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)

I'd Be Dead.

What made the experience of listening to Unbroken the most enjoyable?

Knowing it was/is a true story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbroken?

The days spent in the water with nothing to eat, talking about food. Talking, talking and talking....men don't talk. Or do they?

Which character – as performed by Edward Herrmann – was your favorite?

Zamperlini!!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, there was too much to think about.

Any additional comments?

I've heard other books by Edward Herrmann....good choice. It really made me think of how horrible war is, how cruel humans are and how loving God is.

A moving, powerful story

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. A powerful story of struggle, survival, and the power of forgiveness.

wonderful!

The author does a wonderful job of telling a difficult story. once again, the book is better than the movie.

GREAT!!! GREAT!!!

An amazing recollection and truly inspiring! I would recommend this to all especially those in uniform!

Most Incredible book you will ever listen to.

this book is inspirational and amazing. a total must read. should be first on everyone's must read list.

Mixed feelings...

The book was incredibly written. At first, because I didn't do my research before I started listening, I though it was a novel, then at the end I saw it was a true story...
Reading a book thinking its a novel or a true story brings two different perspectives into all... At least while listening.
Either way, the learning that you get from it all makes it worth "reading"...
But..... And it's a real but.... I have to say, it feels sometimes more like a very sad Biography of an entire mans life at war and the aftermath.... It really got me depressed sometimes, as this is not and UPBEAT book like the title might mislead...

Life is sometimes not all that fair... And yes, many times... People get away in life doing bad stuff without ever having to feel the real consequences of their actions in their lifetime, and sometimes, just sometimes... we just don't want to hear about that...

Excellent book...one of the best!

Where does Unbroken rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I am an amateur historian, and have read & listened to hundreds of books on wars, soldiering, etc. over the past 20+ years since first being drawn into the subject. Some of the most horrific are the POW stories, and they can turn your stomach. Having read other accounts of Japanese POWs from the war, I was prepared for that part, but what caught me off guard was everything else! Ms. Hillenbrand does a wonderful job of painting the scenes of dispair after the crash. She also makes me feel as though we can see inside Zamperini's soul when describing his post war troubles. This book is a well written uplifting work, and lest I forget, Mr. Herrmann's reading of the piece is fantastic. This is a must for every personal library.

What did you like best about this story?

The weave of the tale...wraps you up, pulls you in and holds you close.

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

Come on, he could read a Microsoft technical manual and make it interesting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Nope.

wow

this is incredible story. the author and reader bring it to life. amazing read for all

Incredible

Excellent story, and excellent performance! Don't start it before you have free time, otherwise you may risk having to cancel a few appointments. :)

Phenomenal Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Story is so amazing, almost unbelievable at times. Very hard to put down, you are easily immersed into the story, a PoW sitting right alongside your friends. Sometimes it seems Europe and the Nazis are the only story from WWII, this book does a great job reminding us of the inhuman war happening in the Pacific, and the brave American men and women who fought for freedom.