigns of the airlines) might have been one of glorified Playboy Bunnies, but they were anything but. And change was about to come. Although it needed hard work to make it happen. And change was needed in more ways than one.
Delta put on a comprehensive defense in one of the first suits, filed by a stewardess who was terminated when her marriage was discovered. In another suit, United submitted an eighty-page brief detailing the reasons why only young, attractive women could address the “legitimate” business of meeting the social and psychological needs of its passengers: “Men can carry trays, and hang up coats and assist in the rare event of an emergency — they cannot convey the charm, the tact, the grace, the liveliness that young girls can — particularly to men, who comprise the vast majority of airline passengers … [men cannot] add to the pleasure of the trip, the loveliness of the environment or the ego of the male passenger.”
However, even though it touches on it, this book is not about the discrimination of men in the profession of flight attendant. It is (amongst other things) about the discrimination of women in nearly all walks of life and how the women of Pan Am also stood for that change that was about to come.
And of course the job of a stewardess was about far more than carrying trays and hanging up coats. It was a life of responsibility and excitement. And also danger, as is shown by several chapters about the Vietnam War and the conditions under which Pan Am flew soldiers in and out of warzones. The developments around the war are as extensively covered here as is the battle for equal female rights and those two themes are perhaps even more prominent in this book than the development of the airline industry and of Pan Am in particular.
Sometimes it feels like Cooke couldn’t quite make up her mind about what she wanted to write exactly. All the themes she covers are interesting, but she’s jumping around a lot, sometimes making it hard for the reader to keep up. I also wish she had given a little more room to the one Black stewardess among the five women she is telling us about. Her chapters were interesting and sometimes infuriating:
Airline executives openly admitted that they feared losing their market share if the women who served mostly white passengers were Black. They were also concerned, as one New York Times article explained, that “existing and potential ranks of white stewardesses would dwindle fast if the ‘glamor’ of the job were ‘down-graded’ by the employment of Negro girls.”
…
There are still some battles to be fought.
The thing this book does best is to show how these women, regardless of the color of their skin, were striving for something greater, for a life of more opportunities, for excitement and adventure.
It made me long to get onto an airplane and visit other countries again. But it also made me better understand what challenges these women were facing.
A very few of the stewardesses, especially those who crewed the more dramatic and dangerous flights, self-identify as veterans of war. Relatively few place their work in historical context or speak openly with civilians about the job’s more difficult moments. It is too much effort to address the disconnect between the perception of the job as all glamour and access amid optimistic globalism of the 1960s and its actual context, which also entailed objectification and misunderstanding, war and danger — the dark side of that globalist vision.
3.5 stars
Overall this is a surprisingly deep and educational book that is a little rough around the edges, which is likely down to it being a review copy that was still under review by the author and publisher. Therefore, I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt and round up. The content is certainly worthy of a four-star rating. I hope the final product will also include some pictures. My review copy didn’t. If you bought this one, let me know.
Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
February 22, 2021
Focusing on the Pan Am Airline, Julia Cooke takes a deep dive into the back stories, dreams, and experiences of a handful of their flight attendants. All were hired just before or early in the Vietnam era and the rise of the iconic 747. I loved reading their stories and the ways they dealt with discrimination while also doing their jobs well. The three most heavily covered were also a part of the Vietnam flights for soldiers and the Babylift project. Seeing that time from their perspective is a reminder that there is so rarely a single solution to the problems of the world. As we continue to connect globally, we share more than just a plane ride. It was a treat to see the world with these women and view the 60's and 70's through their eyes. The story of the African American stewardess (Hazel Bowie) and her Moscow flights was a revelation. Loved this cover, but wished there were some photos in the book. I had a roommate who was a flight attendant for Braniff in the late 80's. In fact she was working for them when they went bankrupt and she no longer had a job. I have not logged as many flight miles as she did, but another memorable airline story is being booked for a return flight from Chicago on Midway Airlines when they stopped operations. My husband and I were given first class seats on another airline to get us back home -- my one and only first class experience. If you are fascinated by the ways women assisted in Vietnam, I also recommend to you 'Vietnam Nurse: Mending and Remembering' by Lou Eisenbrandt.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2021
Honestly, I never read any reviews until after reading the book (and studying the photos too). So I have been absolutely flummoxed by the majority of the high ratings. Having lived through this period and having VERY good (1 best friend) become stewardesses, I don't see this as others. For sure.
The book consistently loses its focus as it goes into 100 other tangents to Pan Am and the industry. And the times, and the war (Vietnam) and the baby rescuing operations etc. etc. etc. It IS the title in one sense but whose story. At 4 or 5 individuals? Not necessarily average either. I knew many stewardesses and none of them had any college degrees and VERY few had 1 semester.
