• Coping with war and a staggering economy, Americans are searching for something positive to help them regain their sense of identity and optimism about the nation and its future. Captain Sullenberger embodies quintessential American values—responsibility, dedication, commitment to hard work, and a can-do spirit—and is eager to share what he’s learned.   

• While it offers Sully’s perspective on the Hudson landing, this book goes beyond that event to tell the complete story of his life, including the people, places, and events—from his childhood through his military service to his careers as a commercial pilot and safety consultant—that have shaped him. 

• The author has used his knowledge and experience to help improve U.S. aviation, testifying before Congress about the safety and employment concerns of commercial airline pilots. He believes in fighting for the common man, whether that person is a crewmember or a passenger. He is that rare breed, someone who quietly and modestly leads by example.

• Jeffrey Zaslow is the coauthor of the phenomenal national bestseller The Last Lecture with Randy Pausch and has the perfect touch to bring out Sully’s practical wisdom and inspiring life story. Readers and booksellers also know Zaslow as a columnist for the Wall Street Journal.

• Readers of The Last Lecture and the works of Mitch Albom will be inspired by this honest, heartfelt tale of a true American leader.

• Cultural observer and New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell calls Sullenberger an “outlier”: “Sullenberger is the 10,000-hour rule. . . . The only reason he could have accomplished that landing . . .  is because of the hours of practice he put in both as a jet and glider pilot. After you put in your time, you pass a certain point. There is no such thing as a natural pilot.” (CS News)

• A few weeks after the emergency landing, Sully notified his local library that a book about safety he had borrowed, Just Culture: Balancing Safety and Accountability, had been in his luggage on Flight 1549 and could not be returned.  They waived the usual fees.

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed one of the most remarkable emergency landings in history when Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the surface of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew aboard. His cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an inspiration worldwide. To Sullenberger, a calm, steady pilot with forty years of flying experience who is also a safety consulting expert, the landing was not a miracle, but rather the result of years of practice and training—wisdom he gained in U.S. Air Force jets and in his Texas childhood.
 

Born to a dentist father and an elementary school teacher mother, Sully fell in love with planes as a young boy. He learned to fly at 16, taking lessons from a cropduster in a vintage airplane from a grass strip nearby. While his father, a World War II veteran, offered encouragement, he also imparted stern advice the future pilot took to heart: a commander is responsible for everyone in his care. They are words that have shaped Sully’s life and work and continue to guide him today.

At its heart, this is a story of hope and preparedness—supporting the belief that life’s challenges can be met if we’re ready for them—reminding us that, even in these challenging days, there are things still worth fighting for.