What do You think about Debunking 9/11 Myths (2006)?
I was going through a phase where I was obsessing over 9/11 because of movie I saw, and one of my close friends is a believer in conspiracy theories. It wasn't until I was arguing against her that I realized that most of what I believed (just like most of what she believed) was based on hearsay. So, I decided to do my own research, that way, I'd know what I really believe, and have evidence to believe it. So, I bought this book for the non-conspiracy side, and watched lots of conspiracy support documentaries for the other side. This book has thoroughly convinced me that conspiracy theorists are wrong, even more than I was already convinced. "Popular Mechanics" used common language to explain the complicated engineering and scientific arguments included in the book. I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Also, the pictures and the book's arrangement was very helpful for understanding. The only downside? Now I'm obsessed with conspiracy theories in general. Titanic/Olympic switch anyone?
—Bethany Kimble
If you plan on reading this book to dispel any doubt about any conspiracies regarding 9/11, don't bother. While explaining certain scenarios with some good detail, you almost want to believe every "fact" about all 4 planes that day. While there is little doubt that 2 planes went into the Twin Towers, I wasn't moved or swayed by the explanations of Flight 93, or the mystery surrounding the Pentagon. I was looking for more concrete evidence on things other than "that guy said he saw that". It felt empty.
—Mike
This was a very easy read, logically laid out. The authors began each section with an outline of the myth, then went about spelling out the truth scientifically. What lends credibility to their arguments is that they were not afraid to say "we don't know entirely" when the data was inconclusive, such as the fall of tower 7. Generally, they come up with sensible, well-documented rebuttals to most if not all of the various 9/11 myths. With the information available in this Popular Mechanics book, the excellent Nova special on the architectural aspects of the fall of the towers, and simply watching the minute by minute live news footage of 9/11 available on the web, it's hard to believe people can still buy into wild conspiracy theories. This book is not exhaustive by any means, but it is an excellent primer into the theories that are out there and the actual scientific truth that explains the events of that horrible day.
—Jeff