Regardless, this gives a picture that is atypical, IMHO. And also holds dozens of the positives with quite few of the negatives. Health being #1. It was not a lifestyle that engendered health. Every one I knew was used up, got sick- or was thrown away for age or weight or some other hierarchy squabble. It covers somewhat of the struggle to change "the rules" but not much to the extent of how the women were used to depletion. Every one I heard the tale from 1st hand left the services worse off than when they started. While in business during this exact time, much less frou-frou of "dynamic" looks measures were so specified. Being fully adult through the last half of the '60's- I fully remember who earned, rose or established in careers and who didn't. Paid ones and unpaid ones, at that.
The pictures were posed for the most part, IMHO. The women of today of that same age group would not at all be subjected to the rigid indignities of norm. The trailer says Mad Men??? Believe me Joanie had it ALL OVER these women. She actually got to use her intelligence as much as her looks.
A much more even and organized novel could have been done. Hodgepodge at the most. 2.5 stars and never rounded up for the level of "user" connotated here. Or realistically how one sided the user feature worked out. It was much worse to psyches and health than this book implies.
The book consistently loses its focus as it goes into 100 other tangents to Pan Am and the industry. And the times, and the war (Vietnam) and the baby rescuing operations etc. etc. etc. It IS the title in one sense but whose story. At 4 or 5 individuals? Not necessarily average either. I knew many stewardesses and none of them had any college degrees and VERY few had 1 semester.
Regardless, this gives a picture that is atypical, IMHO. And also holds dozens of the positives with quite few of the negatives. Health being #1. It was not a lifestyle that engendered health. Every one I knew was used up, got sick- or was thrown away for age or weight or some other hierarchy squabble. It covers somewhat of the struggle to change "the rules" but not much to the extent of how the women were used to depletion. Every one I heard the tale from 1st hand left the services worse off than when they started. While in business during this exact time, much less frou-frou of "dynamic" looks measures were so specified. Being fully adult through the last half of the '60's- I fully remember who earned, rose or established in careers and who didn't. Paid ones and unpaid ones, at that.
The pictures were posed for the most part, IMHO. The women of today of that same age group would not at all be subjected to the rigid indignities of norm. The trailer says Mad Men??? Believe me Joanie had it ALL OVER these women. She actually got to use her intelligence as much as her looks.
A much more even and organized novel could have been done. Hodgepodge at the most. 2.5 stars and never rounded up for the level of "user" connotated here. Or realistically how one sided the user feature worked out. It was much worse to psyches and health than this book implies.
June 5, 2022
Very interesting account of three Pan American stewardesses and their life while employed with Pan Am. This book drew me in as my husband worked for the airline until it went bankrupt.
I really like how the author brought to life historical events of what was happening at the time.
We think of stewardess as a glamorous job, but these women were very brave and lived in danger while flying in and out of war zones. They brought back orphaned children, some sick with disease.
Well written book about the jet age and the history and demise of an airline.
I really like how the author brought to life historical events of what was happening at the time.
We think of stewardess as a glamorous job, but these women were very brave and lived in danger while flying in and out of war zones. They brought back orphaned children, some sick with disease.
Well written book about the jet age and the history and demise of an airline.
May 11, 2021
Disjointed and hard to follow. Leaps from one stweardess to the next and one setting to the next and the back again. Moves from business to politics to personal with no cohesiveness. Really frustrating. I couldn't finish though I thought the subject matter was worthy.
June 27, 2025
This was so fascinating. I had heard of Pan Am Airlines but didn't know much at all about it. This history was extremely well-explained on every aspect of the business from beginning to end. I can definitely see the appeal to work, but can also understand the difficulties that the women faced. I will be seeking out more on this subject!
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January 24, 2021eBook Giveaway Win!
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November 10, 2021
Not sure how to rank this? 3 stars? 4 stars?
It's good, and a really fascinating overview of the flight attendants of Pan Am during the 50s, 60s and 70s—the ups and downs, the struggles and the fun they had, and how their profession's reputation changed throughout the decades as society within the United States went through an enormous upheaval.
The anecdotes and following of several flight attendants and their various lives was fascinating, and I had no idea that flight attendants flying into Vietnam during the war were commissioned as 2ndLts and issued Geneva convention cards. I also liked that Cooke addressed not only the trials faced by the whyte women who dominated the profession, but the Black women and other people of color who tried to fly the skies, and who found freedom outside The Land of the Free (aka the United States, and yes that land of the free is sarcastic)...although it felt like more of an afterthought than the main focus.
While Cooke goes into great detail about the Vietnam War and the effects on soldiers and the people who lived there, and mentions the United States' colonialist motives for entering a war with that country, I don't know that her staying as objective as possible was a good choice? It felt very pro-servicemember and anti-war, while also being anti-protestor and not really mentioning the effects of war on the people of Vietnam. Does this critique seem off base? Out of context, yes. However, when she devoted as much page time to the war as she did, and how the flight attendants tried their absolute best to provide cheer, service and comfort to servicemembers entering and leaving the war zone, I do feel that some critique on colonialism needed to be mentioned—and outside the war, because of Pan Am's motto as a world-crossing airline. What was the impact of these strangers entering countries and using their resources for fun and fancy?
