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)

Great novel even for a typical fiction fan

This novel exceeded my expectations. I'm typically strictly a fiction reader but got talked into this book. It is very well written. It's a horrifying yet inspirational story.

Moving

An incredible story about one man's WWII POW experience. What's even more incredible is that there are literally thousands of similar stories, which will never be told. This generation will take with them to the grave the horrors they say, the funny experiences they had, and the tears they shed. Bravo to Hillenbrand for taking the time to show us what these men went through, lived with and died for.

A life well lived

Riveting story of "The Greatest of These is Love!!!“ Lived it, highly recommend this title!

Beautiful

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

Unbelievable Heartbreaking Beautiful

What did you like best about this story?

I thought it was an amazing story all around. Some of it seemed like it might have been slightly "enhanced" but it didn't take away from the fact that these men endured unbelievable odds in service to their country.

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

I did cry, several times. This is a book that gives you a glimmer of what these men felt; their struggles, and their triumphs.

Great story

Louis Zamparini thank you so much for your service! You and all the gentleman of World War 1 & 2, we couldn't ask for better service men to honor our country. Word can't say enough! Americans appreciate your story and what you have endured and done for us thank you!!!!!

Unforgettable

Couldn't put it down until the end. This was an incredible story of the war that most people never new or have forgotten.

wow! thats a great book

loved the book. what a story, and the narration was fantastic. buy this book. you won't regret it.

Greatest American Hero!!!

Book had me in tears several times. Best book I have read to date. perfectly done beginning to end. I will read it again.

exceptional read.

appreciated the descriptions of the lives of the POWs and their courage in the face of death.

Great great book!!!!!

One of the best World War II stories I have ever heard The resilience of man has always been a great interest for me this book is a culmination of that interest