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)

This book should be read by every man.

This book is a testimony to our Merciful Lord Jesus Christ. We are created in His image.

Just amazing

Captivating amazingly life and death suspense and over all a life to remember that pushed through it all

American Heroes

The story of Louis Zamperini and his military brothers is a true American hero story. Their bravery and resilience in the face of insurmountable evil and trial is a story of hope and strength. The writing by Laura Hillenbrand puts you in the place and time to feel and smell and experience what these soldiers lived through. Masterful story, masterful writing.

Incredible story

These kind of life stories are so hard for me to read. It breaks my heart how horrible humans can be to one another. But God…
By His strength, grace and mercy only are we able to find true forgiveness and peace.
Highly recommend reading the book!!!

Moved in way I can not explain

So deep did the book move me that I am forced to not think about it, or at least the agony and atrocities.

I didn't know the Pacific story...

Story of survival, painful honest truth. Excellently written and delivered. Should be required reading. Until this book, I had no idea of the similarities between Germany and Japan during WWII, the pain and suffering of humanity on many continents. Trials were held in both countries. I knew of the Nuremberg but not of those is Japan. An eye opening read. At this time, 2022, are we again seeing history repeat... Lord watch over and protect us from ourselves.

May possibly be one of the best true story’s ever

Unbelievable all around. What are inspirational story of perseverance dignity courage and survival. Incredibly red and performed and incredibly writtin

A job well done

Excellent story - amazing what it takes to survive.
Narration was excellent as well. Very engaging

Amazing story of survival and recovery

A perfect story of a purposeful life. Enjoyable and inspirational. Well written and extremely well read.

Amazing story!

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a must read! Very inspirational and full of great history.