But I dunno. She did do a good job of indicating how women's lives in the United States changed, and how this was reflected within the airline industries, even though it was pretty whyte and middle class (flight attendants had to have certain qualifications in addition to their physical appearance)...and I kinda wanted more on the fatphobia and bodyshaming aspects that had to be inherent within the profession. There was a lot of focus on external pressures, but really no mention of any internal fraught within the flight attendant community (there is some mention of the racism Black flight attendants faced)—and I feel that the book suffered from this overly sympathetic approach.
Finally, I don't know that it landed the ending? It was good though, and I was entertained, although I was irked by the lack of analysis on Pan Am's influence on colonialism and the impact of tourism on marginalized cultures.
However, she only had 288 pages and it's written as an accessible, pop-history book meant to sell and provide a wavetop of information. Not an excuse for where the book was lacking, but an explanation.
It's good, and a really fascinating overview of the flight attendants of Pan Am during the 50s, 60s and 70s—the ups and downs, the struggles and the fun they had, and how their profession's reputation changed throughout the decades as society within the United States went through an enormous upheaval.
The anecdotes and following of several flight attendants and their various lives was fascinating, and I had no idea that flight attendants flying into Vietnam during the war were commissioned as 2ndLts and issued Geneva convention cards. I also liked that Cooke addressed not only the trials faced by the whyte women who dominated the profession, but the Black women and other people of color who tried to fly the skies, and who found freedom outside The Land of the Free (aka the United States, and yes that land of the free is sarcastic)...although it felt like more of an afterthought than the main focus.
While Cooke goes into great detail about the Vietnam War and the effects on soldiers and the people who lived there, and mentions the United States' colonialist motives for entering a war with that country, I don't know that her staying as objective as possible was a good choice? It felt very pro-servicemember and anti-war, while also being anti-protestor and not really mentioning the effects of war on the people of Vietnam. Does this critique seem off base? Out of context, yes. However, when she devoted as much page time to the war as she did, and how the flight attendants tried their absolute best to provide cheer, service and comfort to servicemembers entering and leaving the war zone, I do feel that some critique on colonialism needed to be mentioned—and outside the war, because of Pan Am's motto as a world-crossing airline. What was the impact of these strangers entering countries and using their resources for fun and fancy?
But I dunno. She did do a good job of indicating how women's lives in the United States changed, and how this was reflected within the airline industries, even though it was pretty whyte and middle class (flight attendants had to have certain qualifications in addition to their physical appearance)...and I kinda wanted more on the fatphobia and bodyshaming aspects that had to be inherent within the profession. There was a lot of focus on external pressures, but really no mention of any internal fraught within the flight attendant community (there is some mention of the racism Black flight attendants faced)—and I feel that the book suffered from this overly sympathetic approach.
Finally, I don't know that it landed the ending? It was good though, and I was entertained, although I was irked by the lack of analysis on Pan Am's influence on colonialism and the impact of tourism on marginalized cultures.
However, she only had 288 pages and it's written as an accessible, pop-history book meant to sell and provide a wavetop of information. Not an excuse for where the book was lacking, but an explanation.
January 26, 2021
***thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book***
Wow! I was drawn to this book because of the cover and the title. I'm a 15-year flight attendant and have always loved to read stories of the days when the job was glamorous. I thought it would be a fun read for these horrible times, especially with all the mask policing I'm doing at work these days. I had absolutely no idea what I was in for with this book.
I am floored by how much education I've gained from this book. I had no idea how instrumental Pan Am was in the Vietnam war and what these women went through when they put on their uniforms and went to work. From RR flights carrying soldiers out of warzones to tropical islands in the South Pacific to Operation Babylift flights at the end of the war, these incredible women were doing what they knew how to do best, put on a brave face and smile through it all.
I loved the way the author told these heroic stories and painted their pictures as women fighting for a place in the world while they're also navigating war on foreign land, as well as the fight for female equality in the US. I have so much respect for the lives that these women lived and the way they carried themselves through their experiences.
My experiences as a flight attendant for a domestic, low-budget carrier are nothing like the experiences of these stewardesses of the jet age, but there is a thread of commonality in their love of their job and the lifestyle that it provided that made my heart swell. It reminded me of what has made me stick around for so long, which if I'm completely honest, has been difficult to remember as of late.
Here are a few quotes that stood out:
She wanted to know about people - how they lived, who they were, something beyond what a taxi driver with passable English could tell her. Passengers offered Lynne the best shot at constructing a scaffolding of knowledge around which her experiences on the ground could grow.
Every plane was a vessel filled with people and their stories.
