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)

What marvelous sentences and what a story

This book took me in right away. After a few hours I was beaten so by the cruelty suffered by the prisoners of war and couldn't help but think that this is happening all around the world right now, often in the name of freedom or US patriotism. It's barbaric. War is barbaric.

Laura Hillenbrand's writing is marvelous. Her sentence structures make me stop to listen again to the poetry. The similes were so crafted, so perfect. The story flowed and grew.

It was hard for me to understand how Louie could live under such deprivation and torture and still believe in a benevolent god. I understand that people appreciate that Jesus suffered for their sins but Jesus had one long, lousy weekend and Louis starved and was beaten month after month after month.

What a life!

This is not a book that I would normally have picked, but I was so happy that I did! This man lived an unbelievable life. The book really touched me, I found myself trying to tell others about it. Worth a listen.

Great Book

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

The statistics, the research, the suspence and the emotional hold it has on you.

What did you like best about this story?

That it was true and the details.

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

Yes, it did make me cry. I NEVER have cried for a audiobook.

Any additional comments?

I got this book because of the reviews, but I was skeptical about buying this book. I would have never picked a WW2 or love story to use a credit on. But I can't saying enought about it. Couldn't wait to get back in my car, and missed it terribly when it ended.

Forgiveness in it's purest form

You will fall in love with Zamperini, cheer him and his POW friends on throughout the read; while learning what the truest form of forgiveness really means.

Worth every minute

Look at the customer rating on this book. I told myself no book is that good. Well...it is. Edward Herrmann is the perfect narrator for this genre. I went sleepless last night because I couldn't bring myself to turn off my iPod until I finished the book.

Inspiring and moving

I could not stop listening to this amazing story. The author does an outstanding job of bringing to life this unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini and his experiences not only during WWII, but outside of it as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in inspirational biographies.

epic!!!!! true american heroes

this one of the best listens yet. i love true stories and not one yet has touched me like this book. if you are not moved by this story then you need to have your head examined. amazing,amazing,amazing!!! t

Great Book! Great Stroy of redemtion.

Would you listen to Unbroken again? Why?

yes. Great story well written and told.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbroken?

His redemtion and salvation

Which character – as performed by Edward Herrmann – was your favorite?

Louis

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

POW camp and horrific torment

Any additional comments?

Gave me a much better insight to the battle of the Pacific and the trails that were faced

Excellent Book

This is a must read / listen book. It's "booked" as a WWII survival story but it is so much more. Regardless of the type of book you like this book is for you! The story is and narration are both excellent, it will be a reread for me

Great book!

I just finished Unbroken, and it was wonderful. I am not a reader of war stories, but this story was interesting and educational as well as a story full of fabulous characterization. I was never bored; in fact, could not stop listening. Hillenbrand's story telling is so rich, that I felt like I was there with the characters. The narration was perfect. I can't recommend this one enough!