From the Inside Out

Harrowing Escapes from the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center

By: Erik O. Ronningen

Narrated by: Andrew Firda, Katie McCall

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Erik Ronningen was on the 71st floor of the North Tower on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. After an incredible, near miraculous journey down through the acrid, smoke-filled building, Erik tried to get to the security command center in the South Tower. Unable to do so, he was the last person to make it out of the South Tower alive.

Here is the story of his harrowing escape, interwoven with the accounts of 14 others who were lucky enough to be able to recount them.

Altogether, these accounts document the bravery and heroism, selflessness, and generosity demonstrated by hundreds of people when their normal, everyday lives were suddenly plunged into a fiery scramble for survival.

The astonishing photograph on the cover of this book was taken by survivor Jim Usher as he lay on the concrete outside the World Trade Center, losing consciousness, so his family could see what he saw during what he thought were the last moments of his life. And yes, that flag was really there! This photograph has never before been made public.

©2013 Erik O. Ronningen/Welcome Rain Publishers (P)2015 Erik O. Ronningen

Hear what happened to the Average Joes

The public has (rightly) heard many different accounts from the first responders who survived the day, but with the exception of Officer Lim, this book is a collection of the Average Joes working in the buildings that September morning. From those who, by a twist of fate, had just left their offices high in the towers, to those who got out of the complex with literal minutes to spare, these are recollections of the intense 102 minutes from the first plane crash to the 2nd, North Tower collapse. Because this was compiled over a decade after the attack, there is a welcome epilogue that gives the reader insight into what each person was up to afterwards. The only problem with these memoirs being written so long after the events is that some parts of their stories are clear memories, others have faded or been muted by PTSD
I found the male narrator to be excellent, however I found the female narrator to be a bit too cheerful/chirpy in her reading.

Harrowing and Remarkable

Having been to young to remember the events of 9/11, this book truly brings to life the horrific reality so many people faced.

All these years, I’ve never known how unexpected the collapse of the towers truly was.

The towers were a staple in the city’s skyline for so many years and were slowly approaching a time where they will have been fallen longer than they stood.

My heart is broken for those affected by the destruction and how divided the country has since become.

The Horrific Truth reported in palatable form.

I listened to this is in one session although it was not my intention initially. I could not stop listening. It was an unbelievable nightmare. However we all know that it was indeed the truth and not some 'made for TV' movie. Oh how we all wish that it had been.

Erik Ronningen gives us just enough detail so that we get an idea of just how dire things must have been on that infamous September day way back in 2001. However, thankfully he does not over dramatize the situation just leaving that to us, the reader.

Andrew Firda and Katie McCall give stifling performances which definitely added to my enjoyment of this well written history of that dreadful day.

A true FIVE star novel.

20 Years & Still Overwhelming!

I spent the day rereading this one. I was just 30 with our first child when the tragedy struck that morning. I continue to keep these souls in my prayers.

9/11

This is a brief look at some of the horrors that transpired on that grim day in 2001.
Narration is adequate except for those moments when McCall switches into high-pitched whiney mode.
Both need to check pronunciation of words where emphasis changes depending upon the meaning: "confines", used as a noun is pronounced con'fines, "enveloped" in verb form is pronounced en vel' oped, rather than the same way one pronounces the paper pocket used to mail a letter. Dedicated professionals check these things out before committing text to audio.

Very well told with excellent performances

My title says it all. This book gives you the reality of the situation. The narrators were both excellent.

Inside view of the terror

Written by a victim of 9/11, you get an inside view of what it was like from several different people. All the stories are interesting and heartbreaking.

Fantastic Read

What did you love best about From the Inside Out?

The stories of the survivors. Even years later, the stories are unbelievable.

What other book might you compare From the Inside Out to and why?

102 Minutes, but I favor this one.

Have you listened to any of Andrew Firda and Katie McCall ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Easily. Very hard to stop listening to.

A SAD TIME

The book was very clear and concise on the heroics of the people that were involved and the ones that were helped during that period. Soo much sadness and clarity from all of those involved in this tragedy. The books gives insight into the minds of the people that survived the tragedy. I knew it was bad, but when you hear it first hand, it brings the sorrow more to life than just watching it on TV. The book was well read and the emphasis was where it should have been. It was like you were there at the time of the first plane hitting the building to explosion of humans hitting the streets below. A very great read for a very SAD TIME!

Heartfelt

The storytelling shows the love and compassion that was added to create this book. #neverforget