Grand Illusion

the long version

Grand Illusion is the true story of what happened on 9/11 and the first clear-eyed evaluation of Giuliani's role before, during, and after the disaster. Turning the mythology on its head, authors Wayne Barrett and Dan Collins reveal how Giuliani has revised his own history, casting himself as a 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. Barrett and 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 important reassessment of one of the pivotal events—and politicians—of our time.