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)

Eye opening and humbling

This isn’t the type of book I typically read or listen to. It was highly recommended so I gave it a shot, and I’m so glad I did. The story by itself is shocking and moving. But I’m also impressed with how the author provided just the right amount of detail for the reader to understand what life was like at that time. I’ve been recommending this book to all of my friends and family. I think it should be included as mandatory reading in classrooms.

Well done on many levels

This story is fascinating. The details of Louis’ survival at sea and his ordeal as a POW are told masterfully. I was expecting to be “preached to,” but I did not feel that way at all. Well done in keeping this story balanced.

An amazing story of a WWII hero

the content was astounding. how can someone cheat death so much? the narrator read very well, and his voice fit the feel of the book quite well.

Powerful story.

The sheer amount of pain and personal anguish is enough to break any normal man.

Awesome, inspirational, enlightening

This is one of those books that completely changes the way you look at life.

Incredible

Would you listen to Unbroken again? Why?

This book captivated my attention from the first chapter. I drive an hour each way to work and actually looked forward to my hour so I could listen to this audiobook. This book is profoundly inspirational and introduces the world to an incredible individual who has left a lasting legacy and touched my heart.

Brilliant

One of the most critical stories you'll ever hear!
Narration was wonderful most memorable moment was very last paragraph of the book.

Outstanding in every way!

Very rarely does a book affect me as deeply as this one has. The faith and forgiveness felt and shown by Louis after hearing Billy Graham has touched me more than I can say. The story and performance were both outstanding. This and Fearless written by Eric Blehm are now my top two favorite books just below the Holy Bible. Well done indeed!!!

Fantastically Gripping!

An inspiring and heart wrenching story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Edward Hermann's voice fits the story perfectly. Well written and told!

Phenomenal story

Gave me a greater understanding of what these brave men went through. Thank God for them.