“Gaze at an intriguing portrait. Contemplate the unanswered questions of September Eleventh, the victims’ family members posing them with rising urgency, and the U.S. government stonewalling their search for answers. What is going on here? Ray McGinnis is an artist. He allows the members of the Family Steering Committee for the 9/11 Independent Commission to speak for themselves. They do so eloquently, raising a host of queries challenging the public story. The government’s devastating non-response provokes still deeper questions. Can a government investigate itself for a crime that has given it the rationale for a permanent war on others? What has been going on here for almost two decades?
Take a deep breath. Read and absorb this brilliant narrative, seen through the courage of those who turned suffering into demands for every scrap of evidence to be found in the sanitized crime scene and the more-accessible public domain. See the post-September-Eleventh world we live in through their enlightening questions.”
~ James W. Douglass, author of JFK and the Unspeakable. For more information about the work of James Douglass “visit this link”.
*****
“Finally, the 9/11 book I have been waiting for. Unsensational, fact-based, and devastating to the official story. It’s easier to show what didn’t happen than what did, which is why the families’ questions were so important and should still be asked of the still-living witnesses and possible conspirators. Bravo to Ray for organizing this complicated story so cogently.”
~ Lisa Pease, author of A Lie Too Big To Fail: The Real History of the Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. “Read her book” To find Lisa Pease “visit Twitter @lisapease”.
*****
“For the many people who choose to look away from the events of 9/11, perhaps for fear of what they might find, this book presents a powerful challenge. Ray McGinnis elegantly weaves together the heartbreaking experiences of those who lost loved ones on 9/11 with the dismally inaccurate and incomplete official investigations that have plagued our understanding of what happened that day. Truth, however, ‘is the daughter of time, not of authority,’ and Unanswered Questions will undoubtedly serve as a powerful contribution to both the establishment of an accurate historical record and political accountability.”
~ Piers Robinson, Academic, Member of the “Working Group on Propaganda and the 9/11 Global ‘War on Terror,’” lead author of Pockets of Resistance: British News Media, War and Theory in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. “Visit his website”
*****
“Just like the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and the attack on the USS Liberty, the destruction of the World Trade Center … is another cover-up. Congratulations to Ray McGinnis for asking the hard, unanswered questions. We cannot let the government get away with its implausible and unbelievable explanation.”
~ Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy in the Reagan White House and Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal; author of The Neoconservative Threat to World Order. “Visit his website”.
*****
“Those who lost loved ones on September 11 deserve our support. For if we really care about peace and justice, we must take a closer look at the tragic events of 11 September 2001, which led to countless wars and mass surveillance. As Ray McGinnis explores in his book, these families’ unanswered questions are a good place to begin.”
~ Daniele Ganser, author of NATO’s Secret Armies: Operation Gladio and Terrorism in Western Europe, historian and co-founder of the Swiss Institute for Peace and Energy Research. To hear a talk in English Daniele Ganser gave in 2017, “Hear a talk by Daniele Ganser”.
*****
“McGinnis offers a uniquely humane perspective on 9/11, presenting superb new research on the official but unanswered questions of families who lost loved ones.”
~ David Ray Griffin, author of The Christian Gospel for Americans. To discover more about his other books “Discover more about his other books”.
*****
“Unanswered Questions is an important book on the relentless efforts of victim family members to get truth and justice for their loved ones. Many important questions remain unanswered. This is unacceptable 20 years on. The cover up continues today. I will never stop seeking justice for my brother. Some of the evidence highlighted in this book will form part of my legal action in the UK to reopen my brother’s Inquest.”
~ Matt Campbell, 9/11 family member whose brother Geoff died while attending a conference on the 106th floor of the North Tower. To learn more about Matt Campbell’s quest for justice for his brother “read this article” To learn more about Matt’s brother Geoff, “Read his obituary”
*****
“As the events of September 11, 2001 continue to haunt the world, Ray McGinnis explores key questions the families of September Eleventh victims formulated while seeking a fact-driven investigation about this stunning introduction to the 21st century. It was these families who forced an investigation upon the strangely reluctant Bush-Cheney administration.
In a comfortable, engaging style, he responds to many of their questions by immersing the reader in a fascinating background of largely unreported big-picture facts.
Startling realities come to light. I believe that this deeply researched and carefully referenced book offers a unique and invaluable insight into 9/11. It is an original and illuminating read for novices and experts alike.”
~ Elizabeth Woodworth, coauthor of 9/11 Unmasked. “Read her book”
*****
“The dissident families of 9/11 victims have, through their intelligence, courage, and persistence, opened a portal to a kind of parallel political universe. It is a universe full of deceit and corruption, but it is real and we had better become familiar with it. We owe a debt of gratitude to Ray McGinnis for telling the story of these brave people and keeping the portal open.”
~ Graeme MacQueen, author of The 2001 Anthrax Deception. “Read his book”
*****
“In this compelling book, Ray McGinnis reviews the heartfelt questions of 9/11 victims’ family members in light of the failed government investigations and the work of steadfast independent investigators. The result is an invaluable framework for understanding the crimes of September 11 and the crucial need for truth.”
