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Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11
Rudy Giuliani emerged from the smoke of 9/11 as the unquestioned hero of the America's Mayor, the father figure we could all rely on to be tough, to be wise, to do the right thing. In that uncertain time, it was a comfort to know that he was on the scene and in control, making the best of a dire situation. But was he really? Grand Illusion is the definitive report on Rudy Giuliani's role in 9/11—the true story of what happened that day and the first clear-eyed evaluation of Giuliani's role before, during, and after the disaster. While the pictures of a soot-covered Giuliani making his way through the streets became very much a part of his personal mythology, they were also a symbol of one of his greatest failures. The mayor's performance, though marked by personal courage and grace under fire, followed two terms in office pursuing an utterly wrongheaded approach to the city's security against terrorism. Turning the mythology on its head, Grand Illusion reveals how Giuliani has revised his own history, casting himself as prescient terror hawk when in fact he ran his administration as if terrorist threats simply did not exist, too distracted by pet projects and turf wars to attend to vital precautions. Authors Wayne Barrett and Dan Collins also provide the first authoritative view of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, recounting the triumphs and missteps of the city's efforts to heal itself. With surprising new reporting about the victims, the villains, and the heroes, this is an eye-opening reassessment of one of the pivotal events—and politicians—of our time.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
46 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Barrett
23Ìýbooks32ÌýfollowersWayne Barrett was an American journalist. He worked as an investigative reporter and senior editor for The Village Voice for 37 years, and was known as a leading investigative journalist focused on power and politics in the United States. He is known as New York City's "foremost muckraker."
“Our credo must be the exposure of the plunderers, the steerers, the wirepullers, the bosses, the brokers, the campaign givers and takers,� Barrett once said to journalism students at his alma mater, Columbia University. “So I say: Stew, percolate, pester, track, burrow, besiege, confront, damage, level, care.�
“Our credo must be the exposure of the plunderers, the steerers, the wirepullers, the bosses, the brokers, the campaign givers and takers,� Barrett once said to journalism students at his alma mater, Columbia University. “So I say: Stew, percolate, pester, track, burrow, besiege, confront, damage, level, care.�
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 28, 2009
This book really revealed much about Giuliani that I did not know. Basically, I didn't know anything about him - just went by his actions on Sept 11 and the few days after, when he displayed such leadership.
It was such an illuminating read about how all the things that happened before 2001 factored into the tragedies that occured that day. From the location of the emergency center to the brand and types of radios the fire department used.
Got the feeling from these authors that they really know NYC, and they have a keen understanding of how politics is played there. The bottom line, Rudy Giuliani's pretty good, but not the hottest sh!t.
It was such an illuminating read about how all the things that happened before 2001 factored into the tragedies that occured that day. From the location of the emergency center to the brand and types of radios the fire department used.
Got the feeling from these authors that they really know NYC, and they have a keen understanding of how politics is played there. The bottom line, Rudy Giuliani's pretty good, but not the hottest sh!t.
October 26, 2020
Giuliani as a mayor was concerned with huge gap in the
City’s budget. Concerned with getting elected mayor he refused to accept Dinkin’s proposals to shore up building codes at the World Trade Center after the 1993 building. Giuliani was obsessed with getting ahold of the airports which were under the Port Authority and selling them to private companies. When he was thwarted and took it out on them by withholding funding and scaring away people who used to buy bonds or pay fees at the Trade Center. Giuliani never tried to get the police and fire to work together better and make sure they had good equipment. He many not have been able to. He was heavily involved in big Pharma and promoted OxyContin. Many in government were shocked when he tried to get them to change the laws so he could serve a third term. No one knows where he was at all times during 9/11. He has told different stories. He’s not a great person. Now we know he is worse.
City’s budget. Concerned with getting elected mayor he refused to accept Dinkin’s proposals to shore up building codes at the World Trade Center after the 1993 building. Giuliani was obsessed with getting ahold of the airports which were under the Port Authority and selling them to private companies. When he was thwarted and took it out on them by withholding funding and scaring away people who used to buy bonds or pay fees at the Trade Center. Giuliani never tried to get the police and fire to work together better and make sure they had good equipment. He many not have been able to. He was heavily involved in big Pharma and promoted OxyContin. Many in government were shocked when he tried to get them to change the laws so he could serve a third term. No one knows where he was at all times during 9/11. He has told different stories. He’s not a great person. Now we know he is worse.
July 3, 2020
The first section and last section are really focused on 9/11 and are great. The middle is about mismanagement and bad decisions throughout the 1990s and, while it's an important part of the overall argument, it gets a little dull. But worth reading for the good stuff on either side, and you can just skim the middle.
May 28, 2018
A bit of a slog. But still a thorough look at how the myth of Rudy came to be. Mostly due to Rudy's tireless efforts to make it so.
March 16, 2019
Alternate subtitle: Giuliani has always been awful.
August 22, 2024
I wondered what happened to Rudy Giuliani to make him such a lying ridiculous fraud after the 2020 election but reading this book uncovers his deception around 9/11. He does get credit for boosting the morale of NYC and the toll comforting so many survivors families in the aftermath; but this book details the many, many failures that contributed to needless deaths of first responders. The office of Emergency Management was inoperable that day, the ppl hired by Giuliani were inept, the location Giuliani chose was impractical, etc. etc. The first person interviews and volume of detail are overwhelming and reject any myth that “America’s Mayor� was worthy of the hype.
October 16, 2020
Can Gullian's Response Sustain A Whole Book?
First of all, I have to say I didnt read the promo close enough, and mistakenly thought this was a full bio. Having read about 20 % of the book so far, it's been interesting, but a little repetitive. And , quite frankly, I'm wondering if Gulliani's accomplishments and failures can sustain a full book. Guess I'll continue reading & find out.
First of all, I have to say I didnt read the promo close enough, and mistakenly thought this was a full bio. Having read about 20 % of the book so far, it's been interesting, but a little repetitive. And , quite frankly, I'm wondering if Gulliani's accomplishments and failures can sustain a full book. Guess I'll continue reading & find out.
July 9, 2023
Every New Yorker should read this book. A really detailed account of how Guiliani did nothing on 9/11 except for his previous inactions that ended up in the death of so many firefighters. Giuliani was just as useful on 9/11 as I was sitting in my house in Queens at the ripe old age of 1.
March 6, 2017
Found this book very hard to get into. Feels like a lot of needless repetition. Seems informative but too drawn out.
September 17, 2008
Another political tome I read during the political primaries of 2008. Giuliani rose to notoriety on the coattails of 9/11, at which disaster he really did very little other than to appear heroic. The book was more about 9/11 than it was about Giuliani, though. I was really interested in the chapters on the health aftermath.
"All in all, the efforts in the months immediately following the attack looked like an extraordinarily passive governmental [state and federal] response to a clear and specific health threat."
"...almost every failure on the part of the federal government was accompanied by a failure of New York City's leadership to press the case for stronger action."
"All in all, the efforts in the months immediately following the attack looked like an extraordinarily passive governmental [state and federal] response to a clear and specific health threat."
"...almost every failure on the part of the federal government was accompanied by a failure of New York City's leadership to press the case for stronger action."
November 6, 2012
The tragedy of 9/11 was compounded by mistakes that were made at the city and federal levels. America's mayor is a myth.
March 20, 2015
Clearly the myth of Guiliani has been exagerated. Why then does he seem to still be teflon
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August 31, 2009I loved the man but then this book came around. Read it to find out.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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