Mitchell Zuckoff is the Redstone Professor of Narrative at Boston University. He covered 9/11 for The Boston Globe and wrote the lead news story on the day of the attacks. Known for his revealing narratives on historical events, his most recent work The Secret Gate, published in 2023, covers the incredible true story of a breathtaking rescue in the frenzied final hours of the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan.
Zuckoff is the author of eight previous works of nonfiction, including the #1 New York Times bestseller 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, which became the basis of the Paramount Pictures movie of the same name. Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11, another of Zuckoff’s recent books, is an indelible portrait of 9/11. It opens new avenues of understanding for everyone who thinks they know the story of 9/11. This book brings to life—and in some cases, brings back to life—the extraordinary ordinary people who experienced the worst day in modern American history.
His other works include Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II, Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II, Robert Altman: The Oral Biography, Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend, Judgment Ridge: The True Story Behind the Dartmouth Murders, and Choosing Naia: A Family’s Journey.
As a member of the Boston Globe Spotlight Team, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting. Zuckoff’s honors include the Livingston Award for International Reporting, the Winship/PEN New England Award for Nonfiction, the Heywood Broun Memorial Award, and the Distinguished Writing Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and numerous other publications. He lives outside Boston with his family.