Since I have too much to read, I probably rushed through too much of this book. There wasn't enough Phillipe Petit as I expected, but the section about the mothers who lost sons in Vietnam was absolutely brillant. It captures the loss and emotional stress that war can cause on even those who aren't actually in the war, as well as demonstrating the fear that horrific events can bring about. It's amazing that something about Vietnam and a WTC circus stunt can be so exquisitely and subtly related to the events of 9/11.