Lynne taught them everything she knows about travel: how to move as a woman through the world with curiosity and confidence and deference for local perspectives and customers and how, whether she is near or far from home, that stance erases fear. "My mother," her elder girl says, "has no fear of the other."
Loved it!
Wow! I was drawn to this book because of the cover and the title. I'm a 15-year flight attendant and have always loved to read stories of the days when the job was glamorous. I thought it would be a fun read for these horrible times, especially with all the mask policing I'm doing at work these days. I had absolutely no idea what I was in for with this book.
I am floored by how much education I've gained from this book. I had no idea how instrumental Pan Am was in the Vietnam war and what these women went through when they put on their uniforms and went to work. From RR flights carrying soldiers out of warzones to tropical islands in the South Pacific to Operation Babylift flights at the end of the war, these incredible women were doing what they knew how to do best, put on a brave face and smile through it all.
I loved the way the author told these heroic stories and painted their pictures as women fighting for a place in the world while they're also navigating war on foreign land, as well as the fight for female equality in the US. I have so much respect for the lives that these women lived and the way they carried themselves through their experiences.
My experiences as a flight attendant for a domestic, low-budget carrier are nothing like the experiences of these stewardesses of the jet age, but there is a thread of commonality in their love of their job and the lifestyle that it provided that made my heart swell. It reminded me of what has made me stick around for so long, which if I'm completely honest, has been difficult to remember as of late.
Here are a few quotes that stood out:
She wanted to know about people - how they lived, who they were, something beyond what a taxi driver with passable English could tell her. Passengers offered Lynne the best shot at constructing a scaffolding of knowledge around which her experiences on the ground could grow.
Every plane was a vessel filled with people and their stories.
Lynne taught them everything she knows about travel: how to move as a woman through the world with curiosity and confidence and deference for local perspectives and customers and how, whether she is near or far from home, that stance erases fear. "My mother," her elder girl says, "has no fear of the other."
Loved it!
February 15, 2021
I love the cover! It has a really glam, yet retro look to it. It brings to mind all the great things you associate with air hostesses. This cover certainly attracts your eye to it and encouraged me to think that the book would be from the point of view or at least solely about air hostesses.
The book does follow a few women, Karen, Lynne and Tori being the ones that stay in my mind. All these women have to fit/fill certain expectations such as weight and looks which would most likely be frowned upon, in the era we live in now.
The uniforms, rules and expectations varied slightly depending on which Airline the women worked for. Though this book is centred more on the Pan Am Air Hostesses it does reference other airlines too. Pan Am ran “grooming classes” which one of the ladies featured in this book called Karen wrote home about to her mum saying the course would cost £500!! Karen also revealed to her mum in the same letter that she had never known that blue eyeshadow de-emphasized her blue eyes — she should choose a greenish hue — or that a hint of a bright white below the eyebrows would highlight the arch. One of the grooming supervisor’s had reshaped her eyebrows, and they now looked so much better. In 1969 the spring trainees were the very first ones to be allowed to keep their hair long but it was on the condition they should keep it clipped neatly at the nape of their neck. This new freedom didn’t bother Karen as she had her hair cut into a bob, the same style she has worn it in during her time working for the US Army.
The women were also given four pages of “packing tips” which contained gems like building a core wardrobe in drip dry fabrics as they are easier to manage and do not need a lot of extra work ironing. The tips also contained a note on wearing comfortable shoes!
The Pan Am Stewardess manual gave advice on things like lip shape, lipstick/make-up application, correct posture, skin care, and haircuts. It says in the book that these grooming lessons took nearly as much time as the first aid training!
For makeup, a natural look with red, rose red or coral for lips and nails. Pan Am wanted their hostesses to look pretty, feminine and sophisticated. They employed people to ensure the stewardesses were meeting their specific guideline. If a stewardess wanted to change her hair, she needed to have permission from the airline. Stewardesses were expected to have clear skin, be between 5’3 and 5’9, and be willing to follow the rules. The stewardess skirt had to be exactly one inch below the knee, so it doesn’t raise and be too revealing when the stewardesses were reaching over head lockers and doing their jobs on the plane.
The book also covered difficult journeys the Air Stewardesses had to cope with such as transporting young men from America over to fight the Vietnam war. Also, the evacuation effort made and how integral the Air Stewardess’ willingness and professionalism to come up with solutions as quickly and efficiently as possible. The conditions these air hostesses had to cope with in the air whilst helping ill, scared children was awful. I should imagine if this occurred in the present day the Air Stewardesses would be treat for a form of PTSD. Not in those days though they were expected to pick themselves up, put a fresh smile on their face and continue on.
The book also covers some Airline history and also the many lawsuits for women’s rights, for job progression etc, and men’s rights to become Air Stewards, sexism, racism etc. Some of the articles covered were ones that I honestly wouldn’t of necessarily thought of. I guess in the present day we take a lot for granted, as being our rights to have/do.