~ Kevin Ryan, September Eleventh whistleblower formerly with Underwriters Laboratories, author of Another Nineteen: Investigating Legitimate 9/11 Suspects and editor of the Journal for 9/11 Studies. “Read his book”
*****
“Hyperbole aside, it is impossible to overemphasize the importance of this book. The massacres of September 11, 2001, the foundational event of recent times, claimed thousands of victims whose relatives still cry out for truth and justice. Ray McGinnis brilliantly documents those murders and the decades of agonizing efforts of the victims’ families to seek justice and truth from the American government. Their search had been met with lies and dissimulation piled upon dissimulation to protect the guilty. Reading Unanswered Questions will roil you to the depths of your soul. McGinnis powerfully unfurls layer upon layer of fact, the government fiction, in a timeline that brings us to the twentieth anniversary of these atrocities. While reading it, one cannot help but think of the innocent victims of that terrible day and their suffering families; And the innocent throughout the world who have been murdered by the US government in the name of September 11. The “War on Terror” has been waged by a government that refuses to tell the truth about who the terrorists were on September 11, 2001.”
~ Ed Curtin, author of Seeking Truth in a Country of Lies, was born and raised in the Bronx. His son-in-law, who worked on the 100th floor of the South Tower, escaped the death that claimed the lives of 176 of his co-workers. And Curtin knew well his father’s friend, Timothy O’Sullivan, who worked on the 39th floor of the North Tower and died on Sept. 11. Curtin is an independent writer whose work has appeared widely over many years. “Read about his recent book” To read about Ed Curtin’s family friend, Timothy O’Sullivan, “Read this article”
*****
“The events of September 11th, 2001, were a tragedy the world could never have imagined happening. For those who were directly and indirectly affected by its impact, those moments will remain engraved on their hearts, and in their souls for eternity.
Everyone can remember what they were doing on that fateful day, and like me, remember listening with horror as the events unfolded. It seemed impossible that, for one it could be happening, and also that nothing was done to stop it, once it was taking place.
Throughout the days, weeks, months, and years that have followed, we have heard the results of the 9/11 Commission, and the cries for justice from the families of the victims of this atrocity. However, since the event, nothing has brought that day back to the forefront of my mind like reading this book.
Aptly titled ‘UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: What the September Eleventh Families Asked and the 9/11 Commission Ignored,’ it has been written over time, and thoroughly researched. What makes it such compelling and heartrending reading, is that throughout are the testimonies of the survivors, and those who lost friends and family. We discover the people behind the statistics. Those people who worked in, or were visiting the Trade Centre, the plane passengers, the brave first responders who died or were terribly injured helping others, (including those selfless individuals who were actually off duty,) and those who were injured in the aftermath.
The author begins by revealing how those left behind found strength in unity, including the formation of the “Family Steering Committee for the Independent 9/11 Commission,” (FSC). As the book continues he gives in-depth details of the questions asked by the FSC of the 9/11 Commission, to organisations such as NORAD like, “Why weren’t NORAD Jets able to intercept the hijacked planes?” The CIA, and also to those public figures who should be held accountable like Mayor Giuliani, and President George W. Bush.
The tragic catalogue of inconsistencies in the timeline of events which were reported in the media, though often buried beneath the headlines, are exposed. What really happened? The Family Steering Committee wanted to learn true facts not theories and government spin. Instead, “…after the 9/11 Commission Report was released, the Family Steering Committee found 70% of their questions remained unanswered. Only 9% of their questions were satisfactorily addressed. A final 21% of their questions were given incomplete answers.” This is simply not good enough!
As the book concludes, the author reveals what has happened since the 9/11 Commissions’ Report was published, including the campaign for a New Independent Investigation, cover-ups, and missing accounts.
In Summary: The events of 9/11 will never be forgotten. Not only the families but the world will remember that fateful day, and the tragic loss of lives. This book is not only a voice for those who have been left behind, but also an accurately researched account for those who believe the cover-up will be exposed, and the truth revealed, one day.”
The Columbia Review of Books & Film (TheColumbiaReview.com)
***
“Unanswered Questions is a compendium of still unresolved queries into the events of September 11, 2001. Ray McGinnis’s journalistic text Unanswered Questions investigates lingering doubts about the official accounts of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Centered on the 9/11 Commission’s study of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and other sites, the book opens with background information on the attacks, as well as about the subsequent investigations launched by the US government. In clear terms, it lists the problems with the official accounts, saying that they contain multiple discrepancies. In its search for better answers, it considers factors like investments that were made in the weeks preceding the attacks. In their number and nuance, the resultant inquiries are thought-provoking.
Most striking are reproduced testimonials from family members who raised their own questions and concerns about the attacks. There are emotional moments in the course of this work: Carol Ashley, whose daughter Janice was killed on the 93rd floor of the World Trade Center, says “we were stunned when President Bush opposed such an inquiry.” Also decried are the Port Authority’s commands that their workers remain in, or return to, their offices—a decision made with a high cost, and one that the book says has gone unanswered for.
Some of the book’s other mysteries are more about the narrative of September 11th than about laying blame. It includes a reminder of a man with a bullhorn who told fleeing employees “This tower has been secured. You are in America. Return to your offices.” There are memorable excerpts from the oral histories gathered by the New York Times as well—many of which included accounts of explosions “being heard or felt prior to the planes hitting the towers.” Such firsthand counts of abnormalities with the official record are used to cast doubts on the accepted narratives about the day.
