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    Unbroken
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    Unbroken
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    Unbroken
    Audiobook13 hours

    Unbroken

    Written by Laura Hillenbrand

    Narrated by Edward Herrmann

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    The incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, now a major motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie.

    THE INTERNATIONAL NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

    In 1943 a bomber crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Against all odds, one young lieutenant survives. Louise Zamperini had already transformed himself from child delinquent to prodigious athlete, running in the Berlin Olympics. Now he must embark on one of the Second World War’s most extraordinary odysseys. Zamperini faces thousands of miles of open ocean on a failing raft. Beyond like only greater trials, in Japan’s prisoner-of-war camps.

    Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini’s destiny, whether triumph or tragedy, depends on the strength of his will …

    Now a major motion picture, directed by Angelina Jolie and starring Jack O’ Connell.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateDec 4, 2014
    ISBN9780008105471
    Unavailable
    Unbroken
    Author

    Laura Hillenbrand

    Laura Hillenbrand is the author of the number-one bestseller Seabiscuit, which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. It was made into a major international film, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. She lives in Washington, D.C.

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    Reviews for Unbroken

    4.5/5

    3,549 ratings377 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      Louis Zamperini was a rambunctious youngster who discovered he could run fast. After running in the 1936 Olympics, he was on his way to a career as an athlete when war intervened. As a bombardier in the Army Air Corps, his plane was shot down over the Pacific, and with two others, he remained floating on the ocean in a raft for 47 days before landing on a Japanese island. Although drawn out too much, this part was the most interesting. However, after capture, his problems became worse. It's a story that should not be forgotten but there is no redeeming quality in relating the torture at such length. In parts, Hillenbrand suggests the concept that Americans are good, Japanese are bad (except one Japanese, a "Christian" who was good). The bias is especially noticeable in the casualty figures she quotes, statistics that say nothing about the Japanese casualties in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, all civilians. In fact she makes the claim that those bombs saved the lives of prisoners by avoiding a "kill all” order. No one can accurately say what would have happened.I kept ploughing through it but it's difficult to understand the rave reviews the book has garnered. Hillenbrand's writing is pedestrian and without the nuances of a natural storyteller. The very nature of the story was distressing, but particularly protracted description of torture. A good writer knows that this type of detail is unnecessary to get the point across. As well, Hillenbrand includes information that could not possibly be known by anyone, adding a fictional element. And although I'm glad Zamperini found some relief from his misery, the crowning annoyance was the "born again" ending, reinforcing the American (read Christian) good, Japanese bad. I do not recommend this to anyone.
    • 5/5
      Being unfamiliar with the Pacific theater of WWII, I chose the biography of Louis Zamperini to learn the terrain.The book is subtitled "A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption"and it is one of the most thought provoking and touching stories I've ever read.---------An update of Louis would includeOn April 24, 2011, Zamperini received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters from Azusa Pacific University. The following month, on May 20, 2011, Zamperini delivered Bryant University's 2011 baccalaureate address and received Bryant's inaugural Distinguished Character Award. The following day, May 21, Bryant presented Zamperini with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. The next day he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Red Sox-Cubs game at Fenway Park in Boston.----------It was such an incredible tale of survival.I was cheering when the redemptive factors came into play.What a great read.5* and fav
    • 5/5
      What else to add? A mark of excellence for me was that I enjoyed the episodes that fall both before and after his castaway-to-liberation story that forms the book's center.
    • 5/5
      Extraordinary book. This audio version was well read. Great stuff
    • 5/5
      A very touching story about humanity and the cruelties during the pacific WW II. Rigorously researched this story not only gives light on the life of Luis Zamparini but also on the horrors of war.

