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)

Great book

This book was so good I almost couldn't stop reading. I highly recommend if you're into wartime books.

Heart wrenching

This was not a title I would normally pick but I'm glad I did. The story at first seemed to lean toward legendary boast and larger than life tales and exploits created while looking back. I kept listening and was horrified by the treatment of man by men in the name of war. All along rooting for the POW's to hang on and wondering how much more they could endure. In the end this title ended up being one of my favorites choices from Audible. I most likely will go ahead and read the printed version soon.

Wonderful spellbinding

I can’t remember enjoying a book more
Laura is a brilliant writer and she brought everyone to life. I laughed , cried and got chills
I was so touched What a truly great
man he was

Painful, Uplifting and a MUST read!!!! Beautifully written.

This book was profound. It has left me feeling so grateful for the life I have had and with great sorrow for all the unimaginable pain these POWs endured.
The end made me cry with joy and gratitude. You will know why when you near the end, no spoilers. The narration was superb and story told like I was right there, bearing the pain and moments of love and laughter. Thank you for your service, and now I truly have a more realistic meaning of our military’s unselfish sacrifices. God Bless you all! This is most definitely a MUST READ!

Wow! A Must Read!

This is an amazing story of grit and grace and how the power of God and faith can transform one’s life.

An amazing book

Very moving and great detail of these POWs went through. I am not one that enjoys reading about war, but I loved this book. I highly recommend it.

Saw the movie the book is incredible

An amazing story of pain suffering and forgiveness read by the perfect narrator. Couldn’t stop listening.

Captivating!

At so many times I felt as if I were there. Ad if I could hear the sounds and smell the smells.

Still crying

I think this is one of the best books I've ever listened to. Funny, heroic, and soul searching. The greatest lesson of all.....forgiveness. Almost all too amazing to be a true story.....but it is.

An amazing testament to the power of the human spirit

It’s hard to imagine today the types of hardships encountered throughout this story. This is a great tribute to the greatest generation.
Very well written and read.
I most strongly recommend this book