The book concentrates on collecting questions; it is not so much concerned with providing answers. No grand counter explanations are included. In their place is a deep sense that all is not right with the the version of events that was accepted by the 9/11 Commission.
Copious end notes are included within each chapter; these citations give additional credence to the work. The lengthy conclusion includes a bulleted list of the mysteries that have yet to be explained, or that were ignored and under attended to by the official 9/11 Commission.
Unanswered Questions is a compendium of still unresolved queries into the events of September 11, 2001.
~ Matt Benzing, Clarion Reviews, February 25, 2022
Readers write…
“I just finished Unanswered Questions. What a splendid book. It is meticulously researched and beautifully written. For anyone who has not done any research into the events of the day and how the facts on the ground dispel any notion that the official story holds water, this book is the perfect start to that search.”
Best wishes to you,
Bill Brinnier, Architect
Best Friend of Frank DeMartini, Architect and Manager of Construction for the NYNJPA at the World Trade Center. Killed in the North Tower on 9/1
***
“Thank you for the remarkable book you’ve written. It’s skillful, as you let the members of the Family Steering Committee speak for themselves. These women are so convincing, their statements, their questions. By letting them speak for themselves – in the pages of your book, Unanswered Questions – I think many people can relate to them and understand them. I’m grateful for the work you’ve done in writing your book….”
~ Bert Sacks, Seattle, Washington, USA
***
“Thank you so much for writing “Unanswered Questions.” As soon as I saw it was available, I bought a copy and read it. I followed the entire 9/11 process as it happened, read a couple of books, and attended a lecture by David Ray Griffith. However, your book informed me to a greater degree than I have ever been, particularly the firefighters’ transmissions, about which I was unaware. After reading your book, my conclusions are…
1) Despite their public pronouncements, Kean and Hamilton never had any intention of finding out what happened;
2) The primary focus of the 9/11 Committee’s investigation, from the beginning, should have been the explosions within the North Tower before it collapsed and before the South Tower was hit. Further, they should have demanded that Silverstein fully explain how he was able to “pull” WTC7, and who planted the explosives and under whose orders.
3) When Philip Zelikow was appointed executive director of the Commission, the fix was in. At the time of the proceedings, I was quite skeptical of Zelikow because he had complete control of the questions witnesses were allowed to ask, but knew nothing about him until I read your book….”
~ John, Louisville, Kentucky
***
“I just finished reading your book yesterday. What a masterful job you did! Clear. Cogent. Easy to read. You wrote it all in such a way that no one possibly could label it ‘conspiracy theory’. Very delicately woven to illuminate questions and the reason for the questions, the importance of the questions, without straying toward ‘answers’. I can’t say it was ‘enjoyable’; it’s not that kind of book. Importantly it points out at one level, the inadequacy of the 9/11 Commission and investigation. But at a deeper level, beyond even intellect, the book ignites a visceral response, one that reveals not just unanswered questions about the twin towers falling on September 11th, but that the very core of U.S. democracy, of finding facts and illuminating truth, may have crumbled as well.”
~ Terry, Fanny Bay, British Columbia, Canada
***
“Your book is excellent and one of the more distinguishable books on the subject.”
~ Philip, Mastic, New York
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“Good Deep Dive”
“This book is a really good deep dive into the 9/11 Commission and the information it gathered. I’d heard snippets of the information but did not know most of what happened behind its formation. It was very interesting to read about how long it took for the commission to be formed, as well as its stated goals and how the families felt about whether it achieved them. I also enjoyed learning about the families who were affected by 9/11 and ultimately wound up lobbying for this information.”
~ Megan Holly
***
“I have just finished your wonderful book. I am gobsmacked by the detail of your research and the clarity of your exposition of it. Saying it again, I could imagine that the incredible weight of all the direct quotations could have ground the narrative to a virtual halt but you kept the momentum up, in great measure by your passion for exposure of truth, as you editorialize at the end. Truly a monumental work, and a monument to the families who are not merely your subject but the conduit for your pursuit of their unanswered questions. I would be interested to know what their experience of the book will be….most people have a very simple perception of history, if they have any perception at all, and many who think they know what happened, or are simply willing to accept an official version, will take no interest in revisiting events. But there are lots of us, and I hope a growing number for whom history is not about something which happened but about our constant questioning about what happened because of how critical our understanding is to how we go on about our lives.”
~ Ted, Vancouver, Canada
***
I’ve finally finished reading Unanswered Questions. While I knew the outline of some of the questions raised by September Eleventh Families – e.g. regarding the departure of members of the Bin Laden family members shortly after the attacks or President Bush’s reaction in the school room where he was reading to the children (which figure in Michael Moore’s movie, Fahrenheit 9/11) and from other sources including conversations with faculty members at the University of Arizona in the years following 2001 – many of the issues and most of the examples you discuss are new to me. It was obvious to me in 2001-2002 that the events of 9/11 had been politicized, and it did seem like there was a lot missing in the official narrative. In the ensuing years much of the anti-Bush administration protest was focused on the Iraq War, including later Abu Grhaib. So it strikes me as very true that, one way or another, attention drifted away from the attacks that served as a pretext for war. It was interesting for me to read what you’ve written for the information contained in your book, but also for the way you approach your subject. I think that to frame everything (or almost) in terms of questioning and a call for a reexamination is more persuasive, and likely more effective, than writing in an assertive or declarative mode. I think…you’ll succeed in reawakening people’s interest in this strange and highly important episode of recent American history.”
