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)

Riveting story!

Loved it! could not lay it down! very inspiring!
Narrator did a great job!
Highly recomend!

Amazing, life changing story

I heard about unbroken, like many others, when the movie for it came out. I remember watching the trailer around when it was still in theaters, and my uncle (who is an air force veteran) highly encouraged me to read this book. I have to say I was 1000x more impressed than I assumed I would be. The audiobook was absolutely fantastic, and it was great to listen to on long rides in the car, or just at home in my free time. After finishing, I watched the movie. And my oh my does it do this amazing book no justice. This is an awesome life-changing story, and if you're looking for a great book, this is it.

Touching story

My father fought in WWII. I never understood his feelings about the Japanese. I do now

If you EVER think your life is hard...

...then listen to this audiobook

A single man survived more stress, rigor, trauma, in 2.5 years than most families experience in 3 generations.

Inspiring! Hard to put down! Brilliant story!

From beginning to end, this story inspires! The author kept your attention with vivid detail.

Amazing Book

If you could sum up Unbroken in three words, what would they be?

Inspiring, amazing, well written

Any additional comments?

This book is an amazing tale of courage, will power, and decision making in the most inspirational way.

Fantastic! Genius Writing & Narration!

Generally I dont bother writing reviews, but this is THE best written book since I bought my first audiobook (Seabiscuit) on tapes to play in my car many years ago. This girl is gifted!
And the subject of this book will inspire us all.....truly an example that "we all know adversity......how we meet it makes the difference."

A wonderful story reminding me of my childhood.

I was 8 yrs of age in 1941. I recall seeing Movie tone news reels at the local Fox theater. And listening to radio with my grandfather who was Austrian. He hated Adolf Hitler and called him a "Madman!"

Hoping for part II

Having been transformed by the experience of this book's Audible version, I can only hope that someone sees to it to produce and distribute Unbroken II. Louie's life after war is every bit as spectacular if not more.

Incredible story!

A truly incredible story. A very good look at historical World War II. Although I like Edward Herman's reading, he needs to check pronunciation "Kwajalein" not Kwaja lean.