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)

Powerful

Masterfully narrated, this story of survival is emotionally draining. Great reading. Extreme anger, final peace.

Couldn't stop listening!

Would you listen to Unbroken again? Why?

Already listen to it twice. Worthy of another listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbroken?

There were several but finding peace with his monster moved me.

What about Edward Herrmann’s performance did you like?

All around great narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An unimaginable test of a persons will to survive.

Any additional comments?

Intense and moving.

Beautiful.

truly beautiful and now my new favorite I will recommend this probably for the rest of my life.

YES!

It was FABULOUS! Usually if I'm going to read a book I don't see the movie until AFTER I've read. This time the movie was so good I decided to get the book too. I couldn't put it down. I kept finding excuses to sit in my car. DON'T MISS THIS EXCELLENT STORY!

Incredible and Inspiring

Louis' story is an incredible one, skilfully told by Hillenbrand, who wrote in such a way as to keep me thoroughly interested and wondering what comes next. It was inspirational as well as informative. This is one story that I would likely read again in the future.

A Triumph!

Laura Hillenbrand tell this story of human triumph that will make your heart soar.
Why do some people survive against all odds while others crumble at the slightest hard times? In this lovely true story you get to know this bigger than life man from infant to elderly man and marvel at the gift the lord gave in at birth. As a child it seem as if this gift was from the devil himself until he harnessed the power it gave him.

Do treat yourself to a book that will give you reason to cheer. I was worried that it would be too sad of a story to finish but I was so wrong.

Eye opening!

This book gave me an increased respect for our military and appreciation for our freedom.

Unbroken

Awesome story that is true and factual. Those who forget history are destined to repeat it. God bless Louie.

Heart wrenching story of courage.

This story of an exceptional man in the most trying circumstances is very well written and read. The details of events and individual stories in the narrative are seemingly more than one could bear. But these men were not ordinary.

amazing story

shockingly amazing story . you have to read this to believe it. well written and was very sad when the book was finished!