~ Reg, Tuscon, Arizona
***
“I finished reading your well written and so so pertinent book last night. All the “concidentallys” in the conclusion really tied things together for me…. Glad you mentioned Merton in the conclusion as well. I thought the first paragraph in the conclusion (p. 301) expressed brilliantly how democracy depends on truth-telling and accountability which are sadly missing from our systems. Thomas Jefferson and Hannah Arendt must be turning over in their graves while applauding your words.”
~ Susan, Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada
***
“I read the book and it was intriguing and jaw-dropping all the way through. Chapter 22 was especially all-absorbing. So well-documented and so readable/accessible… even for a less civically educated oaf like me! It is almost unbelievable the number of unfollowed threads of inquiry, deliberate stonewalling, and lack of accountability… and all those coincidences you enumerate in the conclusion… just speaks volumes. What a great contribution this book is, not only regarding the broader question about whose narrative we’re buying, but also to those families, giving them a voice again on the 20th anniversary. The timing is interesting to me because, in the archives world, one school of appraisal theory (i.e. how to decide what to keep/what to throw out) suggests that you review the value of records after 5 years and then again after 20. It helps to have the longer perspective. In some ways, it seems you’ve done that by re-evaluating everything in detail, but with that longer lens.”
~ Blair, Vancouver, Canada
***
“A Riveting and Harrowing Read”
“This was a deeply interesting and harrowing read. It’s interesting how serendipitously this book fell into my lap as I had just recently watched the film Worth about the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Though the two things were not explicitly about the same thing, they were both about finding the truth about 9/11, where the government went wrong, and what justice moving forward could look like. The author, Ray McGinnis, did a wonderful job at laying out this book in a way that wasn’t all-consuming but delivered knowledge and the story in a frank and palatable way. Holding that at times, even still, my emotions felt pretty all-consuming. His goal was to ask the hard questions and try to find some answers. I think not only was it a valiant attempt to do just that, but the directions his findings took and the more questions he came up with were astounding and important work in a story that still, decades later, seems to be unraveling and unearthing in ways we could not have expected. A riveting book that will live long as an important read. The victims of 9/11 and their families who continue to fight for justice deserve our unending respect and our continued education, for this is how movements grow.”
~ Hannah Barry, Old Town, Maine
***
“I want to thank you very much for writing this important book, which I wish everyone would read. There’s so much I didn’t know, so much that was shocking. If I’d lost a friend or a family member on 9/11, I think I would be very angry with the government and all those who couldn’t or wouldn’t answer the questions that needed to be answered. I’ve told other people about your book. So, I hope they’ll also read it.”
~ Carol, Vancouver, Canada
***
~ Derek, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
***
“Some parts were heart wrenching, made me cry. Other parts made me pissed off all over again. Then I’d get sad and tear up again. Plenty of “well I’ll be damned “ moments in this book. I’ve read most of the other books he mentioned and watched all the videos he mentioned. But his book put it all together. I don’t think I’ve highlighted so many passages in anything else I’ve read!
~ R.J. Cicisly Jr, USA
***
“As a mother who lost a beloved son in a freak accident, I can relate well to those women who lost husbands, brothers, sons, and daughters in the freak “accident” that was 9/11. Like those women who formed the Family Steering Committee, I would like answers to the puzzling questions surrounding the circumstances of that horrific event. Reading Ray’s book, I tried to formulate answers myself, and this was scary. Ray, however, remained steadily fact-based. His inquiring mind and thorough research provide a lesson we all could follow: check out the details, check out the sources, stay alert, be persistent.”
~ Cathy Sosnowsky, author of Holding On: Poems for Alex, North Vancouver, Canada
***
“This was a very interesting read. This book highlighted some fascinating facts and asked some very tough questions. Although this is a deep dive into events at the time, it isn’t an info dump. The information was easy to prove and at some points riveting. Seeing the way the families still fight for justice adds a human element to the book, striking a fantastic balance in layout and narrative.”
~ Donna Costello, Liverpool, UK
***
“Interesting Conclusions and Fair Findings”
“Ray McGinnis shows that it is possible to question the government’s findings after 9/11 without succumbing to paranoia and conspiracy theories. The book analyzes the official reports and other information related to the case. While the author tries to stay clear of solidifying one position over another, he does an excellent job of showing how the government only halfway answered important questions. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know more about 9/11 and how the government handled the investigations into the attack.”
~ Mark Anthony “M.A.” Smith, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
***
“I have finished reading your book. Wow! I read it slowly, and paused to look up and view several YouTube videos. I don’t think I have ever shaken my head more when reading a book. It is very powerful. It is clear, and beautifully written. I have lived with this story for two weeks. I can only imagine how you have lived, filling weeks, months…with this story. I hope the book is well received and finds a well earned place in the story of these events.”
