Unbroken

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

De: Laura Hillenbrand

Narrado por: Edward Herrmann

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The incredible true story of survival and salvation that is the basis for two major motion pictures: Unbroken and Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

“Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal

Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography

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.

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.

Amazing Man, Amazing Story

Once I started this book, every free moment was spent listening. I was so anxious to see what Louie was going to encounter next! The words just flew off the page (so to speak), and Louie Zamperini is, to this day, an amazing man with an amazing story.

Excellent Recording, Well-Narrated & Well-Told

I already knew that Laura Hillenbrand was an excellent non-fiction writer, having so much enjoyed "Seabiscuit" many years ago. However, I hadn't heard an Edward Herrmann recording in several years and I will definitely be looking to see what else he has recently recorded. The narration was excellent, easy to follow, pleasant to hear and easy to understand. Really, I don't think you can ask for more from a narrator than what Hermann delivers in this audio. Without any funny accents or disturbing vocalizations it was very clear who was speaking at all times and the tone was always appropriate to the action. What I liked best about the reading was how little I actually thought about the narrator until I was almost finished with the book when I realized how excellent a narrator has to be to disappear into a story!

Hillenbrand achieves amazing storytelling for a non-fiction writer. From the opening of the book she grabs you and keeps a tight hold on you in a way that is very rare. I actually ended up listening to the audio with every free moment I had for two or three days. I went out to get lunch at work, bought some soup, paid for it, walked back to work and had to go back to the deli to retrieve my lunch because I didn't notice for four blocks that I had nothing in my hands and only my ipod in my pocket! And I was glad for the extra time of the walk back....

One of top 5 books I've ever read or listened to

This riveting story was only made more so by virture of being true. Hillenbrand is a masterful story teller and I was captivated. While the subject portrayed displays man's inhumanity to man, the end is one of redemption and ulitmately, forgiveness. One warning: some of the violence is graphic but for me this added to my understanding of the story and why feelings were so strong from those who lived through this period of history.

Couldn't stop listening; great narration, story

Of the ten or so books I've listened to in the past year, this one was by far my favorite. Not only is Mr. Hermann's narration engaging and involving, but the story itself takes you places. This book had so many driveway moments it was hard to believe.

Unbelievable

I can't even imagine going through what this soldier went through. One of the most amazing stories that I have read to date in WWII. Great narration as well. I loved this book.