I’ll totally admit I really enjoyed all the Air Stewardess grooming and training details, it would have been great to have some photographs or illustrations too. I even found the military filled flights fascinating to read about, and the evacuation of orphans though harrowing it was something I wouldn’t necessarily of thought of the Air Stewardesses having to do. Some of the Airline history in places felt a tad long winded and I could feel myself losing interest, but luckily the different chapters are kind of mixed up a little with the more serious history, regulations interspersed with anecdotes from actual Air Stewardesses.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were quite mixed, though I found parts of the book really interesting others seemed to drag on in minute detail on things I didn’t find particularly noteworthy.
To sum up I really enjoyed some parts of the book yet felt some parts were somewhat drawn out in my opinion. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting . . . but it was still an okay, fairly interesting read.
The book does follow a few women, Karen, Lynne and Tori being the ones that stay in my mind. All these women have to fit/fill certain expectations such as weight and looks which would most likely be frowned upon, in the era we live in now.
The uniforms, rules and expectations varied slightly depending on which Airline the women worked for. Though this book is centred more on the Pan Am Air Hostesses it does reference other airlines too. Pan Am ran “grooming classes” which one of the ladies featured in this book called Karen wrote home about to her mum saying the course would cost £500!! Karen also revealed to her mum in the same letter that she had never known that blue eyeshadow de-emphasized her blue eyes — she should choose a greenish hue — or that a hint of a bright white below the eyebrows would highlight the arch. One of the grooming supervisor’s had reshaped her eyebrows, and they now looked so much better. In 1969 the spring trainees were the very first ones to be allowed to keep their hair long but it was on the condition they should keep it clipped neatly at the nape of their neck. This new freedom didn’t bother Karen as she had her hair cut into a bob, the same style she has worn it in during her time working for the US Army.
The women were also given four pages of “packing tips” which contained gems like building a core wardrobe in drip dry fabrics as they are easier to manage and do not need a lot of extra work ironing. The tips also contained a note on wearing comfortable shoes!
The Pan Am Stewardess manual gave advice on things like lip shape, lipstick/make-up application, correct posture, skin care, and haircuts. It says in the book that these grooming lessons took nearly as much time as the first aid training!
For makeup, a natural look with red, rose red or coral for lips and nails. Pan Am wanted their hostesses to look pretty, feminine and sophisticated. They employed people to ensure the stewardesses were meeting their specific guideline. If a stewardess wanted to change her hair, she needed to have permission from the airline. Stewardesses were expected to have clear skin, be between 5’3 and 5’9, and be willing to follow the rules. The stewardess skirt had to be exactly one inch below the knee, so it doesn’t raise and be too revealing when the stewardesses were reaching over head lockers and doing their jobs on the plane.
The book also covered difficult journeys the Air Stewardesses had to cope with such as transporting young men from America over to fight the Vietnam war. Also, the evacuation effort made and how integral the Air Stewardess’ willingness and professionalism to come up with solutions as quickly and efficiently as possible. The conditions these air hostesses had to cope with in the air whilst helping ill, scared children was awful. I should imagine if this occurred in the present day the Air Stewardesses would be treat for a form of PTSD. Not in those days though they were expected to pick themselves up, put a fresh smile on their face and continue on.
The book also covers some Airline history and also the many lawsuits for women’s rights, for job progression etc, and men’s rights to become Air Stewards, sexism, racism etc. Some of the articles covered were ones that I honestly wouldn’t of necessarily thought of. I guess in the present day we take a lot for granted, as being our rights to have/do.
I’ll totally admit I really enjoyed all the Air Stewardess grooming and training details, it would have been great to have some photographs or illustrations too. I even found the military filled flights fascinating to read about, and the evacuation of orphans though harrowing it was something I wouldn’t necessarily of thought of the Air Stewardesses having to do. Some of the Airline history in places felt a tad long winded and I could feel myself losing interest, but luckily the different chapters are kind of mixed up a little with the more serious history, regulations interspersed with anecdotes from actual Air Stewardesses.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were quite mixed, though I found parts of the book really interesting others seemed to drag on in minute detail on things I didn’t find particularly noteworthy.
To sum up I really enjoyed some parts of the book yet felt some parts were somewhat drawn out in my opinion. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting . . . but it was still an okay, fairly interesting read.
April 1, 2021
I was not a fan of the writing style of this book at all and I have gotten to the point where if I can't get into the book and am always checking to see when it will be over I am just not going to finish it - my time is more valuable and I would rather spend my precious reading time on books I really enjoy.
This book is just a bunch of little snippets, you get a few minutes on an event or character and then it abruptly ends and a new story begins. I was hoping to follow a character throughout the golden "Jet Age" and all the stories/adventures - instead I was always left wondering "what happened to her".... I'm moving on, just not my preference for reading material.
