Journalist William Langewiesche had unrestricted access to Ground Zero and the crew involved in the cleanup of the World Trade Center collapse. This story centres on the clear-up operation, as he accompanied engineers, labourers, rescue workers and city officials as they brought order to chaos.

In all of its aspects - emotionalism, impulsiveness, corruption, territoriality, ingenuity and fundamental, cacophonous democracy - Langewiesche reveals the story of the deconstruction to be uniquely American and oddly inspiring, a portrait of resilience and improvisation in the face of disaster.