~ Ian, Comox, British Columbia, Canada
***
“An Informative, Realistic History Lesson”
“September 11th will always be an historic event that we will never forget. I still remember where I was when I saw the news story. But, I’ve never understood the truth and the political reasoning behind the whole event. Unanswered Questions took care of that understanding by opening my eyes wide and I mean WIDE! The chapter that really tugged at my heart string of when McGinnis told the story of a former U.S. Marine turned firefighter that was just in the beginning of his candidacy (as a probationary firefighter) and he died during the attacks following his father’s footsteps as a firefighter. Usually I am not much of a History person but, I think I learned more about American History and how our government works through this book than I did in my high school U.S. History class. While reading this book many years she’d through my eyes. This was a very difficult event to reminisce but, very informative and descriptive. I even remember where I was when the Report was released and how controversial it was and the chaos it created with the American people. As I read on, my jaw dropped. I could not believe what I was reading and the fabrication going around the main stream media covering the attacks. It really sparked my curiosity and made beside-eyes a little bit. An informative realistic history lesson that we are sure to never forget. This book deserves 5 stars.”
~ Meghan Soderholm, USA
***
“Interesting and Good Read”
“I remember exactly where I was and how I felt when 9/11 happened. I remember watching the news all day at school, when I got home, and the rest of the week and possibly months. I couldn’t and still can’t believe that something like this had happened. This book by Ray McGinnis, helps to seek the truth about what and how 9/11 happened.
This book is set up well with facts and documents trying to get the answers to hard questions. The victims and families of victims still want and need answers that the government hasn’t fully been able to answer. I’m not usually one to read books like this, but I’m glad I did. Especially for an event that is still hard to believe. I would suggest this book for anyone who lived through 9/11 and for those that weren’t born yet to learn about 9/11, how the government handled it, and about how victims and families are still seeking justice.”
~ Veronica Richard, Jacksonville, Florida
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“Great Read”
“Unanswered Questions was an extremely enlightening book with many things I did not know. I found it to be one of the most interesting and enlightening books I’ve read in a long time. I usually don’t spend a lot of time on conspiracy theories, especially about September 11, since I remember it well and watched the news nonstop for weeks after it happened, but this book brought up many interesting points I had not heard of before.
I recommend this book to everyone because it doesn’t just point out many facts about that time; it highlights how the government works, which is likely still going on today.”
~ Ed Malaker, Carbondale, Pennsylvania
***
“A good summary of the still unanswered questions surrounding 9/11. Infuriating that none of these concerns have ever been addressed by government officials. Perhaps they’re hoping that, like the JFK assassination questions, they will be stuffed into the dustbin of history.”
~ Janice, Elgin, Illinois
***
I now have read a copy of your excellent book… I am impacted by your extensive research and by your steadfast dedication to revealing these important truths. It must have been a colossal effort. The amount of detail is mind-boggling! I can only imagine how life has changed for you now that this book is in people’s hands. I hope that the book has been of some comfort for the families. My heart truly aches for them. So…well done!
~ Mary, Naramata, British Columbia, Canada
***
“I read your book during the Christmas season and through to just a few days ago. I took my time, clearly. It was captivating and deeply compelling for one who didn’t, for whatever reasons, follow the events much beyond the initial media coverage. I appreciated your “voice” in it as well as your dedication to presenting the myriad voices of so many players in the tragedy and its ongoing aftermath. It has heightened my sensitivity to, and dare I say compassion for, to the whole conspiracy theory conundrum rampant in the zeitgeist of our present day lives. I have huge admiration for your dogged work in getting your book out in the world.”
~ Randi, Toronto, Canada
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“I thought I knew almost everything about the Commission hearing and the FSC. Learned so much more from your book. I’ve been recommending it to anyone who will listen. Phenomenal book. Hoping you’ll have another project soon. I voted for Bush twice. First president I was old enough to vote for. Twin Towers were 6 miles from my house. I didn’t really start studying 9/11 until 2011.”
~ Mike, New York City
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“Well written, well paced, superbly researched and concerning in what is revealed.”
~ Elaine, Vancouver, Canada
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“Informative and Thought Provoking”
“Ray McGinnis portrays a realistic overview of the events of 9/11. He gives voice to the families of victims by allowing their questions to be heard. The level-headed account does not give way to conspiracy theories. Rather, it allows the evidence to speak for itself. And encourages the reader to ask questions. Although the book drew me in from a historical perspective. It’s impact extends far greater than that. It left me questioning the times that I take authority’s words at face value. It challenges society to do their own research and to listen to the concerns of minorities.
McGinnis does a brilliant job of unpacking the questions of the families of 9/11 victims. The reader cannot refute that the book is thoroughly researched and does not resort to hearsay. And while the book makes no direct accusations itself, I was hoping to see some of these questions answered. Perhaps he leaves this to the reader to look into them themselves. Or merely aims to challenge authorities to account for their actions. Either way, I was often left disappointed at the unanswered question at the end of each chapter. That being said, Mcginnis does a sterling job of drawing the reader into the narrative of grieving families. It leaves one invested in the outcome of the questions. And achieves a purpose of giving the unheard families a voice twenty years after the tragic event. It’s the kind of book that everyone should read in order to gain insight into the event and also into the way in which information is delivered to the public. It makes no direct claims but rather implores authorities to be held accountable. This is an attitude that would benefit us all.”
~ Emma Treagus, USA
***
“Compelling Case for Unanswered Questions”
“Contrary to my expectations, this is not a “conspiracy” book – and I’m afraid that I use that word in the sense that the author despises! In fact, Ray McGinnis has not put forward any positive case for what he or anyone else thinks actually happened on 9/11. Instead, he presents a compelling case that the “truth” has not been fully explored, that the 9/11 Commission was in part led by its pre-conceptions and that reasonable questions about 9/11 remain unanswered.
