#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 … 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
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A true story of an olympic athlete who was captured by the Japanese during WW II and how he was singled out for brutal treatment because of his fame. A story of one man’s suffering and how he finally found peace and forgave.
Unbroken is an outstanding story of determination, grit and resolve, on several levels. This is an outstanding story of what happens in war, the ugliness of it, the fear which exists among those who are ‘put in danger’. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in an important aspect of World War II.
Grateful for those that sacrificed so much so we could have freedom.
Horrifying, and true!
this is one of the best autobiographies I’ve ever read, largely due to Bruce’s willingness to share the painful and dark aspects of his journey through life. He shows how with hard work and honesty, people can change the narrative of family demons and find happiness while making the world a different place for their children.
The account of someone who survived the horrors of a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. Make sure you read to the very end. For some reason the movie of the same name omitted the final part which explains how person was able to finally conquer his post war demons.
This is an outstanding story told by an excellent author. Her writing paints such a vivid picture. The research done in writing Zamperini’s story and the facts she adds in pertaining to all the Pacific POWs, makes it a haunting tale. One that shouldn’t be missed if one is truly interested in history.
A great true story.
This is a true story about Americans in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps and how one man in particular was able to survive despite unbelievable hardships, injuries, illness, and near starvation. Absolutely recommended!
A must read for anyone who had family or friends in WWII.
READ THIS BOOK…
One of my top ten books of all time.
A true story of courage in the face of inhumanity.
The best book combining WW II and Christian forgiveness. Louis was a one of a kind. I was a great honor to hear him in person speak about the book and the movie. When he met Brad Pitt and said that he wanted to play Louis in the film, Louis responded with “I had hoped someone a little better looking would get the part.
An inspiring story that kept me engaged to the end.
This biography is well-worth the read. the character and immense personal courage of the protagonist shines brightly. His development through his athletic fame, war-time sufferings, PTSD, and finally faith and personal redemption through forgiveness is remarkable.
This is in my top ten books. Tells the true story of a man from childhood to old age. How he suceeds in athletics , overcomes incredible odds to survive in WW2 and recovers from alcoholism. You can’t put it down…reads like fiction but is a true story!
Best book I’ve read in years
Wonderful explanation of the suffering of “prisoners of war” and of the determination they have for survival
Highly recommend this book. I loved it.