This book is just a bunch of little snippets, you get a few minutes on an event or character and then it abruptly ends and a new story begins. I was hoping to follow a character throughout the golden "Jet Age" and all the stories/adventures - instead I was always left wondering "what happened to her".... I'm moving on, just not my preference for reading material.
June 4, 2021
What a pleasant surprise this book was! If you think you know all there is to know about the U.S. in the 50s and 60s, especially regarding its involvement in Vietnam, read this book ASAP. I was not expecting a book about flight attendants to be set against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous times in US history but after reading it, I can see now how it is impossible to separate the two.
This book is not only readable and does not require readers to slog through walls of words in the way that more "academic" texts do, it is a vital look at how Pan Am offered women a path to independence and how the women of Pan Am had active roles in important historical events. Yes, Pan Am, like all airlines, held women to ridiculously sexist -- and now illegal -- standards regarding weight, age, looks, and marital standards. That is really only a small part of the history of the flight attendants, though. These were women who wanted a different sort of life. They did not want to follow the prescribed path of looking good in a skirt in their office job until they got married and had children. Even if their families did not understand their choices, these women made those choices, anyway. They not only saw the world, they were part of it.
This book is not only readable and does not require readers to slog through walls of words in the way that more "academic" texts do, it is a vital look at how Pan Am offered women a path to independence and how the women of Pan Am had active roles in important historical events. Yes, Pan Am, like all airlines, held women to ridiculously sexist -- and now illegal -- standards regarding weight, age, looks, and marital standards. That is really only a small part of the history of the flight attendants, though. These were women who wanted a different sort of life. They did not want to follow the prescribed path of looking good in a skirt in their office job until they got married and had children. Even if their families did not understand their choices, these women made those choices, anyway. They not only saw the world, they were part of it.
February 27, 2022
This was focused on Pan Am and it’s recruiting efforts beginning in the 1950’s. I can see how this job would attract women who sought different opportunities and adventure. Most started in their very young 20’s and had to leave if they got married, were pregnant, or about 32. As the times changed, so did the women. They had grown up and wanted more opportunities. Most often they were denied and their job was to be pretty and glamorous to the mostly elite men who flew at the time. Yet, in reality these woman sought autonomy, but worked very hard at their jobs. They were intelligent and skilled workers.
It was the most interesting to hear how much effort Stewardesses did with the Vietnam War. They flew Americans Veterans into the country and also out and offered much help to them. They also flew in when the war was ending and Americans were trying to get out of Vietnam. One passage describes a flight where young children and babies were flown out even though it was known to be dangerous.
So, thank you to all these hard working women looking for a different life, but also contributing so much on each flight. They made the job appear easy and effortless, but of course that was not the case. Learned so much about this time in history from this book.
It was the most interesting to hear how much effort Stewardesses did with the Vietnam War. They flew Americans Veterans into the country and also out and offered much help to them. They also flew in when the war was ending and Americans were trying to get out of Vietnam. One passage describes a flight where young children and babies were flown out even though it was known to be dangerous.
So, thank you to all these hard working women looking for a different life, but also contributing so much on each flight. They made the job appear easy and effortless, but of course that was not the case. Learned so much about this time in history from this book.
May 12, 2021
I remember the first time I flew on an airplane. It was back when people dressed up for air travel. It was elegant, an occasion in and of itself. Those were the days. Those were also the days when all flight attendants were women—attractive women—and the airlines had strict regulations about looks, height, weight, marital status, etc. The women were called stewardesses and they held highly coveted jobs.
This book is about the history of stewardesses, starting from the beginning of commercial air travel in the 1950s. But more than that, it’s about how women pushed to change the airline workplace, get rid of unfair rules, and open up opportunities for themselves and others. And it’s all set against a backdrop of the events of the time, including the Vietnam War. This should be required reading for every young woman going into her first job. It’s an eye opener to see how far women have come in terms of rights in the workplace. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but this puts many things in perspective. Younger women will probably find a lot of this hard to believe. The book is well written, engaging, and well worth reading.
This book is about the history of stewardesses, starting from the beginning of commercial air travel in the 1950s. But more than that, it’s about how women pushed to change the airline workplace, get rid of unfair rules, and open up opportunities for themselves and others. And it’s all set against a backdrop of the events of the time, including the Vietnam War. This should be required reading for every young woman going into her first job. It’s an eye opener to see how far women have come in terms of rights in the workplace. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but this puts many things in perspective. Younger women will probably find a lot of this hard to believe. The book is well written, engaging, and well worth reading.