The book is obviously well-researched and is well structured. McGinnis is keen to incorporate into his narrative the stories and personal experiences of individuals who were uniquely affected by 9/11. Those experiences are very moving and serve to highlight the importance of the “unanswered questions” on which McGinnins later reflects. They also ground the book and prevent it from being an abstract or cold re-telling of events. His forensic analysis of the discrepancies in the various accounts given to the Commission is also very clearly set out, informative and interesting.
Ultimately, McGinnis’s refusal to put forward a positive “conspiracy theory” serves him well. This book is about the need to hold democratic institutions to account, and in doing so, it both justifies and supports the ongoing plight of the families of 9/11 victims who remain unsatisfied with the version of events they have been asked by the government to trust.”
~ Chris, UK
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“A Necessary and Devastating Look into 9/11”
“Unanswered Questions is a devastating look into 9/11 and the remaining questions that still surround the tragedy. You may have heard of some of the conspiracy theories about 9/11 that have gained traction over the years. Many of these conspiracy theories have been written off as crazy and insensitive to the victims to explore. Unanswered Questions will convince you those conspiracy theories you’ve heard about 9/11 aren’t actually crazy at all. And that it would be insensitive to the victims to not question the story we have been told about 9/11.
As McGinnis makes clear throughout Unanswered Questions, loved ones of the victims of 9/11 have questioned what really happened on that fateful day. McGinnis tells several instances of the U.S. government failing to properly investigate how and why 9/11 happened. Reading about the failures of the U.S. government will have you frustrated and in disbelief that they so badly botched such an important investigation. The investigation was meant to relieve American citizens’ minds and answer the questions they had, but it only left people with more questions and concerns about their nation’s security. Unanswered Questions provides readers with so much information about 9/11, a lot of which you may have never heard of before….
…the details you learn about how the 9/11 commission was handled will open your eyes and make you want to do your own research beyond what you have been told about 9/11. The coincidences Unanswered Questions lays out about 9/11 will force you to rethink how you have thought about 9/11 and the story the U.S. government has tried to sell you. The most important lesson you will take away from Unanswered Questions is the need to do your own research and do not believe everything you are told at face value. If we ever want to truly know what happened on 9/11, it starts with reevaluating our perspectives on 9/11 and asking the questions that still need to be answered.”
~ Dominique Davis, USA
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“I just finished reading Unanswered Questions and…found it really compelling. So many people felt that the government explanation of 9/11 was ‘off.’ I wonder if any of the victims’ families will ever get the real answers. I feel that corruption and cover-up seem to have been the order of the day, and unfortunately, continue to be. So many have been tainted that it makes one wonder if the truth will ever be found out.”
~ Erin, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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“I have long been drawn into the various documentaries and media about 9/11 because, as for many people, the day the towers fell will forever be imprinted in my mind. However, I have looked more about the events on the day rather than the aftermath. Ray McGinnis leads us through the timeline of events, explains the formation and role of the Families Steering Committee and then takes us through the questions raised by them and how the government responded. I quickly realised upon reading, how ignorant I was of what has gone on over the past twenty years.
The author has done an incredible amount of research in order to shine a light onto the vast amount of questions that remain unanswered. I really appreciated that, rather than just overwhelming the reader with with endless arguments and touting wild conspiracy theories, the author sets his research as an exploration and peeling back of the layers, and under each layer your discover more questions that still lie unanswered…
For me, the most meaningful and poignant parts of the book are where the families voices are heard. It is gut wrenching to be reminded that these were individuals who died, leaving their families still fighting for answers and justice. The pain they feel that they have been fobbed off, and are still not being presented with a truthful account on so many levels by the very people that are supposed to bring them peace is searing. I thank the author for allowing us to hear these voices.”
~ Rebecca, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, UK
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~ Gail, Ladner, British Columbia, Canada
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“I’ve just finished Unanswered Questions. The main thing I have learned is to be careful to listen to politicians everywhere and try to imagine their thinking. I can’t believe that the powers that be would allow the US President to stay in a classroom reading to very young children, instead of making him aware that urgent decisions had to be made. The fact that the families of those killed have not really been listened to also means to me the people in power didn’t want to hear them. So much for democracy.”
~ Jocelyn, Vancouver, Canada
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“I was in school when 9/11 either 5th or 6th grade. I remember how horrified my teacher was despite being in New Hampshire. As a kid, I didn’t pay much attention to it. I thought I knew what happened that day and who was too blame. But after reading this book I don’t know what to think. It was a terrorist attack but it was more than that. A lot more. Many lives could have been spared, yet our government didn’t do it’s job. And even now, after 20 odd years later. The truth is still being hidden. We haven’t forgotten and many of us can’t forget. …it’s a solid read. It has anywhere from 100 to 200 footnotes in every chapter. So people can do more research on their own.”
~ Samantha Clough, USA
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“These are valid questions that deserves answers.”
