Unbroken

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

By: Laura Hillenbrand

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best seller

The incredible true story of survival and salvation that is the basis for two major motion pictures: 2014’s Unbroken and the upcoming Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

©2010 Laura Hillenbrand; 2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Unbroken is wonderful twice over, for the tale it tells and for the way it’s told. A better book than Seabiscuit, it manages maximum velocity with no loss of subtlety. [Hillenbrand has] a jeweler’s eye for a detail that makes a story live." (Newsweek)

"A master class in narrative storytelling.... Extraordinarily moving...A powerfully drawn survival epic." (The Wall Street Journal)

"Ambitious and powerful.... Hillenbrand is intelligent and restrained, and wise enough to let the story unfold for itself. Her research is thorough, her writing crystalline. Unbroken is gripping in an almost cinematic way." (The New York Times Book Review)

“[A] one-in-a-billion story...designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring.” (New York)

“Staggering...mesmerizing...Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.” (People)

“A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.” (The Washington Post)

“Hillenbrand...tells [this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.” (Time)

“Unbroken is too much book to hope for: a hellride of a story in the grip of the one writer who can handle it.” (Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run)

Amazing!

Would you consider the audio edition of Unbroken to be better than the print version?

The audio version was like having a friend tell me their story.

What did you like best about this story?

It's truly a story of redemption and resilience. It's unbelievable that a person could survive what Louie did. But he did and is still with us today. I am thankful he shared his story and hope future generations will learn from it. He is truly an inspiring soul.

What does Edward Herrmann bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A warm yet reassuring voice. He did an excellent job, good pacing and inflection. He painted a picture with his voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Many extreme reactions to this story. More than once i was on the edge of my sear, held my breath and sighed with sadness at the plight of the POWs. I also smiled with joy at the optimism and forgiveness shown by Louie.

Any additional comments?

A must read. A testament to the strength of friendship and the human spirit to not only survive adversity but to succeed because it. To Live Big!

Inspiring

This book is now one of my favorites of all time. From beginning to end it was amazing. I can't believe all the facial expressions it caused me to have. Truly an inspirational book.

YES

I enjoyed this book very well done! A beautiful walk through the horror of war and the strength of men! Forgiving others frees us!

Best story I have ever had the pleasure of reading

The story of Louis Zamperini has no comparison. It is an amazing story of resilience, accomplishment, and overcoming adversity. Written perfectly, it was a pleasure to have experienced this story.

Great book, dragged a bit at the end.

If you could sum up Unbroken in three words, what would they be?

Great book. Well written, I think. Am left with the nagging feeling that much was left out of the book, probably unintentionally by the author. It's a very one-sided hagiographical account about the principal character Louis. His buddy Phil, obviously a pilot of amazing talent and heroic strength of character, is treated distantly as a minor sub-plot of the book, quite undeservedly. The way in which Phil fades completely from the picture once the ocean drift is ended seems anomalous and disconcerting. There is a great deal in this amazing story which has not been told, I would guess. Which is not to be critical of the participants, but stories of survival of this epic nature are never so uniformly one-sided or free of aspects of human nature which later bring survivor guilt or regret. It is an amazing story and I thing it would have been even better if the future canvas of humanity and what it takes to survive in circumstances such as those described in this book had been filled out fully. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

Excellent

In this very well written captivating story is the very best and very worst of humanity. It will bring to the surface every feeling and will teach the listener so many lessons in life and love.

Amazing and life-affirming.

What Mr. Zamperini went through is only the first part of this gripping story. The latter half, post-rescue and PTSD years are what stay with me. Thank you for your service, all POWs whose stories are recounted herein.

Excellent story and very well written!

What did you like best about this story?

This is an excellent story and very well written. I found myself sitting in my driveway for fifteen minutes after getting home to continue to the next chapter. This would make a great movie that I would watch! Well Done!!!

Perfect

A story that writes itself and yet is still so well written. Flawless execution by Hillenbrand.

Phenomenal performance of a phenomenal life

This book is moving, and is the undeniably powerful story of man and his will to live and his God who helped him accomplish it. Edward Herrmann is a remarkable narrator whose voice fits perfectly with such a noble story. The story can be very violent and almost excruciating to listen to because of the unfathomable torture the POWs had to endure. But it is all part of the story, and would not be as powerful without it.