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)

Incredible

This is a story of one man. But listening, you may get a notion how millions of Americans and Allied soldiers lived their lives during World War II. Hillenbrand did well piecing the lives of many connected to this one man's story to give a fuller picture of how all were affected.

Wonderful from start to finish

Very rarely does a book capture my attention from start to finish. A wonderful tale, beautifully written and narrated.

Excellent!

This book reminded me of what American soldiers go through fighting for our freedom. I wanted to break down and cry over how some have suffered, and I feel so grateful for their sacrifices. I'm usually not one to read war stories, but I loved this one. I have listened to it three times!

Amazing story.

I haven't stopped talking about this book! A wonderful, inspirational story about a truly amazing man. Highly recommend!

What an incredible story!!

Louis Zamperini's story of survival of torture and deprivation at the hands of Japanese captors during World War II, told by Laura Hillenbrand in "Unbroken," was excellent! It was absolutely amazing that Zamperini and other POWs even managed to survive.

I enjoyed this true story and am so glad that this historical event was brought to my attention. It made me really appreciate what sacrifice these Americans gave during this war and the heroism of all of our American Vets.

Well worth the credit to purchase.

The reader, Edward Herrmann, was also excellent!!

The human spirit will endure

This story is incredible and listening to it made the road trip go very quickly. I have recommended this book to anyone I know. What a great book. Thank you.

spellbinding from page 1 to the end

The only problem with this book is that it ends. If you listen to audiobooks while exercising, as I do, you will find that you exercise more so that you can listen to more of this story, which never flags, never for one sentence, from page 1 to the end. Wonderfully read by Edward Herrmann. A true classic.

Unforgettable!

Well told story, excellent narration. I've rewound and listened to some segments again without feeling bored or sidetracked. Started over again after finishing to listen with my husband, who is also loving it. Excellent.

What a great book

Well told story of survival...if you ever wonder about the how far the human spirit can be pushed, read this book.

Terrible Narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of Unbroken to be better than the print version?

No, because of the narration.

What didn’t you like about Edward Herrmann’s performance?

Sing song delivery. He could have been reading the telephone directory. Wrong inflections. emphasized wrong parts of sentences. Such a big disappointment because he is such a well known and talented actor.

Any additional comments?

The author is excellent. I loved Seabiscuit and I know several people who read the printed version of this book and loved it. The narration is the worst I've ever listened to.