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)

How do I even put this into words

This is the type of book that you can’t even describe properly in words there aren’t enough words in the english Language to describe how good this book is the only words I can think of is indescribably good.

A truly powerful story

I am so glad this story is being told. It is a truly powerful story, following a man who went through the worst circumstances and who conquered them through perseverance and hope. Wonderfully written as well! Read this!!

WOW !!! 👌 What a inspiring story.

Quite possibly the best book I have ever listened to on Aubtble. it's just amazing I had never heard this story before. Although I usually stir away from this type book (Genre). THE GREATEST GENERATION !!! Really Beautiful Story. I could not put this down. Laura Hillenbrand is a Great Writer, a truly Talented Writer. Edward Herrmann; Was flawless as the Narrator. Do Not, I Repeat, Do Not Pass This Book Up.

Outstanding - worth every minute

Incredible story, outstanding writing and narration. It’s both educational and inspirational. I’ve purchased over 1,100 titles and this is my favorite.

Amazing story of history

I enjoyed listening to this story of history. Very well written and brought me many tears of what our men endured for our country.
I highly recommend everyone to listen to this in the hopes of understand what forgiveness truly means
Thank you Zamperini family.

Fantastic

This is such an inspiring story. Well written and well performed. I’m sad it has come to an end.

Incredible story

An inspiring story of courage, heroism and sacrifice. I cried. The author really did a lot of research to get it right. I highly recommend reading this. Now to find the movie (2014) and re-watch it.

Tremendous story, and unparalleled power of Christ.

We must never forget, the suffering of so many, the bravery, the brutality of war, and the cost of freedom. Amazing, incomprehensible, power of Christ’s love to heal all wounds.

Unbroken

The true story,Unbroken was well written. The ability to recount important details and events helped the reader see the entire picture.

The redemption of Louie’s life was life giving to more than Louie. Many people can relate to God’s life giving redemption and salvation.

The book was engaging from the beginning to the end.

Such a fantastic book

It’s so wild this was a true story- Zamparini certainly had a purpose. I don’t read war books but loved this one.