~ Mimi Bauer, USA
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“This book got me really curious about the history and surrounding events of the life-altering September 11 attacks. I had little info and several questions before I read through it, because there’s only so much that the mainstream media covers. The author imparted thorough, in-depth insight about each one of them, and provided food for thought for deeper reflection! Ray McGinnis’ ‘Unanswered Questions: What the September Eleventh Families Asked and the 9/11 Commission Ignored’ is a vital read from a historic perspective, but also important for anyone passionate about social justice, human suffering and social accountability in the present and the future. As stated in ‘Part Four: Acceptance and Dissent’: “Continuing to ask fundamental questions without flinching is a difficult task among those voices omitted or derided by government spokespeople and mainstream media. But without addressing fundamental questions, how can we truly understand, or remain informed, about the issues surrounding the events of September Eleventh? In a modern world of media spin, the idea of civic literacy becomes more important than ever.”
~ Muskan Lamba, USA
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“I gave this book five stars. I reason that it was an attempt to answer the questions of the survivors of the tragedy. Through the review of many hours of tape, newspaper articles, and in conversations with others this book came to fruition. However, I do not think that reading this book alone will give you a complete idea of what caused what to some was a debacle of government response to an event that no one except the government would think would happen.
As angry as you are nothing compares to the grief of those who watched their family members die over and over again on the actual date of its occurrence and every day thereafter. The family’s grief will always be open. I applaud the author for writing down what the families saw because I didn’t follow it after the newspaper and media push until later. I couldn’t deal with all of the replay and the what-ifs. I just thought it was a great evil and not only did America pay but the entire Muslim American community paid, and are still paying for that one event. You know the saying ‘one bad apple’…but this book gives you information that you would not have had otherwise had you not read it.
I learned some things, got angry at some of what I read. I got sad at some of what I read. I checked Google on some of the information that I read inside this book. All are available online for me and others to see.
I recommend this book for all to read. I caution you at thinking it will be a slam dunk of understanding. You too will probably have to go back and read some of McGinnis’ bibliography entries to fully understand what he is saying to you. On its surface, this book will always be what we look to for a composite drawing of the events. And the actual media and the actual report will do the rest. This book is recommended for personal, work, and school use.”
~ Nicole Harmon, Scotch Plains, New Jersey
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“Ray McGinnis does a reasonably good job of pointing out several glaring problems with the official version of events for 9/11, including the official 9/11 Commission report. Despite the title, this book comes nowhere close to addressing even most of the questions posed by the 9/11 families. The questions McGinnis addresses are generally well handled, and the pertinent background to each question is well-covered.
McGinnis provides a relatively in-depth analysis of the government agency’s response to the (victims’ families’) questions and what is lacking in these responses. The Family Steering Committee’s expectations and how most of these answers missed answering the vast majority of these questions provides enlightening reading.
Footnotes are well used and document most of McGinnis’ arguments. Just the footnotes alone and the bibliography the reader can construct from them make this book a good buy for those interested in the events of 9/11. Overall Unanswered Questions is a worthwhile read geared for the general audience and requires no specialized knowledge to benefit from it.”
~ Joe Baumstock, Caracas, Venezuela
“Ray McGinnis has gone beyond the realm of authorship and entered a whole other dimension of research. He carefully details and compiles the facts surrounding 9/11. He meticulously includes all details, including TV interviews with the victims of the deceased. What McGinnis does here is a pure work of art.
McGinnis vividly brings back the events of that catastrophic day as if they happened yesterday. His intent was never to scratch healing wounds, but rather, to ensure the victims find closure. He asks the hard questions in a manner that brings the plight of thousands of American families to reality. He goes ahead to show that without answering these questions, we can never really heal as a nation from our past mistakes.
The book is neatly written. There is a logical flow of thoughts from one chapter and section to the next. Ray details the events in a way that even one who didn’t live through 9/11 can sympathize with the victims. Instead of taking sides and being biased, Ray details his 24 chapters like a surgeon would with the mind of a true scientist. He not only points out the facts but also lays out the conspiracy theories surrounding the event, leaving the reader to decide for himself the actual events. Furthermore, his detailed research goes to show how uninformed I was concerning the events of 9/11 and the aftermath to this day.
All in all, one thing comes out clearly: we should be able to always ask the hard questions and think critically without merely accepting the official narrative. We live in a post-9/11 world. Moreover, the government has used the events of the day to justify a lot of wrongs, including attacking Afghanistan, mass surveillance of its own citizens, and the politicized war on drugs.
I’d recommend the book to every American, especially anyone interested in discovering how the past has shaped the present.”
~ D’Vincii Prince, Kenya
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“I gave it five stars because it is so intriguing and worth the stars. I would recommend this book to those interested in what happened during 9/11 and how government agencies and high ranking offices dropped the ball/looked the other way. At first I though it was going to go through all the accounts of what news authorities and movies, tv shows had already discussed. I was wrong!! And not to mention more data than I would have thought existed.
Included are the questions asked are also in the chapters and dedicated to each persons directly responsible for this lack of government security. The book discloses many figure heads who were complicit and those who tried to heal but their voices were muffled by bureaucratic rhetoric and stonewalling in the biggest way. Lastly, the new highlights of how the towers fell; bombs detonated…and how New York City government, US government and high ranking officials all helped cover it up. The best read is towards the end of the book about how the FSC are continuing to fight, and reopen the reports and re-investigate this atrocious blemish in World History.”
~ Awilda Vega, Mineville, New York
“I’m not one for conspiracy theories but there’s a lot about 9/11 I still don’t understand which is why I reached for this book. I was one of those people the book points out that never knew the families got to pose questions to the investigators.the contradictions in the investigation and news media outlets are laid out in an easy to read way.
