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)

A wonderful war story of the strength and fortitude of an Olympic athlete!

The book had much more in depth detail than the movie. Great research done by the author with every detail visualized through words. The narrator is top notch. I highly recommend!

Moving, inspirational, and emotional

This book was a roller coaster of emotions. Beautifully written, it captured this amazing story wonderfully. It had my attention and my heart the whole way through. I loved that the author did not just focus on Louis but gave credit and attention to the other brave men who shared the journey with him, especially Phil. I would like to more from his perspective after they parted; I wonder if there is more in the records.

Wow

What an awesomely written book of physical emotional and spiritual survival; resilience over heartbreak, slavery, and inhumanity; and the defining redemption of one man’s heart into God. Awesome story.

A must read and beautifully narrated!

I had no idea the amazing story of Louis Zamperini. I only wish that I would have read it before he died while he was still speaking publicly. I am a better person for having read this story. It touched my soul. Thank you Louis and thank you all military who have endured so much for the protection of others.

Motivating and Inspiring

I didn't know what to expect when I started listening to this book, but ended up very satisfied with my purchase. Just when you think the main character cannot endure any more... the story turns to yet another story of how persistent he was to survive. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a real life story that not only inspires, but teaches about World War II and the tragedy of that era.

Gut wrenching and awe inspiring

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

Great narration.
The terrible events that occur and the way it makes you consider how you would handle these things if it were you. Just amazing.

Any additional comments?

Absolutely amazing.

Definitely different from the movie

So disappointed in the movie especially when there was 3 hours of book to go after the place where the movie dropped off. i love this story and would have loved to meet Louie Samporini.

Exciting and gut wrenchingly emotional.

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

This story revealed a side of the Japanese mentality during word war ll that I was unaware of.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Louis Zamperini's life story would make a good book without his WW ll experience, with that added it is a great book that should not be missed.

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

Edward Hermann's performance is flawless and brings the story to life with just the right amount of emotion.

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

Unbroken says it all

Any additional comments?

This book will always be one of my very favorites. The spirit that these men exhibited during the harshest conditions imaginable is unbelievable. The author's description of the final days of the war for the prisoner's brought tears to my eyes.

An incredible account of human suffering.

excellent story that had a lot of information about the Japanese side of world war two. I purged my way through this book in 2 days.

Incredible Book! I learned so much about WW2.

I learned so much about WW2. My parents lived in Hawaii during Pearl Harbor and this book was very enlightening as it confirmed many things I was told growing up.