Laura Hillenbrand

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared. Only one crew member survived: a young lieutenant named Louis Zamperini. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War, as Zamperini is driven to the limits of endurance.

An Extraordinary True Story of Courage and Survival

Unbroken

Tells the gripping true story of a U.S. airman who was the soul surviver when his bomber crashed into the sea during World War II and had to face thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. By the #1 best-selling author of Seabiscuit. 200,000 first printing.

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

Stef Hite

Really amazing story about Louis Zamperini ... amazing tale of survival during WWII. The end was a bit rushed, perhaps because the author clearly dwelt on the incredible fortitude Zaperini demonstrated surviving over 40 days at sea, then in Japanese internment camps. Well worth reading, written in a straight-forward and painstakingly researched format.

Wynter

A powerful story of survival, futility, and forgiveness that comes to life through Hillenbrand's engaging writing. Unbroken is one of those books that must be on everyone's shortlist.

Colleen

Unbroken is the incredible true story of an Olympic runner turned WWII soldier and POW. This story of endurance and faith is one of the few occasions when I completely agree with the majority; this book absolutely deserves all of the high ratings! I have never read a book quite like this. It is a non-fiction that reads like a novel. I could hardly put this book down. Hillenbrand expertly balances a fantastic story, powerful emotion, and impeccably researched information. Though it is primarily the story of Louie Zamperini, it also provides a very comprehensive view and is probably as unbiased account as possible. I loved that Hillenbrand presented information about all parties involved. Though Zamperini's story is indeed astounding, she did not idolize him and is open about his flaws and struggles as well. Other people probably would have glossed over those things and ended the story with his triumphant homecoming. But thankfully Hillenbrand also chronicled his PTSD as well as providing followup on his fellow soldiers and captors. I was deeply moved by this story, and I also learned a great deal.

This is an extraordinary and inspiring true story of the power of the human spirit and faith. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. 

RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Emotional Level: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 5 Stars
Attention to Detail: 5 Stars

If you like this try: We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance

This review fulfills the "Book that Made Me Cry" category of the Popsugar reading challenge. http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-...

Louis Zamperini, a clever young delinquent turned Olympic runner, became an airman when the war came. In 1943 his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean, where sharks, a sinking raft, thirst, starvation, and enemy aircraft, tested his will and endurance.

An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive

shockingly enjoyed this. Spurred my appreciation for memoirs

Madilyn Taylor

Rachel Kanyid

Wow.
Just wow.
This book was a beautifully written version of the life of a WWII vet... IT WAS PHENOMENAL.
Guys. I normally don't like biographies very much, but this... this is worth a try even if you're like that too.

Kathy Jedrzejczyk

I was a little weary of reading this book at first. I thought it was going to be a hard-to-read war documentary. To my surprise it was an amazing book. Despite knowing a lot of what was going to happen it was still very gripping. I don't know a lot about the Japanese part of WWII and it was very eye opening for me. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. Hillenbrand did an awesome job of putting together many details that made the book so much more gripping.
It is unbelievable that so many people when through so many travesties. So many men died, but so many survived. It really makes you appreciate e everything they had to go through.

Philip Young

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, 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. Unbroken is an unforgettable testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit, brought vividly to life by Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand. Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award “Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal “[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 “Ambitious and powerful . . . a startling narrative and an inspirational book.”—The New York Times Book Review “Magnificent . . . incredible . . . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times.”—The Dallas Morning News “An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity.”—Entertainment Weekly “A tale of triumph and redemption . . . astonishingly detailed.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “[A] masterfully told true story . . . nothing less than a marvel.”—Washingtonian “[Hillenbrand tells this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.”—Time “Hillenbrand [is] one of our best writers of narrative history. You don’t have to be a sports fan or a war-history buff to devour this book—you just have to love great storytelling.”—Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Todd Luallen

As a person that hasn't studied WW2 in the Pacific Theater much, I was shocked at the treatment of the POW's depicted in this book. And I'm not at all surprised that the war had such a traumatic impact on those that survived such atrocities. The fact that Louis was able to forgive his captors is a tremendous miracle that can only rightfully be attributed to God. What an incredible story.

Scott Wilson

This was a great book with an amazing life story of Mr. Louis Zamperini a WWII bomber who was also one of the world's fastest men. 

The book covers Mr. Zamperini's early years and his reason and rise to great success in his running but for the most part the book discusses the amazing struggles Mr. Zamperinin and two of his friends have in survival after crashing their plane while out looking for another downed plane.

(Some spoilers below) 
An amazing and inspiring story of survival on the pacific ocean in a rubber raft for over 40 days - overcoming hunger, thirst, sharks and then when land is found the imprisonment in a Japanese POW camp and the brutality and disease that came as part of that.

The story ends as it often does in war covering off the tragic impact that war has on our veterans lives and the struggles that Mr. Zamperini faces in what will likely be his last major life challenge.

I highly recommend it!

