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)

Inspirational

Excellent way to grasp the audience. Gripping and heralding story, kept you in your feet the whole time
GodSpeed Lois!!!!!!!!

Great book of courage and determination.

Though Louie Zamperini's heart was full of hate, Jesus Christ set him free! And it was so cool to see how Billy Graham played a role in Louie's story.

Incredible story of unbelievable endurance

Great listening to Edward Hermann
Tell this inspirational story of a remarkable man
So well written and compelling
Highly recommend

Incredible story of an incredible man.

What did you love best about Unbroken?

I flew, and was a flight instructor at Torrance Municipal Airport for over 30 years. I always knew the official name was Zamperini Field, but everyone always referred to it by the FAA name Torrance Airport. I never knew the history of the man it was named after. Knowing it now, I wish pilots would call it Zamperini Airport. That man was awesome and deserves the recognition.

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

It made me respect the man, whose name I always knew, but whose life I did not know.

Great listen.

Wanted to stay in the car and continue to listen even after I would arrive at home. This book is one of those that makes you proud. What bravery. As a side thought this audiobook is much better than the movie. It provides you with much more exciting information

Amazing!!!!

This one will stick with me forever! Just a great great story about an amazing Man!!

A must listen for everyone

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

Yes, this book tells the story so well you feel like you are a part of it. This Book covers a part of history that our current generation is totally unaware of.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbroken?

This book has so many memorable moments that is hard to pick just one. When near the end you find out what our country did to the convicted for war atrocities it will make you mad?

Which scene was your favorite?

The most intense was probably when the Goblin started going down.

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

The book is very long, so you have to do it in several settings. If you could you would never stop.

Any additional comments?

When the book was over, I wished it was longer. So Good.

Wonderful and exciting story, loved it !

loved the story and the narrator would highly recommend it to anyone.
very touching story.

Made Me Cry

Narrator was great! Story was even better. Louie Zamperini will live on! Excellent! Would absolutely without a doubt recommend this.

Excellently told story!

This story will keep you interested from start to finish. You will laugh, cry, and become indignant and angry. Bless that dear man for all he endured! I have seen the movie, read the book out loud to my husband and now listened to it through audible. Definitely recommend the book over the movie and having it read to you is an extra plus!