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)

Incredible!

Would you listen to Unbroken again? Why?

This is one of the most amazing stories I have ever read! Just when you think things can't get any worse they do! I love the strength shown by the American soldier. Louie has become one of my heroes!

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

This book had me on the verge of crying almost from the first chapter! So thankful for a wonderful ending!

Heart wrenching story of triumph over hardship.

A wonderful story and beautifully told. Highly recommended for long trips and plane rides. Better than the movie by far.

Love love love this book

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

Happy, sad, gut wrenching.

What did you like best about this story?

The history and action brings WWII to life.

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

Narration is incredible.

Outstanding and riveting

I was not prepared to be so affected. A must read in today's world where so many young people feel 'different' and 'indifferent'. No one ever knows how resilient they can be until tested.

Amazing story!

Captivating, heart-wrenching, and remarkable. What a life and what a story! You won't be disappointed with this one! Anyone who loves history or who had family members who served will enjoy this book.

Excellent!

Fantastic read. Very touching. I am a veteran myself and it brought a tear to my eye knowing great men like this existed.

Wonderfully testimony!

This book is captivating and I would read it again. The author did a great, descriptive job of explaining in detail this man's life with passion. I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs a reality check or healing from their own hardships.

Masterfully done!

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

This ranks pretty high. An engaging and remarkable true story. A fantastic and riveting performance by the late Edward Herrmann. I will certainly listen to anything this artist has performed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Louis Zamperini. What a scrapper.

What about Edward Herrmann’s performance did you like?

His humanity. The dignity he lent to the performance, particularly when dealing with the difficulty of the conditions in the POW camps. Remarkable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

So many moments, but the one that moved me most was Louis reading the names on the wall when first captured by the Japanese. Heart wrenching.

Any additional comments?

A stunning combination of great story, good writing and an eloquent and engaging performance. A great audio book.

Fabulous story but I miss photos in the book

This is as fine a story as you will ever find. I stopped reading when he was packed off to the POW camp because I didn't want to listen to the brutality. I went back several months later and I'm glad I did. This is an absolutely wonderful tale.

Edward Herrmann is not my favorite reader but he does a fine job overall. What I missed were the photos that are sprinkled throughout the printed book. Also, Hillenbrand has a wonderful Acknowledgment section in the print book that is worth finding a copy to read. Luckily, we had a book on the shelf and I was able to enjoy both.

Amazing true story

Not usually into nonfiction, but this had me spending every free moment I had listening.