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Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML: Now a major motion picture from Clint Eastwood, starring Tom Hanks�??the inspirational autobiography by one of the most captivating American heroes of our time, Capt. 'Sully' Sullenberger�??the pilot who miraculously landed a crippled US Airways Flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew. On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed a remarkable emergency landing when Captain "Sully" Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew. His cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an inspiration worldwide. His story is now a major motion picture from director / producer Clint Eastwood and stars Tom Hanks, Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhart. Sully's story is one of dedication, hope, and preparedness, revealing the important lessons he learned through his life, in his military service, and in his work as an airline pilot. It reminds us all that, even in these days of conflict, tragedy and uncertainty, there are values still worth fighting for�??that life's challenges can be met if we're ready for t… (more)
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Chesley B. Sullenberger and his crew became heroes to the world on January 15, 2009 - although Sullenberger, the man who became known to the world as "Sully," takes great pains in "Highest Duty" to explain why he believes that the word "hero" does not really apply to him. Sullenberger believes that a "hero" must choose to do something heroic, not be thrust into a situation, as he was, that leaves him no choice but to participate in its outcome. This distinction reveals much about Chesley B. Sullenberger.
Sullenberger knew he wanted to fly by the time he was five years old. By sixteen, he had learned basic flying skills from a crop duster neighbor and was logging as many solo hours in the air as he could afford. A few years later, Sullenberger would distinguish himself at the United States Air Force Academy where he would be recognized as the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship in his graduating class. The man loves to fly and he does it well - as he proved on the day he glided US Airways Flight 1549 to safety on the Hudson.
"Highest Duty," though, is about more than Flight 1549. It is about a man who prides himself on doing the right thing when nobody else is looking even more than when he has witnesses. Sullenberger was raised in the little North Texas town of Denison in a home he helped build, and expand, over the years alongside his sister, mother and father. Sullenberger's father expected everyone in the family to wield a hammer or use a saw competently and he made sure they got plenty of practice. The home might not have looked like the ones Sully's friends grew up in, but it was "home," and he could see the pride his father took in having designed and built it with only his family's help. In the process, the elder Sullenberger taught his son to be his own man and instilled in him an understanding of what is truly important in a man's life: family, friends, and contentment with one's place in the world.
The book does not shortchange readers wanting to know exactly what happened after Flight 1549's harrowing encounter with the flock of large birds that killed both the plane's engines. Sullenberger makes good use of flight transcripts, recordings, and conversations with crew members and investigators to recreate what happened during the 208 seconds he was able to fly the plane after the bird strike. What he tells about those three minutes is remarkable but, by this point in the book, the reader will know exactly how Chesley B. Sullenberger III ended up in that cockpit, and they will not be surprised that he and his crew were able to pull off this "miracle landing."
"Highest Duty" is an interesting and rewarding book, the story of an ordinary man who dedicated his life to becoming so skilled at what he does that he could pull a "miracle" from his hat when he needed it most. He deserves our respect and admiration but I have to believe that he is ready, by now, to return to the level of anonymity he enjoyed on January 14, 2009.
Rated at: 4.0
I found the book interesting. Captain Sullenberger seems like a very low key guy who is very sure of himself and his skills.
Through his life he prepared for the incident by studying safety as well as accidents and had learned from the experiences of others. He used that knowledge plus his own seasoned skills to safely get the crippled aircraft on the ground. It is a very good example of "Life is a combination of what we control and what we can't and the results of the choices we make."
Having considered getting a pilot's license myself (though not a