Book Two in the Stuff Doesn't Just Happen: The Gift of Failure Series by NY Times Bestselling Author, West Point Graduate and former Green Beret, Bob Mayer.
Covering the cascade events leading up to each disaster, why they happened, and how we can prevent similar disasters in the future.
THE CHALLENGER: ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE My God, Thiokol. When do you want me to launch? Next April?" Senior NASA official on a conference call to the manufacturer of the solid boosters, when they recommended on the morning of the launch that it be postponed.
THE SINKING OF THE KURSK "It's dark here to write, but I'll try by touch. It seems like there are no chances, 10%-20%. Let's hope that at least someone will read this. Hello to everyone. There is no need to despair." Captain Lieutenant Dmitri Kolesnikov, commander 7th Compartment (turbine room) Russian submarine Kursk.
THE SULTANA EXPLOSION "If we arrive safe at Cairo it would be the greatest trip ever made on the western waters, as there were more people on board than were ever carried on one boat on the Mississippi River!" William J, Gambrel, first clerk & part owner of the steamship Sultana.
PEARL HARBOR "Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it would not be enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians (who speak so lightly of a Japanese-American war) have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices." Admiral Yamamoto, Commander Japanese Navy.
Mulholland & The St. Francis DamDuring the Los Angeles Coroner's Inquest, William Mulholland said, "this inquest is a very painful for me to have to attend but it is the occasion of that is painful. The only ones I envy about this whole thing are the ones who are dead." In later testimony, after responding to a question, he added, "Whether it is good or bad, don't blame anyone else, you just fasten it on me. If there was an error in human judgment, I was the human, I won't try to fasten it on anyone else." William Mulholland, chief engineer, Water Department Los Angeles
THE LAST CZAR "I am not prepared to be a tsar. I never wanted to become one. I know nothing of the business of ruling." Nicholas II, last Czar of Russia.
ALIVE! "It was repugnant. Through the eyes of our civilized society it was a disgusting decision. My dignity was on the floor having to grab a piece of my dead friend and eat it in order to survive. 'But then I thought of my mother and wanted to do my best to get back to see her. I swallowed a piece and it was a huge step - after which nothing happened." Dr. Robert Canessa
