If you are looking for a long narrative of Chesley "Sully" Sulllenberger's amazing piloting of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, then you will be disappointed, so don't buy this book. On the other hand, if you want to know just what brings a man like Sully Sullenberger to exceptional (maybe even heroic) performance, then read on. The answer is developed over 300 pages of Sullenberger telling the reader the story of his life--from a small community in Texas through the rigors of the Air Force Academy through service to his country as an Air Force fighter pilot and on to his commercial flying career. Were it not for the remarkable challenge of "The Miracle on the Hudson," chances are that we'd never have heard of Sully Sullenberger. Indeed, he estimated that he has flown perhaps a million people--and until January 15 virtually none of whom would recognize him a week after their flight--and that's the way he would want it to be. Yet that doesn't mean the strength and character of the man weren't already there. If there's one thing to derive from this interesting book, that's it. His remarkable qualities were already developed through his life experiences.
As you read this book, you realize that Sullenberger was absolutely prepared to be a pilot. It started back when he learned to fly (at age 16), it continued during his years at the Air Force Academy and in the Air Force, and it kept growing through his commercial pilot career. For example, he made a point of studying aircraft accidents, trying to put himself in the seats of those who had to make split-second decisions. I was surprised to read that he studied an ocean ditching (a flight from Hawaii to San Francisco) that had remarkable similarities to Sullenberger's ditching in the Hudson: that pilot walked up and down the plane, twice, to make sure everyone had left, and the plane stayed afloat for 21 minutes. Sullenberger knew what to do on January 15, 2009, because he had thoroughly thought through the process long before he was called to land in the Hudson.
There is a fair amount of personal story in Highest Duty--the story of his parents, wife and adopted daughters; the sad state of the commercial airline business; his struggling finances and his commitment to helping others. The reader can see that Sullenberger is no Superman, just another one of a long list of committed people who have resolved to be prepared and to do the right thing--whether or not they ever become famous. There are also some fighter pilot stories that you'd expect (and appreciate). You learn that one thing about being a fighter pilot is that one understands how important skill and clear thinking are, but one also realizes that some things aren't necessarily left in your own hands.
In short, this book is an easy to read and enjoyable experience. It is insightful, too. You'll probably read it in just a few sittings, and you will likely develop the feeling that there are many American heroes out there. We just don't know all their names.
