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)

Unbelievable courage and human spirit unwilling to

I am not yet through, but I have just printe out the description to give to several of my friends
who were alo in the service. We did not have to go through what these men went through, and it make you so proud of them for enduring.

It is unbelievable what he survived!

Now my favorite book ever

This is a must read! I have over 300 audible books and this was by far my favorite! An inspiring story that I can't wait to share with my children!

Unbroken

Outstanding book on WWII in the Pacific. The author does a great job in describing what the American POWs went through at the hands of the Japanese. Not for the faint of heart. Should be required reading for every high school student.

Inspirational

This book is inspirational. One man's continual reinvention of himself to overcome common to unimaginable obstacles from childhood to old age. Much more than a story about surviving war and imprisonment. Another example of why they are referred to as the "greatest generation".

Unbroken

I loved this book, learned so much about Louis Zamperini life, and was astounded that he survived all that he did. Everything written about how the pilots learned to fly the planes during WWII was new to me. I don't remember anything about this is my history books. I know I could read it a second time and find things I missed. It was very well written and the reader did an excellent job. I have recommended it to all my friends and family members.

I loved this book, learned so much about Louis Zamperini life, and was astounded that he survived all that he did. Everything written about how the pilots learned to fly the planes during WWII was new to me. I don't remember anything about this is my history books. I know I could read it a second time and find things I missed. It was very well written and the reader did an excellent job with narration. I have recommended it to all my friends and family members. I feel both men and women would enjoy this book.

Unforgettable Story

It is unusual for me to read a book about war, but this book was phenomenal. I listened in the car on my commute, and my 10 year old grandson was also very absorbed in the story, always asked me to play it instead of our usual music. I will definitely read more books by this author and will long remember the people that charactered this story. Our servicemen are so brave.

Great reading

I like reading about history, but history books can become boring. I like it when an author intertwines the story and characters with historical events. It makes both the story and history lesson enjoyable. I highly recommend this novel to those that have a interest in the war in the Pacific.

very good

Bought a hardcover version for my father thought he would enjoy as well. Good listen.

Excellent

Ms Hillenbrand sweeps you along with Louis Zamperini from start to finish, all the way to redemption.
Edward Herrmann delivers with passion.
This is one of those tales that calls for a second reading, just to make sure you didn't miss anything.

One of the best

One of the best purchases I've made on this service. Fantastic story told with incredible detail. I literally couldn't wait to start my commute so I could get back to the story.

Also, I think Edward Herrmann is the best narrator this side of Morgan Freeman.