On September 11th, 2001, Ari Schonbrun went to his office at Cantor Fitzgerald the Wall Street firm that occupied the top five floors of Tower One and he happened to be on the 78th floor changing elevators when the first plane hit. In the midst of the smoke and chaos, Ari found a fellow employee who was terribly burned and who needed his help to walk her down 78 flights of stairs. Of the 662 Cantor employees in the World Trade Center that day, only four survived. Everyone else was killed. Why did they survive? Was it simply luck? Or was it something more? Ari believes that God was looking out for him that day. There were many large and small miracles and if there s anything that Ari does know it is how that day ended up being a day of rebirth. Before 9/11, Ari had been focused on the wrong things. All he cared about was his job. He didn’t get it. He had lost sight of what matters most in life. After 9/11, Ari changed his life by putting his family first, by volunteering and giving back to the community, and by speaking to groups of people around the country. By sharing and retelling his story, Ari reveals the power of creating meaningful connections to transcend the differences that often polarize and divide us from one another. A great and enduring reminder about what matters most in life.
Miracles & Fate on 78 If you think you’ve heard it all before when it comes to September 11, 2001, you haven’t. Part of this story is a gripping thriller involving real people and how they escaped the World Trade Center. In the details of that story were many points that I never knew in spite of having devoured the news at the time. But there’s more. There’s more in the humanity, not only demonstrated by the author himself and the countless people who helped him, but in businesses and institutions that stepped up to the plate to help families of survivors. As tragic and disturbing as it is to relive that black day, this book serves as a reminder of not only the ugly but the good that humanity is capable of.
Very Moving; Strong and Uplifting I just finished Miracles and Fate on 78. I am not afraid to say that I am acquainted with the author. I honestly did not know what to expect from the book. It was the first recounting I have read about Sept 11th so immediately from the first few pages, I was really afraid of my emotions. I, like most, avoid reliving that day. We do not want to revisit the sadness or despair. We forget that real miracles occurred that same day. This book reminds you of that. It reminds you of what life is all about. It is a strong, uplifting, deeply moving message that bears reminding. I will recommend it to my family and fiends. Thanks for sharing this story!