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

Laura Hillenbrand

Nov 2010 · Sold by Random House

About this ebook

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the acclaimed author of Seabiscuit comes 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

“Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.”—People

TIME’S TOP NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR • WINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE

In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that carried him to the Berlin Olympics. Then with the start of World War II, the athlete became an airman. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived. Ahead of him 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.

Yet Zamperini’s willpower faced its ultimate test upon his heroic return home after the war. He grappled with PTSD, struggled to come to terms with the injustices done to him, and was set on the path of redemption by a momentous encounter with famed reverend Billy Graham.

An unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

Ratings and reviews

Heartwarming but also mind boggling. Even though the book was directed towards the main character the other prisoners in my opinion were just brave. The other family's felt the same pain And supported each other . Yes he was an Olympian but it didn't make him any better than the others. I believe there are many stories just as compelling as his in the camps.

A true story of how one mans faith in God and how that loyalty and commitment to his faith provided him with the miracle necessary to survive and elevate to a state of being most of us aren't even aware exists. I was a terminally ill

Louis is a real hero. His mental fortitude is something fierce, as well as his will to survive and keep his humanity in the pits of hell that come to be known as the Japanese prisoner of war camps. Drifting in the ocean with sharks was a pit-stop compared to the real suffering endured by our American vet.

About the author

Laura Hillenbrand is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Seabiscuit: An American Legend, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, won the Book Sense Book of the Year Award and the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, landed on more than fifteen best-of-the-year lists, and inspired the film Seabiscuit, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Hillenbrand’s New Yorker article, “A Sudden Illness,” won the 2004 National Magazine Award, and she is a two-time winner of the Eclipse Award, the highest journalistic honor in Thoroughbred racing. She and actor Gary Sinise are the co-founders of Operation International Children, a charity that provides school supplies to children through American troops. She lives in Washington, D.C.