I found the book to pose important questions from the Family Steering Committee (to the inquiry) to the reader which helps explain the points the author is making. McGinnis also Delves into the long administrational delays of investigations including the 9/11 commission while managing to take a meaningful look back at some of the people lost that day and how their families viewed their murders. It highlights How some of the families reacted differently than the ones who just took the settlement money and the “truth” at face value.”
~ Danielle Par, Los Angeles, California
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“I’ve been questioning the 9/11 commission since it’s inception, but I need to say this: your book is so utterly concise, succinct, and accessible, and in my opinion it is quintessential reading material for people who were fueled by emotional trauma and societal pressure to blindly accept the report at the time of its release, yet open-minded enough to now question their own acquiescence because there are far too many unanswered questions for it to be a coincidence and not a conspiracy.
Your book is a tremendous gateway book for people who have never researched 9/11, but who nevertheless keep an open mind when it comes to state crimes and coverups. There is so much to grapple with regarding 9/11, and your book examines the most pertinent unanswered questions related to events, key officials, and the myriad connections: 1) prior to 9/11, 2) relating to the event itself, and 3) highlighting the massive coverup. Many people who don’t necessarily believe the official story are intimidated or turned off by the term false flag or other similar terms. You really did a great job at collating numerous pertinent unanswered questions among a plethora of unanswered questions regarding 9/11. Most importantly, you illustrated and highlighted many of the unanswered questions regarding the actions and inactions of officials on 9/11, that day, in real time, and these serious questions are in need of serious unredacted answers.
Unanswered Questions is one of the most “gentle” books regarding the subject matter. Your book is very objective and straightforward, and void of speculation.”
~ Ethan Serone, USA
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An Insightful Read
“McGinnis gives an insightful look into the events following the 9/11 attacks as well as a look into the lives of the victims’s families. The Family Steering Committee or the FSC, was an organization formed after 9/11 by the families of the victims that drew up questions they wanted to ask the government about the attacks. McGinnis dives into the campaign the FSC created to press for an investigation on what happened that tragic day and everything that led up to the 9/11 Commission Report. The book’s topic is clearly well researched and it’s evident in the 200+ footnotes McGinnis includes over the course of the book as well as the ability to tug at readers’ heartstrings with the accounts and words of the victims’s families. The author doesn’t exactly present this as a conspiracy theory but he does encourage readers to ask questions and allows the evidence he provides to speak for itself. As a reader who saw the events and aftermath of 9/11 through the eyes of a child, this book was an eye opening experience and it allowed me to take a step back and reanalyze the event with much more clarity and understanding.”
~ Laura, USA
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“Emotional, Sensitive and Detailed Read”
‘Unanswered Questions’ is an emotional read about the 9/11 incident. The read has useful details on the victims’ concerns about what happened, the consequences and the future of the situation. The author does a wonderful delivery with accurate details of the back and forth consultations of the government and the public which spurs many emotions. The author aims at finding the answers to the many questions regarding the 9/11 incident. The title of the book is understandable because, despite the numerous efforts to find answers, the report shows that there are many lingering details that the public never got. There were high expectations regarding the approach the government agencies would take, but they did not deliver, leaving behind many unanswered questions.”
~ Bethuel Kibet, Worcester, UK
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“Unanswered Questions is a gripping and reflective read that offers a deeper probe at the events that followed the September Eleven attacks on American soil. The text analyses some of the questions that the families of the victims raised but were ignored by the 9/11 Commission. The book further looks at some of the inconsistencies in the report that was presented to the public. This revealing book sheds light on the disappointment and frustrations of the families while aiming at finding closure and preventing a repeat of the same. The result is a startlingly comprehensible, heartrending, and revelatory embroidery that is bound to stir your heart. Only when these questions are addressed would it be possible to save further generations from any likely form of terrorism. I appreciate the author’s courage in writing this text. Truly a must-read.”
~ Lily Mooze, USA
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“I am so admiring your writing. It’s a hard read and definitely so worth the time… The dichotomy is so stark. And people are so willing to believe anything. It frightens me. Throw the word “terrorist” around a bit, and bobs your uncle. The extent of the absolute ridiculousness of the official story. The mistakes were so huge and glaring and yet the official story remains 21 years later. Every level and division of government complicit. I loved your 20 ‘coincidently’ bullets. Each one of them should have been enough for the official story to be questioned by everybody. And yet, not…. So much of what has come to light we didn’t hear about at all.
Obama? That was a surprise for me. He protected a lot of people who could have been called to account. Is the American myth that powerful? You have a strong heart to endure the years it took to research and write it all. Wow. Wow. Wow. Lots of…gratitude.”
~ Kim, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada
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“I read your book. It’s powerfully written. The families have been through a lot. And I’ve been thinking about it since I put it down. I never once believed the towers fell – not like that (because of fire). And the stories of the first responders – (reports of explosions) – corroborate this. I absolutely believe this is a coordinated, masterfully planned murder of 3,000 people. I wonder whether the truth will ever come out. Can you imagine a government murdering its own people for the sake of war? It’s diabolical.”
~ Blair, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
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“I started reading your book at the start of September (2022) and finished it last week. HOLY CRAP!! First of all, great work! Your research and professional presentation of the diverse information is stellar. The continued open thinking, writing, is very attractive. I was captured by the questions and curious about the possibilities.”