      Highly recommended!
    • 5/5
      I don't think I could live through a week of what this poor man went through. What a tough story of American prisoners of war in Japan during World War II. This book is a fascinating study of both human endurance and human cruelty. An important read for any lovers of history or anyone interested in a great story of what a human being can live through.
    • 5/5
      Excellent -- so glad I read the book before the movie. I am so grateful for the men and women who gave their lives for freedom during World War II.
    • 5/5
      The three words in the subtitle -- survival, resilience, and redemption -- are at the very heart of this book. This is an excellent narrative history about what it takes to survive the horrors of being a Japanese POW during WWII. Hillenbrand chooses to tell this survival story through the experience of Olymic runner turned bombardier Louis Zamperini, but it is really the story of every man who suffered unrelenting cruel degradation and went on to live a productive life.Of course, not every POW had the experience of being lost at sea in a flimsy rubber raft for 47 days. Louis and Phil, the pilot of the rescue plane they were on that ditched in the ocean, were surrounded and harassed by hungry sharks the entire time they were in the water. I thought that was going to be the worst part, but when they were 'rescued' by the Japanese, the real cruelty began. At least the sharks were doing what sharks are supposed to do. The Japanese captors were supposedly men, but they acted like ruthless animals in the constant abuse of their prisoners. I learned that nearly 37 per cent of American POWs died in Japanese camps, while only one per cent died in German and Italian camps. I'd like to learn more about how they suddenly became our Allies in the fight against communism. There is so much more to say about this book. I would urge anyone with an interest in WWII or the triumph of the human spirit to read this stunning book...and then tell your friends to read it so you'll have somebody to discuss it with.
    • 5/5
      An absolute page turner! No wonder it is on the best sellers list. How this man survived through all the physical and mental abuse is unbelievable. I also learned more about WWII on the Pacific side and Japanese thought and culture at the time. After reading this book, I vowed never to complain about a day in my life. - Patty Meinking (12/27/11)
    • 5/5
      Very suspenseful; a true story of Louis Zamperini, his life as an troubled youth turned to Olympic runner and then his horrific experience during WW II. It is very descriptive and makes one really realize the horrors and atrocities that went on with the prisoners during that time frame. My heart broke for him as well as his family. A must read for anyone interested in WW II history.
    • 5/5
      Louis Zamperini's life is told in this amazing account of his childhood, life during WW2, and post-war. Hillenbrand does a great job of telling his story and accompanying it with historic details that just adds to the story. Parts of his life are quite disturbing and will stay with me forever. However, his resilience is just incredible. One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. A great book for for history buffs, book clubs, and for those wanting to be inspired by another man's perseverance.
    • 5/5
      5***** and a ❤WOW!! Louis Zamperini was a rambunctious kid and headed for trouble when his older brother Pete got him involved in track. Louie excelled at the sport, breaking records and going to the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, where his performance (while not winning a medal) earned him the attention of the world. He went back to USC and continued training as a miler - many believed he would break the 4-minute mile barrier - setting his sights on the 1940 Olympic games. But war cancelled those games and Louie wound up as a bombardier in the Army Air Corps. When a plane went missing, Louie’s crew was ordered to fly an unfamiliar plane on a search and rescue mission. “The Green Hornet” was a notoriously unreliable craft and was usually parked to the side; mechanics sometimes raided it for spare parts to fix other aircraft. When an engine quit, the pilot and co-pilot did everything they could, but to no avail. The plane crashed into the Pacific, killing all but three … Louie, pilot Russell Alan “Phil” Phillips, and tail gunner Francis “Mac” McNamara. With no food and little water, they did their best to survive, managing an astonishing 47 days at sea in an inflatable raft, only to be captured by the Japanese. Their nightmare was only just beginning. The POW’s tale is harrowing, horrifying and ultimately inspirational. Hillenbrand is a master at writing nonfiction with a pace and structure that reads like a thriller. The characters are as alive to the reader as if they were sitting across the table telling their stories. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures assault the reader’s senses. I was transfixed from the beginning. I’m sure if I had been reading the traditional format I would have finished in a couple of days. Listening to the CDs on my daily commute, I found myself “going the long way,” driving around the block, and sitting in the driveway to listen to just one more track. Edward Herrmann is a fine actor and does a great job narrating this story. Unlike many audio books, he makes no effort to change his voice for the various characters; he maintains the “narrator’s” voice throughout and that is fine.I have convinced at least three of my friends to read this already. Don’t wait any longer …. Read it NOW!
    • 5/5
      First 2/3rds are awesome - really a wonderful read.
    • 5/5
      Incredible, unforgettable, at times intense. The story of an extraordinary man written by an extraordinary author.
    • 5/5
      Very suspenseful; a true story of Louis Zamperini, his life as an troubled youth turned to Olympic runner and then his horrific experience during WW II. It is very descriptive and makes one really realize the horrors and atrocities that went on with the prisoners during that time frame. My heart broke for him as well as his family. A must read for anyone interested in WW II history.
    • 5/5
      I will read anything Laura Hillenbrand writes. She is brilliant. Louie's tale was riveting.
    • 5/5
      Louis Zamperelli's life was an extraordinary one. His life story is one of courage and determination. Hillenbrand's writing brings the details of Zamperelli's life into shocking reality. Especially harrowing were his years as a prisoner of war in Japan. The accounts are almost too unbelievable to be real, but are necessary for each one of us to know and remember, so we can never forget the realities of war. Great read.
    • 5/5