Dana Kraft

Really enjoyed this one, even though it was tough to get through the extensive chronicle of horrific abuses heaped upon POWs. Makes me think about what defines a "good life", and appreciate the power of forgiveness. 

As if I needed a reminder - I have lived a pretty easy life.

Rick Dobrowolski

Fascinating biography with captivating details throughout the book. It was definitely a book worth making into a movie. Laura's research is excellent.

Emma Friedheim

What a thrilling biography. I finally got around to starting this and legitimately could not put it down once I began. Laura Hillenbrand has the magical gift of making war statistics and heavy history deeply personal and moving. I will say that the story lost a bit of its oomph for me in the end with the heavy handed religious savior stuff, but it didn't take away from the overall near perfection of this book.

Josh Clement

How is this even true!!!! Amazing story, and fairly well written, if not a bit hokey and soft. the facts speak for themselves.

Relates the story of a U.S. airman who survived when his bomber crashed into the sea during World War II, spent forty-seven days adrift in the ocean before being rescued by the Japanese Navy, and was held as a prisoner until the end of the war.

Bee 

The story is amazing but the writing is disappointing. I felt as if I never really got to know any of the characters.

Hannah Wall

Unbroken is a well respected and research novel about Louis Zamperini and his life as a POW during World War 2. It was so difficult to read because of how vivid the pain and unmistakable horror prisons of war faced in Japan. These men were beaten and their humanity taken from them. Unbroken brought me to tears and I will forever remember this book. It was realistic and wasn’t boring at all. I feel like I know Louis Zamperini and I wish I could give him a hug. While it’s easy to think that this is all fake- it’s not. Real men went through pain, torture, starvation, and so many other nightmares we can’t think of. War is awful and what happened to these men in Japan is sickening. It’s easy to play video games and kill everyone you see, but war is evil. It took months for me to finish Unbroken, but the story is powerful and the grace of God is unmistakable. God used this man’s pain to bring about an abundance of good. While it might be difficult to ever want to read a book like this, I think it is important so we don’t forget why we fight for peace and why war isn’t a good answer. It reminds us why to be kind, to be forgiving, and why humanity needs to do better every chance we get.

Sarah Vaughan

I almost gave this three stars but ultimately ended up with four. Let me just say I think this is one of the most amazing stories I've ever heard. What this guy went through is nothing short of mind-blowing, and reading it will really throw into perspective just how much Americans have taken for granted while our military has protected us and our freedom. 

Like I said, the story itself, fantastic. The writing, it was good as well. But here's the thing that made it take four long months for me to get through this book. Every chapter, every story, seems to go off on a tangent. To an extent, I understand that when writing non-fiction, especially war-time non-fiction, the author wants to provide the reader with both perspective and context. But man is it exhausting trying to keep up with one man's story line while also making your way through the info about every battle and POW camp he encounters. Like I said, I understand WHY the author did it, but it made it less enjoyable to me than if I had just read his story on its own. Granted, Colonial America and The Civil War are my favorite historical time periods, so maybe this just didn't hold my attention as well. Overall, I think most people will enjoy this.

Jane McCullough

Amazing story and amazing writing. This has encouraged me to get back on track with the Camp Shows story.

KADY BURNS

One of the most inspiring stories, makes me more grateful for what I have.

Melody Izard

Laura Hillenbrand's historical research is what makes this book so fascinating. That and her ability to reach back for the sensational story that has been long since forgotten and then resurrecting it, not just to match the information revealed when the story was news - but digging and digging and looking at it from different angles and asking others who saw it from a completely different angle and only then writing it with clarity and intelligence and respect for all all mentioned. She did that with the story of Seabiscuit and she does it with the unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini. Absolutely one to put on your to read list - and a perfect father's day gift for any WWII vet in your family.

Shelby Fink

One of my favorite books. So strong so powerful, it’s such a hard read. Must read.

Lauren Buchanan

Quite possibility the best book I've ever read. Definitely the best non-fiction book I've ever read.

Magdalene Lim

History is not my thanggg but reviews, especially good ones, sway me so I picked up this book. And even recommended it to a friend before even reading it. Yes, GoodReads... this is how much I trust you!

Really enjoyed this book. I marvel at what the protagonist had to go through, what he did to survive and am amazed that this is non-fiction. Though my grandparents lived through the war, life now just seems so distant from what took place less than a century ago. Thank you Hillenbrand for writing Louie's story in such a captivating manner. Such stories must be passed on. So we are inspired and more importantly, so we never forget.

Chae Kennedy 

This nonfiction kept me coming back for more. I was always interested and astounded by the events throughout this novel. Laura Hillenbrand captured all of the moments throughout this book brilliantly. I originally had to read this for a summer English assignment and was not entirely looking forward to it but as soon as I read the first chapter, I was immediately hooked on Louis and his story.

Amber Laha

Amazing, a human beings ability to survive the worse. I learned a lot about a different aspect of WWII that I hadn't learned a lot about in school or outside. This is a book that should definitely be read by all.

Unbroken An Extraordinary True Story of Courage and Survival

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