March 30, 2021
This history of Pan Am and its stewardesses was a mixed bag. At times it was fascinating, and then I'd hit a chapter that really dragged. This is not a light, gossipy read if that's what you're looking for; the book spends a large amount of time on the Vietnam War and the flights in and out of Saigon, including the massive Operation Babylift that evacuated some 2,000 children during the fall of Saigon. Come Fly the World focuses on three women in particular, Karen, Lynne, and Tori, and I really enjoyed their stories, but sometimes it was hard to keep details straight as the narrative jumped around. Biggest takeaway: the women who crewed Pan Am's jets were educated, confident women to be admired and respected. 3.5 stars.
July 28, 2021
Absolutely fascinating! Cooke recaps the experiences of a few Pan Am flight attendants. A glamorous position to hold; to fly the world when very few airlines did so. You’ll cringe at some of the aesthetic requirements bestowed on them. Perhaps, most the most captivating story was their role in the Vietnam War. Talk about bad-assery!
Love the cover!
Love the cover!
November 22, 2022
A few fascinating tidbits but mostly surrounded by information that feels well trod over without a much cultural criticism that could’ve made this a more interesting story. The audiobook was smooth and enjoyable. 3.5
Read
July 13, 2021Unfortunately for me and it would seem at least some other readers, thought they were going to read tales akin to "Coffee, Tea or Me", at least that is the impression I was given by the publisher's blurb. This book is a hard look at the true nature of what being a "stew" was like in the 1950's and 1960's. While I wanted to know the grit, the delivery was so dull and factual, I felt I was back in statistics class with that boring guy from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" as the teacher!
Maybe I'm in a bad space but this just didn't cut it for me. I actually started the process to become a Stewardess after High School but I didn't like the idea of having my appearance dictated to me to the point of having to weigh in to keep my job. Nah, I had worked as a cashier for over two years and had my boobs grabbed enough at that point, who needed that at 3000 miles high? Honestly, I am glad I didn't pursue it but the idea of all the travel (which is usually restricted to your assigned route) sounded appealing but often you would be to tired to engage depending on layover time. Anyway, I'm glad there are people, who enjoy their job. It certainly has it's appeal but it has a lot of challenges too.
If you want a good history book about modern stewardess service, this will deliver but realize it is bare bones.
I may return to it at a later date once my disappointment wears off. I think I failed to give it a good shot...take everything I say with a grain of salt.
Maybe I'm in a bad space but this just didn't cut it for me. I actually started the process to become a Stewardess after High School but I didn't like the idea of having my appearance dictated to me to the point of having to weigh in to keep my job. Nah, I had worked as a cashier for over two years and had my boobs grabbed enough at that point, who needed that at 3000 miles high? Honestly, I am glad I didn't pursue it but the idea of all the travel (which is usually restricted to your assigned route) sounded appealing but often you would be to tired to engage depending on layover time. Anyway, I'm glad there are people, who enjoy their job. It certainly has it's appeal but it has a lot of challenges too.
If you want a good history book about modern stewardess service, this will deliver but realize it is bare bones.
I may return to it at a later date once my disappointment wears off. I think I failed to give it a good shot...take everything I say with a grain of salt.
May 25, 2022
Absolutely brilliant book. It not only was a story of stewardesses but also of the Viet Nam war. It really enjoy the detail about how the stewardesses flew in and out of Viet Nam with the soldiers but also how they took the soldiers to their R & R assignments.
Having lived during these times, it brought many memories back, both good and bad.
Having lived during these times, it brought many memories back, both good and bad.
March 20, 2025
A bit mistitled (it's Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam), which doesn't make it any less interesting.
September 12, 2021
i’d like to thank netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! come fly the world is an interesting story about the pan am stewardesses from the 50’s to 70’s. it mentions many historical events, like the vietnam war, and gives many first-person stories involving them.
the book talks about different women and their experiences with pan am, but mainly focuses on three. they all have very different lives, but are similar in the fact that they want to travel the world and see what it has to offer. i thought that the stories were interesting, but that the author rotated between them at random times and it got confusing.
i found the rules and regulations to become and stay a stewardess to be very intriguing as well. it also told about the dangers they faced, which was at time shocking.
it was an interesting book, but it had an odd layout and was too long in my opinion. it’s a short book, but it seems like some of the stuff could have still been cut or shortened. overall, to enjoy this one readers need to be fans of history and/or pan am.
3 stars
the book talks about different women and their experiences with pan am, but mainly focuses on three. they all have very different lives, but are similar in the fact that they want to travel the world and see what it has to offer. i thought that the stories were interesting, but that the author rotated between them at random times and it got confusing.
i found the rules and regulations to become and stay a stewardess to be very intriguing as well. it also told about the dangers they faced, which was at time shocking.
it was an interesting book, but it had an odd layout and was too long in my opinion. it’s a short book, but it seems like some of the stuff could have still been cut or shortened. overall, to enjoy this one readers need to be fans of history and/or pan am.
3 stars
March 13, 2021
A great book about feminism through the 1960s and 1970s, as seen through the eyes of Pan Am flight attendants. It talks about all of the political stuff going on at the time around the world, and how flight attendants saw it first hand. I learned a lot reading this book.