      What an amazing story - Hillenbrand's painstaking attention to detail is once again a gift to anyone who reads her work. I appreciated that, although this was primarily Zamperini's story, Hillenbrand paid homage to those who loved him, finishing their stories as well as his. A nonfiction page-turner that will keep you up late at night, invade your dreams, and stay with you a very long time..
    • 5/5
      Amazing true life story and how a person can forgive one's enemy, even after the most unforgivable circumstances. An inspiring WWII story.
    • 5/5
      I love history...especially with regard to WWII. This book is an incredible story of survival of a POW camp and redemption thorough God. Louie Zamperini an Olympic athlete is taken to the depths of dispare as his life spins out of control on his return home from the war. A good read.
    • 4/5
      Gripping, unbelievable tale of what a former Olympian athlete went through when his plane went down in the Pacific during WWII. He and his raft mate were the longest known drifters on a raft surviving unbelievable terrors. They were captured by the Japanese and imprisoned only to suffer even worse degradation and hardship. Survival, Resilience and Redemption accurately describe the story.
    • 5/5
      I love track and field and I love American history, so I had high expectations for this book. I was not disappointed. Taking the good with the bad, Hillenbrand tells of a wild kid who found a purpose in running. Louis Zamperini made the Olympic team and had the most potential of any runner of his time. His running career was interrupted by WWII. He became a POW in Japan and suffered horrible cruelty and deprivation. He survives, but comes home to struggle with the trauma of what he had survived. Well written, interesting and hard to put down.
    • 4/5
      The time and effort that went into the author's research must be lauded. What an amazing work. I believe that these are the kinds of books that should be read in history classes. Provide the background to a war- politics, economics, etc., then tell the stories through the true experiences of the combatants on all sides. War is fought by humans, not governments, and the generations that follow should learn the human price.
    • 5/5
      While this is not the typical genre of book I read, it held my attention throughout. It kept me awake at night pondering the seemingly unending depths of cruelty of which humanity is capable, but also the resiliency of the human spirit. I gained a much clearer understanding of WWII and a much greater appreciation for the sacrifices of military personnel.
    • 3/5
      Don't know what all the hype was about. Glad I didn't go to see the movie.
    • 5/5
      Reason for Reading: This book dealt with many topics that interest me: World War II, especially the war with Japan, the Japanese war atrocities and survival stories, especially those at sea.What an amazing book! I would give it 10/10 if I could and two thumbs up if it were a movie. I'd be very surprised if it wasn't made into a movie either, unless telling about the relatively unknown Japanese atrocities is too much for Hollywood to handle.Louis Zamperini was a boy with humble beginnings, who grew up to have a shot at Olympic stardom, which was torn away from him by WWII and instead replaced by one of the most horrific survival stories you will ever hear. Seven years in the writing Hillenbrand has brought a book and a story that will not be forgotten by time. This is a story that everyone need read to see what despicable, horrific things human beings are capable of doing to others and how the spirit of other human beings are capable of surviving even the most degrading and self-demeaning tasks placed on top of daily torture of the most extreme kind. This book is hard to read in many places, but is also full of many moments of pathos. The POWs managed to find little ways to brighten their days at the expense of their prison keepers to help keep their morale up.Louis started life as a thief and a thug, until his older brother took his energy and placed it into something more constructive. Track. Louis was a natural, but didn't take to it kindly at first, since he easily won without trying, until he saw that with real effort he could actually break efforts and his dream for the Olympics took over and he became a changed youth, participating in the Berlin Olympics. The War came along, and the draft changed Louis's life forever. As a bombardier of a B-29 he survived a crash into the Pacific Ocean and floating aboard a life raft for a record breaking 47 days with two other crew members only to be "rescued" in the end by the Japanese. Where he then spent the rest of the war with Japan as a POW in their Geneva Convention breaking camps. As one officer is quoted as saying "This is not Geneva. This is Japan."The rags to riches story of Louis' childhood truly endears him to the reader as a character one really cares for. He is a sharp, intelligent man-youth, witty and with a sense of fun, that one cannot help but fall for him. Making his life story all that more horrific. Hillenbrand has done a good job of bringing Zamperini to life as a human being with his character strengths, quirks and flaws. The survival in the Pacific makes for absolutely riveting, unbearable and compelling reading. Hillenbrand, while writing of the POW experience, also manages to reveal some information on why the Japanese atrocities are so little known today and why their war criminals were given amnesty, while German war criminals are still hunted down to this day. (Though I believe what they presume to be the last living war criminal was extradited in just the recent past.) It certainly had nothing to do with the Japanese being any less inhumane during the war. In Hillenbrand's "Acknowledgements" she notes that the war is still a controversial topic in Japan and some of her Japanese sources asked not to be named. A MUST READ BOOK!!!
    • 5/5
      Great story of resilience, Louis and his comrades faced such struggles that at points throughout the story it's hard to believe it all happened in real life
    • 5/5
      The whole book was amazing (and sometimes shocking). I was surprised to find myself crying at Louis' religious awakening after he returned home. I usually find that kind of thing sappy, but it really struck me powerfully the way it was written here. While I listened to the audiobook, I found it was mixed up in my mind with Life of Pi and A God in Ruins, and I had to keep reminding myself that this one is nonfiction.
    • 5/5
      Amazing. Definitely a six star book. Extremely well researched and written, in an unusuming tone.
    • 5/5
      Incredible story of Louis Zamperini, an olympic track star and Air force lieutenant. The Air force bomber he and his crew are in crashes in the Pacific Ocean and after drifting for 30? 40? days he and 2 other crew members reach land in enemy territory.