Unbroken

The author held me spellbound as she skilfully unpacked the remarkable story of Louis Zamperini, who survived a plane crash at sea only to be taken prisoner by the Japanese.

Zamperini’s life leapt from the page and swept me along a chilling pathway that bore witness to his physical and inner strength. Hillenbrand held me riveted to the last page of this remarkable true story.

If I didn’t know this was a true story, I would have dismissed Unbroken as some overblown Rambo novel. But it is true, and enthralling, and that’s what kept me turning pages.

Louis Zamperini, a 1936 American Olympian turned World War II Air Corp navigator, was shot down and captured by the Japanese. Because of his fame, Japanese guards singled him out for especially harsh treatment. Zamperini’s torment made me angry; his tenacity made me proud. Post-war trauma drove him to the bottle, as with so many veterans. That he overcame spiraling alcoholism through his renewed Christian faith makes for… show more.

If it’s possible to have lived multiple lives in a single lifetime, then Louis Zamperini did it.

I am a big fan of The Greatest Generation and Unbroken is the story of that generation, the deep beliefs they held, and the many sacrifices they made, not for themselves but for the generations that would follow them. You can’t miss the examples of selflessness, perseverance, and faith that jump out at you from the very first chapter.

As a journalist, I’m in awe of the meticulous reporting Hillenbrand did in this powerful book and the tremendous courage of the main character, Louis Zamperini.

World War II was such a pivotal time in world history and this story really makes it personal, which I think is the only way to have history make sense. On top of that, I deeply admire Hillenbrand for doing such fabulous work while battling chronic fatigue syndrome. Like her character, she has enormous personal courage and persistence.

Many readers are familiar with Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Seabiscuit. I had not heard of her book Unbroken, but when a houseguest left it behind recently, I picked it up. I was immediately captivated. 

This book pulls us into the real-life story of Louis Zamperini, a young man on his way to breaking the 4-minute mile as an Olympian when he is thrust into service during World War II. His tale on its own is interesting enough but the other story here, which is inextricably entwined with his—the United States’ entry into war with Japan—is horrifically gripping and enlightening. … show more.

The bestselling novel turned motion picture about Louis Zamperini by Laura Hillenbrand. It’s truly a story about the strength of the human will to endure incredible hardship and cruelty. Louis is on a flight mission with several others, and his plane is struck down over the Pacific waters in a firefight. Him and several other survivors drift on a life raft for many days, until they are captured by the Japanese. They face many obstacles in their survival as they are repeatedly beaten and inhumanely starved. Once the war was over, Louis returns home to discover that the wounds of… show more.

I must say that non-fiction isn’t my favorite type of book. Since a friend highly recommended it, I read the book from the middle, thinking if it didn’t speak to me, I'd stop. I didn’t stop until the end!

As a Chinese-American, I’ve read a lot about WWII in China, so the Japanese brutality didn’t shock me. I was deeply touched, however, by the courage of the character, Louie Zamperini. An Olympic runner in the 1930s, Mr. Zamperini was a downed pilot in WWII who was adrift in the Pacific for over a month and then imprisoned by the Japanese.… show more.

The book is much more comprehensive than the film. For me this is an exemplary story of finding redemption and forgiveness after the worst of human imposed torture and misery. Like so many veterans, WWII veteran Louis Zamperini kills the war demon with alcohol. His relationship with his wife and family suffer until Billy Graham helps save him. One of the messages is that hatred will lead you down a self-destructive path. Overcoming your demons and finding forgiveness and redemption will set you free. I raced through this book.

I choose Unbroken because it is the best example I have read of a triumph over adversity story in terms of overcoming physical and emotional suffering. American soldier, Louis Zamperini, was captured by enemy soldiers when his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean. Overcoming the shark-infested waters by surviving on a raft, only to be eventually captured, Zamperini's chances for survival were slim. Surviving on his ingenuity, will, and refusal to lose hope, Zamperini’s triumph over adversity is a mesmerizing tale of persistence despite all odds.

Laura Hillenbrand spent years writing a non-fiction tale that is packed with well-sourced facts, anecdotes, and grainy photos for delivery to a click-and-get world where thoughts can’t exceed 280 characters and effective communication is measured by how fast we get to the point. But that’s okay, because the tale of Louie Zamperini is too compelling to rush. Zamperini is an optimist and a survivor. He is resourceful, the kind of man who bends without breaking. These traits reappear time and again throughout an incredible wartime obstacle course that would have killed a lesser man. If this book doesn’t inspire you,… show more.