April 19, 2021
I thought this was going to be a bit of fun and fluff. Not so. It was so much more. It took me from the 1950s ‘stewardess’ to today’s ‘flight attendant’.
In 1960 I applied for a job as a stewardess with a major airline (not Pan Am). To me it offered glamour and free international travel. I did not get the job.
If you thought this job was nothing but flying the ‘friendly skies' (as I did), you’d be wrong…Pan Am flew routes that placed crews in imminent danger in some very ‘unfriendly skies’.
The training for a Pan Am stewardess was akin to a fancy finishing school in Switzerland at their training facility in Miami. It was rigorous and demanding. Courses dealing with safety, such as procedure(s) for leaving a disabled plane, were especially daunting.
To become a stewardess in the 1950’s & 60’s the requirements were stringent for age, weight and height. Once employed there were frequent ‘weigh-ins’ to make sure one had not gone over the weight restrictions. One had to be bi-lingual. You could not get married and you pretty much knew that your flying days would be over by age 32.
Pg. 107: “All airlines agreed on the perils of a visibly pregnant stewardess.”
By the late 1960’s these young ladies began to buck these rules and started a campaign for change.
Pg.151: "By the end of 1972, two groups of stewardess activists had formed….At a press conference, two women from each group told reporters that they were more afraid of being written up for talking back to a drunk passenger than they were of a hijacking.”
I learned a bit of history about Pan Am and what led to the phrase the ‘jet set’. I learned that Pan Am was involved in associations with the US Government in several ways. They flew servicemen out of Vietnam for R&R and they flew new recruits into Vietnam who would be facing battle for the first time. Stewardesses would have to adjust their demeanor for the passengers they had on board.
The book ends with the ‘orphan airlifts’ out of Vietnam.
Pg. 208: “By the numbers, stewardesses had formed one of the largest groups of civilians to contribute to the Vietnam War.”
In 1960 I applied for a job as a stewardess with a major airline (not Pan Am). To me it offered glamour and free international travel. I did not get the job.
If you thought this job was nothing but flying the ‘friendly skies' (as I did), you’d be wrong…Pan Am flew routes that placed crews in imminent danger in some very ‘unfriendly skies’.
The training for a Pan Am stewardess was akin to a fancy finishing school in Switzerland at their training facility in Miami. It was rigorous and demanding. Courses dealing with safety, such as procedure(s) for leaving a disabled plane, were especially daunting.
To become a stewardess in the 1950’s & 60’s the requirements were stringent for age, weight and height. Once employed there were frequent ‘weigh-ins’ to make sure one had not gone over the weight restrictions. One had to be bi-lingual. You could not get married and you pretty much knew that your flying days would be over by age 32.
Pg. 107: “All airlines agreed on the perils of a visibly pregnant stewardess.”
By the late 1960’s these young ladies began to buck these rules and started a campaign for change.
Pg.151: "By the end of 1972, two groups of stewardess activists had formed….At a press conference, two women from each group told reporters that they were more afraid of being written up for talking back to a drunk passenger than they were of a hijacking.”
I learned a bit of history about Pan Am and what led to the phrase the ‘jet set’. I learned that Pan Am was involved in associations with the US Government in several ways. They flew servicemen out of Vietnam for R&R and they flew new recruits into Vietnam who would be facing battle for the first time. Stewardesses would have to adjust their demeanor for the passengers they had on board.
The book ends with the ‘orphan airlifts’ out of Vietnam.
Pg. 208: “By the numbers, stewardesses had formed one of the largest groups of civilians to contribute to the Vietnam War.”
September 4, 2022
Overall, this was quite fascinating. It’s a look at the 50s, 60s, and 70s through the lens of Pam Am stewardesses. Sometimes history is a backdrop to the airline industry, and sometimes the stewardesses are a backdrop to the history of Vietnam, civil rights, and women’s lib.
The airline had height and weight requirements, and women were not allowed to work after getting married. Men were not allowed to work as stewards. These rules were changed one by one in the late 70s after many legal challenges. This bit I found fascinating. I was kind of expecting this aspect to be the key focus of the book, but it wasn’t. That’s not a bad thing but may not be in line with reader’s expectations.
The flights in and out of Vietnam, including Operation Babylift, were the most interesting to me. Those infants are only months older than me. The book briefly mentions some plane crashes, and I then spent a couple hours on Wikipedia to learn more about them.
The book focuses mainly on the lives of four stewardesess, whom I could not keep straight. I don’t think the author introduced them very well. Taking notes would have helped.
This is a great book for 20th century history fans. Keep in mind that it is not only about stewardesses and the airline industry.
Language: Occasional strong language
Sexual Content: Not explicit. Mentions of affairs and prostitution.
Violence: Plane hijackings, shooting at planes in war zones, hostage situations
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
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