What did I read this week? The Man I Never Met by Adam Schefter.
While doing one of my favorite activities in the world, strolling through the local library stacks, I came across this book. The title, The Man I Never Met, brought to mind old black-and-white detective movies that my father would watch (and me, too).
But when I saw that it was written by Adam Schefter, a man I’d seen countless times over the years on TV thanks to a sports-loving spouse and a job as a waitress in a Broncos bar, I had to pick it up.
The Man I Never Met is a memoir. Not about Schefter, though, or at least not entirely. This book is about Joe Maio—the man who was married to Schefter’s wife before he was.
If you’re thinking that this sounds really strange, and who writes about their wife’s first husband, I was right there with you. To the check-out kiosk I went.
What is The Man I Never Met about?
The Man I Never Met is a book about September 11, 2001 and beyond. Schefter writes that everyone knows what happened on September 11th, but it’s what happened after that day that bonds us all together.
This book was irresistible for this reason as well. I was 19 in 2001. I remember watching the planes hit on the small TV in my campus center in Albany, NY. And I can remember the panic of not being able to check on my family and friends that lived on Long Island and in the city. I remember walking through Penn Station on my way home three days later, surrounded by the National Guard and their automatic weapons.
I nearly failed that semester, and almost lost my scholarship. Life seemed pointless after the attack. And I didn’t even lose someone I loved.
But Sharri Maio did. Her husband worked on the 105th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The Man I Never Met is about how Joe Maio’s life and death affected all those around him, but especially Sharri and their son, Devon. And later, Adam Schefter.
My honest review of The Man I Never Met…
Schefter makes a lot of valid points in this book about the toll the 9/11 attacks took on our country, but especially the people who lost loved ones. This book was thoughtfully and thoroughly researched, and I loved the journalistic way he outlined the life of Joe Maio, this man he never even met—but ironically, shares a birthday with.
The Man I Never Met was really good. It made me laugh and even tear up. But what I loved most was the absolute honesty of it. Even for someone who grew up in New York and was an adult when 9/11 happened, this book touched on so many things I wasn’t aware of. From the concentric circles of grief to the long-lasting effects it had on those left behind.
This is also a memoir. Schefter delves into the lives of the Maio family, Joe’s friends, Sharri, and Devon. He gives a glimpse into his own life, his courtship and marriage to Sharri, and how Joe’s death touched every part of their lives together.
My thoughts…
I was amazed by how compassionate Schefter was. I mean, how many people can say that they respect and admire their wife’s first husband? And how many can say they researched his life and wrote a book based on it?
This zero-percent jealousy—which resulted in empathetic writing—and unmitigated love Schefter had for his wife and stepson were some of the reasons why I loved The Man I Never Met.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a good memoir, who loves seeing people grow past struggles and pain, and enjoys a real love story—as in one that is realistic instead of fantastic.
I would warn that this book might be hard for anyone who still feels the pain of the 9/11 attacks, since it does go into detail about the effects it had on Sharri and the Maio family, which could bring up difficult memories. But it is not graphic or sensational.
The Man I Never Met is a fascinating memoir, and I hope you’ll pick it up. Schefter’s writing style and the story itself made it hard to put down.
Happy Reading!
(The Man I Never Met is available for FREE in audiobook form. Just sign up for the FREE AUDIBLE trial and cancel whenever you want!)
So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions for me?
Interested in more on books? Then check out these posts:
Why I Read So Much & How You Can Read More, Too
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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